All about Gruen

[Fred]

Any chance of identifying a model # for this wristlet? It’s one of my earliest, but I think circa 1914-15.
Cal 807, also stamped in case. Original bracelet, I think, but with added clasp from 1930s (Hadley patent US1,966,063).

G Pilot wheel, case # 294,308. Transitional from “Amer Made,” as wristlets after about 290k show only the wheel while pockets (still with Premo movements) continue to have both G pilot wheel and Amer Made stamps together into 300k.

There’s a special Easter egg hidden here, too. Something I don’t recall seeing before…

Front

Back

Movement

Back

Bezel

Dial

Expander

[Fred]

Hidden on the plate…

Mark

…which is this mark.

Tm 34293

Perhaps relevant, this mark had been registered since 1885 (see #s 1444, 7159, 20823), but until 34293 in 1913 they had only protected the mark for watches (not parts, etc.). The mark continued to be protected—even mentioned with the adding of “Gruen Guild A” to the company name in late 1920s—until it finally expired in 1934.

[Fred]

No letter prefix or last 4 in the case or on the case rim under the bezel like GF pocket watches—too thin—but note the bezel itself: in addition to the last 4 engraving, there is a Roman “1”. This may correspond to “A” prefix, which is what I see on pw counterparts (those marked “Amer Made” with or without G pilot wheel).

Back of the dial:

Dial back

[Fred]

Having thought about this WAY too much & looked over wristlet ads, here are my thoughts:
-“807” is both the caliber & the dial style—which in this case specified a model #
-I date it to 1915-early 1916, later than I thought bc of the fancy dial & shortly before Blue Book bc this seems to be a 20yr case, not yet 25yr, but still sold under “Gruen Guarantee”.

Looking to Blue Book: The 807 model was solid 14k wristlet, not adjusted. This should be gf version, which seems to be Wristlet # 698. That’s the closest I can guess, anyway.