All about Gruen

[Fred]

Beginning with a rare ad, only posted here I think.

[Mr. Bieser]

Yeah dug up stuff on a few of these myself. Don't wanna clutter up the ad section w/ my tangents tho.

[thesnark]

I've seen most of the illustrated watches in the wild. Some are quite common.

Never seen a Carre version though. That would be something!

[Fred]

Oh man, yeah.

[Mr. Bieser]

I found it interesting from a historical perspective that Alpina was advertising in "Illustrierter Beobachter" featuring an Alpina-Gruen watch. This is before the 2nd World War broke out, still odd to see "GRUEN" in magazine of this type, especially considering Gruen's own later inter war propaganda ads.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illustrierter_Beobachter

1936.

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Pls note, that Alpina was also advertising in "Jüdische Presszentrale, Zürich" during this period, just thought it was fascinating!

[Fred]

Wow--great ads!

[Fred]

I have also been on a 1930s kick. I apologize if all these have been seen previously.

1939 Christmas -- the 2nd year of this campaign & 2-page spread.
For my own anchoring: can you check my numbers? Pretty sure on the Curvex Cadet (Quadron 225), the VT Comet (Strap 383), the Vassar (WG139), and the Minerva (WR329). Maybe Lido (B176). And shown is the seldom-seen Curvex Aristocrat, which I have wondered if it is in the MB as Import, perhaps 146 (no sub-sec version) or 237.

1938 Christmas -- Year 1 of the campaign, also with a 2-page spread.

Continuing backward through 1938...

[Fred]

Can’t resist layering in one more… the true Gruen “Bond” watch! “Newest” in Nov 1933

I originally thought this was Strap 299 (same case), but now I think it’s actually a dial variant of Strap 253 (same hands). With a caliber 611(?)

[Mr. Bieser]

Been digging deep into Gruens stainless production, stateside and Swiss and I can now point to the source of domestic Guildite.

1935.

[Fred]

Awesome find!! Thanks for sharing it!