All about Gruen

[Mr. Bieser]

I've not seen many cases by this firm.

117. Gunther. La Chaux-de-fonds

https://www.ebay.com/itm/315170965349

[Fred]

That’s a first, to me.

[Dietrich]

Yes, I have not noticed the 117 hammerhead at a Gruen. Gunther produced also for Rolex and Patek, so they apparently have a very good reputation. Tiny watch with the 6 ligne caliber 265 made by Felsa. Should be about 1962 and I'd say it may be almst worth the money with about 10g 14k gold and 2g 18k gold...
So if seller should agree to reduce the prce to $400 you can't make anything wrong buying it.

[Mr. Bieser]

Number 2 in hammerhead is for Fritz Baumgartner, Geneva, an uncommon but known Gruen supplier...but the rare case marks that I wanted to highlight on this 1955ish example are the caliber/style numbers....on the outside. Don't see that everyday do ya!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186319543962

[Fred]

That is rare! And still legible. I note Import 316 is missing from the master book

[Dietrich]

It would indeed be rare if it would be the caliber / style number combination. But I have doubts that the numbers represent cal/style numbers because caliber 217 is a 7 jewel caliber. This would be a bad mismatch with an 18k gold case I think. Style number 894 is only valid with caliber 275, so I do not think that this is neither the caliber nor the style number. There will not be a caliber 275 based watch with a round crystal of that size in 1955.

[Mr. Bieser]

Hm, ok. So rare we don't know what the numbers are! Lol
But I did share a link so u can see...
Good points. Then my estimate of date is mistaken bc I was basing it on what I thought was style number.

[Dietrich]

I agree, quite misleading...
But date may be about correct, me be a little later, around 1960 I would think, but 1955 is still possible. But my guess would be post masterbook era. May be it is #217 out of a 894 piece batch?

[Mr. Bieser]

A run of 894 cases? If that theory pans out, that would be valuable info, we've never had confirmation of data like that for Swiss sources.
Only thing I ever hear tossed around alot is runs of 2000 domestically by Wadsworth, which I think the info originated from either Bob Gruen or Cleves.

[Fred]

There is also the Gruen Geneve nomenclature, which to me seems not fitting with the usual style numbers…