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Picture of Ernie Loga
posted
Here is a Gruen 17 Jewel watch I just bought on Ebay for $17.00 plus pocket change. It is triple signed. It was extremely dirty with tape residue etc. on the case, the plastic lens had some light scratches. After some cleaning, and polishing it turned out pretty good. After a slight adjustment on the regulator it is keeping accurate time.

The hyphinated Veri-Thin dates this watch between 1930 and 1945.

 
Posts: 900 | Location: Wisconsin in the U.S.A. | Registered: April 28, 2008
Picture of Ernie Loga
posted
Here is the movement Number 468750.

 
Posts: 900 | Location: Wisconsin in the U.S.A. | Registered: April 28, 2008
Picture of Ernie Loga
posted
Here is the inside dust cover showing it was also made by Gruen.

 
Posts: 900 | Location: Wisconsin in the U.S.A. | Registered: April 28, 2008
Picture of Ernie Loga
posted
Here is the case back. It was really a mess with old sticky tape etc.

 
Posts: 900 | Location: Wisconsin in the U.S.A. | Registered: April 28, 2008
IHC Life Member
Picture of David Abbe
posted
I just put this 14K Pentagon Cased Verithin Precision on eBay

 
Posts: 6492 | Location: Southern California in the USA | Registered: July 19, 2007
posted
You got a steal of a deal there Ernie, Well done!

John
 
Posts: 1282 | Location: Northern England, United Kingdom | Registered: January 07, 2006
Picture of Ernie Loga
posted
Thanks John. I forgot to mention that it also came with a gold chain. I am very pleased with the watch. It has been keeping accurate time now for 4 days.
 
Posts: 900 | Location: Wisconsin in the U.S.A. | Registered: April 28, 2008
Picture of Ernie Loga
posted
Here is my latest Gruen. It has the DGS (Dietrick Gruen & Son logo on the movement. I think the dial has real gold. The lettering in the seconds chapter is worn as is the lettering of the name. The rest of the dial is actually nicer that the camera can take a picture of.

The dial:

 
Posts: 900 | Location: Wisconsin in the U.S.A. | Registered: April 28, 2008
Picture of Ernie Loga
posted
Here is the 17 jewel movement with the D Gruen & Son logo the case. The Gruen Watch Case Company logo is on the case. This dates this watch between 1898 and 1910. After 1911 the movements were simply signed Gruen.

 
Posts: 900 | Location: Wisconsin in the U.S.A. | Registered: April 28, 2008
Picture of Ernie Loga
posted
Here is close up of the logo on the movement.

 
Posts: 900 | Location: Wisconsin in the U.S.A. | Registered: April 28, 2008
Picture of Ernie Loga
posted
Here is the logo of the Gruen National Watch Case Company on the back side of the dust cover on the case.

 
Posts: 900 | Location: Wisconsin in the U.S.A. | Registered: April 28, 2008
IHC President
Life Member
Picture of Lindell V. Riddle
posted

Those are simply beautiful!

And each of those cases are Cincinnati, Ohio made items from the most interesting of all US watch-related facilities. Casing and timing took place right here.

East view of Gruen's Time Hill in Cincinnati, Ohio...


 
Posts: 10553 | Location: Northeastern Ohio in the USA | Registered: November 19, 2002
IHC Member 163
Picture of Mark Cross
posted
I was just looking at a 'veri-thin' with a Gruen marked gold filled case with a solid bow that housed a 12s 15j Gruen Swiss movement. It said 'Gruen Guild' on the movement, Swiss made, and the serial number was 748.

I can't find any entries in 'the book' regarding anything lower than a 17j. It had almost the same face as my 1925 Elgin 12s, so I'm assuming it dates to the 1920's. It ran well, clean Swiss movement with regulator dead center to the scale, and fired right up with one twist of the crown. VERY ornate hands.

He was asking $100 for it, but since I really don't know a thing about these, I passed...for now. WinkAny thoughts at all on why Gruen 15j watches are never mentioned? Were they odd ball movements, or just run of the mill items for this company?

Regards! Mark
 
Posts: 3837 | Location: Estill Springs, Tennessee, USA | Registered: December 02, 2002
Picture of Ernie Loga
posted
Mark:

I have doing quite a bit of research on the Gruen watch recently. I am by no means an expert but I will gladly share what I have learned so far.

The 15 Jewel Gruen is a lower priced watch but still a very good quality. Actually none of the Gruens sold for a low price in their day.

If the Veri-thin signature has a hyphen between Veri and thin it would date the watch between 1930 and 1945.

According to the 2008 Complete Price Guide the 15J Gruen is not even listed, which think is a mistake or at least an overlook.
 
Posts: 900 | Location: Wisconsin in the U.S.A. | Registered: April 28, 2008
IHC Member 163
Picture of Mark Cross
posted
Ok, interestinger and interestinger. Confused

I called my friend back to confirm what you said, and I was wrong. The dial says 'semiTHIN' (as shown), NOT Verithin as I originally thought.

No hyphen, lower case 'semi' and capitalized THIN.

So, what in the world is THIS watch?

Regards! Mark
 
Posts: 3837 | Location: Estill Springs, Tennessee, USA | Registered: December 02, 2002
Picture of Ernie Loga
posted
Mark:

What I found so far is that Gruen used three different nomenclatures in the 1920’s: Semithin (15 J), Verithin (17J), and Ultrathin (21J). But, they did use Verithin for 15 jewel watches before 1920. I believe Verithin was used as early as 1898.

Here is a link some good Gruen information on the web: Gruen VeriThin
 
Posts: 900 | Location: Wisconsin in the U.S.A. | Registered: April 28, 2008
Picture of Ernie Loga
posted
Here is my 16 jewel Gruen Guild SemiThin. I need a pair of hands for this one. the ends are missing.

 
Posts: 900 | Location: Wisconsin in the U.S.A. | Registered: April 28, 2008
Picture of Ernie Loga
posted
This is the movement for the 16 jewel Gruen Guild. It is adjusted to 2 positions.

 
Posts: 900 | Location: Wisconsin in the U.S.A. | Registered: April 28, 2008
Picture of Ernie Loga
posted
Here is a 17 jewel Gruen Guild.

 
Posts: 900 | Location: Wisconsin in the U.S.A. | Registered: April 28, 2008
Picture of Ernie Loga
posted
Here is the movement from the 17 jewel Gruen Guild.

 
Posts: 900 | Location: Wisconsin in the U.S.A. | Registered: April 28, 2008
IHC Life Member
Picture of Ethan Lipsig
posted
Since you are asking to see Gruens, I will post photos of my 3 Gruen Carres, starting with a 14k Carre.

 
Posts: 1414 | Location: Pasadena, California USA | Registered: November 11, 2005
IHC Life Member
Picture of Ethan Lipsig
posted
Same watch open.

 
Posts: 1414 | Location: Pasadena, California USA | Registered: November 11, 2005
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