All about Gruen

[Dietrich]

Just wildly guessing...
I do not think that those solid gold watches had been made in huge lots during this financial troublesome time.

[Mr. Bieser]

Just wildly guessing...

I get it. Yes I overlooked the Geneve designations. If in fact the Baumgartner case was a reference to calibre/style, it would be the 2nd known example on a Swiss case. Recently Jason shared his OS/117 in a Swiss case, so there is precedent.
I do wonder what the numbers refer to.

[Fred]

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

Should have noted 303, 305 & 316 missing.

Just wildly guessing...
I do not think that those solid gold watches had been made in huge lots during this financial troublesome time.

Correct—nothing Import in gold recorded in MB after 302.

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?

I am stuck on pre-1957.

[Dietrich]

Definitely possible. Looks like Gruen Geneve provided first watches in 1953. And pictures show that they were simply labeled Gruen or Gruen Presicion and not Gruen Geneve.

[Fred]

I see some “Geneve” in other countries earlier (Dec 1955), but US seems to be 1956-7

[Mr. Bieser]

I have a couple Gruen Geneve pamphlets and they all have a model number associated with the watch pics like "Mod.858" "Mod.433" "Mod.943" "Mod.944". Not saying the numbers on case mean that, but thought it was worth mentioning.

[Fred]

I think it’s that or a style number. I know, perhaps I’m simple minded but has to fit somewhere.

[Mr. Bieser]

351 = Revor, Walter Brusa. La Chaux-de-Fonds. 21.07.1934.
Also 3 digit model number 905 on tag matches inside caseback.

20240316_004152.jpg (40.04 KiB) Viewed 14 times

https://www.ebay.com/itm/164174516712

[Dietrich]

I should probably add that this would only be Revor, Walter Brusa if the case would have been built after March 29th 1973.
Depending on when the watch case was really built it will have been Emile Borle (held the hammer head 351 from May 5th 1948 until January 31st 1961) or William Willemin (January, 31st, 1961 until October 6th, 1972).
I tend towards Emile Borle...

[Mr. Bieser]

Nothing on the inside to indicate a genuine Gruen watch case but the engraving on the outside was intriguing. DGS?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204676763175