All about Gruen

[Fred]

Style pair: 285-608
Year: 1948

Two Dec 1948 ads I've seen (one Gruen, one jeweler) show my dial. Jeweler Ads in March 1949, Gruen ad late 1949, and Master Book show a different dial. Mix thereafter.

[Dietrich]

Careful, the first advertisement picture which you think shows your dial is the preceeding model, WR560. It has straight bezel/crystal sides at 6 and 12 o clock, which makes it style #570, and this model still is caliber 295 based.
Same model name though, Curvex Charm, introduced about a year earlier (1947). It has also been available with different bands and therewith other model names (Curvex Petite, Curvex Princess).

Here are pictures of my white and yellow ones, Curvex Charm, WR560, 1947:

My yellow one will have been sold as a Curvex Princess with the rings left at the lugs.

It looks like the jewelers used the older model picture with the 12 number dial to illustrate the Curvex Charm even years after this model was replaced by WR 604.

[Fred]

I'm not sure I understand. WR604 is the only model in the book with this bracelet, and the first ad I posted is from Gruen themselves. WR560 is a silk cord, with what appears to be the wider bezel more akin to WR603 vs. 604. Can you please clarify?

[Fred]

Perhaps I understand--straight dial & minute chapter across the top & bottom on the older model is differentiator?

[Dietrich]

Yes, correct. As you can see in the picture of my white WR560 Curvex Charm and ads from 1947: it was also available with this bracelet. But with the silk cord it was the Curvex Princess and with a flex metal band it was the Curvex Petite. The picture in the Masterbook shows it as Princess...

[Fred]

A charming princess, then. Thanks!