All about Gruen

[Fred]

Caliber no. 6 aka 6X is 16 size, 21-jewel Extra Precision grade, per 1917 blue book

Similar to Caliber 10X, a 6X movement cost $60 in 1917 more than its 21j Precision-grade counterpart (Caliber 52). That’s about 133% more!

Call me crazy: I think 6X is the original Glashütte 16-size caliber.

Here are the “movement only” prices, for the current production movements (6X was not sold uncased). My % price comparison is based on 21j (not Extra) Precision, as seen in the 16 size offerings above.

[thesnark]

The big question in my mind, should you prove to be right:

Does the markup reflect Gruen's cost basis in the Glasshütte movements? If it does, my goodness they were expensive to make!

[Fred]

Great question, of which I’d given no thought. My calcs assume equivalent case costs, so maybe some costs there if the case is materially bigger. This case is not listed as “extra heavy”, but movement may be thicker?

Still, gotta be some serious higher markup. Possibly their cost basis, and I’ve not looked back at old pricing. Or, perhaps just pricing to scarcity? Unless they had an unknown contractor for one off runs (don’t recall previous discussions of that), the biggest hole in my theory imo is, could they still have any remnants at all? Wouldn’t those movements be 15+ years old?

Also, have to mention my curiosity that cal 52 is not available as “Extra” here. It had been… but seemingly no longer.

[Fred]

Does the markup reflect Gruen's cost basis in the Glasshütte movements? If it does, my goodness they were expensive to make!

Found this old thread... See post # 34. Looks like this pricing was pretty much the standard even at turn of the century for these! Exact date not specified that I see. I can only assume the collector is Jack G.?

BUT more than that--I think this validates the caliber numbers. No. 6 & 10 will be open face, Grade 1, 16 and 12 size, respectively

https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/the-best-gruen-p-w-collectible.123022/

'...cal 52 is not available as “Extra” here...'
You've lost your dang-fool mind, Fred! This isn't cal 52 here, necessarily--should be cal 21. Read your own reference next time: "Other grades are made not listed here"

Thanks! Yeah, shouldn't have got away with that 52 assumption.