| Re: WANTED: V7 hand and crystal [message #14647 is a reply to message #14645] |
Fri, 12 March 2021 22:47   |
thesnark17
Messages: 649
Registered: January 2017
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Gruen Master |
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I disagree that the hand on the watch is "wrong" - a normal V7 minute hand tip will not be exactly on this minute track. That doesn't make it "right" either - but it's a real factory V7 hand, no question.
This style does not use a different sized minute hand than normal V7 (in terms of hole size). But the track is closer to the center than normal. So the generic Gruen hand will not line up.
It did not come from the factory with that hand on it, though. I have one of these with original hands, and the shape of the diamond is subtly different. Stubbier, and shorter. I think these hands started as normal V7 hands that were carefully stoned down to size before blueing. Both hour and minute differ - the entire outer (not inner) tip geometry is different from normal Gruen cathedral hands.
I also have V7 hands available, but only the normal types. Unless you're willing to find and buy a parts movement with the right hands, the only way to get the factory look will be to have someone carefully stone down a set of normal V7 hands. But that means you don't need a minute hand - you already have the right one. You do need an hour hand, but more importantly someone with experience altering hands.
Breguet moon hands are a correct style for the V7, but I do not think I have ever seen them with this dial style on a V7. And they would have the same length issue, but the alteration would be more difficult due to the shape of the hand.
Dials with engraving outside of a smaller-diameter minutes track have been used since the teens on multiple models, and every Gruen with this style dial has altered hands from the factory. There was a 740 version that used custom Breguet moon hands. But I don't recall seeing the shortened moon hands on a V7.
[Updated on: Sat, 13 March 2021 22:16] Report message to a moderator |
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