All about Gruen

[Mr. Bieser]

This is a thread to ask any miscellaneous questions regarding Gruen that don't yet deserve a whole topic.

No matter how long you've been into Gruen, no doubt you have questions. And there are no stupid Gruen questions.

Does anyone know what this is referring to? Thanks! It has a very specific first use date, Feb 18, 1955.

[Fred]

You’ve stumbled on something I’ve never seen before… so may I ask that with “no stupid questions” comes a tolerance for “no stupid answers”

I see two paths… first, protecting a prospective campaign that never materialized. You might have seen this ad from 12/1954. Did Gruen envision a bigger play for similar watches? This makes sense, given the category of protection.

Second, I see Gruen playing more in aerospace, where “miniature” (gyroscopes, timers, etc) was the buzzword of the day. Did that intersect with Watch land? Thinking experimental transistor or other electric component pieces?

[Mr. Bieser]

Absolutely, no stupid answers, that's funny, totally agree.

Yes Class 27 so horological related therefore the description is interesting, close to first use date. I wonder what the tiniest model was in 55.
Could be electronic components for watches I suppose.
In my mind I was picturing the "smallest movement in the world!" type stuff. No doubt Gruen Miniature is referring to something specific.

[Dietrich]

Timing fits totally with the advent of the smallest movement which Gruen ever introduced, caliber 265(R). I have a few of these watches, the Mannequin, the Moritz, Lillian, but there were about 20 of these tiny watches which deserved to be called miniature. I am with Dan that thtere migh have been a marketing campaign planned which finally did not happen. May be there have been more in 1955 which started with "M" as Miniature does. Lillian is a 1956 model as far as I have seen.

Edit: OK, I just checked, others with caliber 265 were called Lorraine, Vienna and so one already in 1955, so my two "M" watches are lucky punches...

[Fred]

The watch sub brand path seems the clearest contender. Similar question for me on a possible intention for “Curvette” as the ladies Curvex line—not to take us down that road for now but just to highlight another tm example that seems to have been cast aside.

Any idea what cal # was in that tiny full rotor auto Newport? Or style numbers for it or cal 265? I will check my archives. I have only catalogued one watch as a cal 265 (others perhaps hiding under style #); it was a 959 style # that’s also in the only Astrin 14k case I’ve personally catalogued. But that was a Continental branded dial.

[Mr. Bieser]

"Similar question for me on a possible intention for “Curvette” as the ladies Curvex line—"

Maybe, but "Curvette" was in semi use, maybe not commercial but there are a handful of clear references, including it being the name of Gruen Watch Girls League for years.

"Timing fits totally with the advent of the smallest movement which Gruen ever introduced, caliber 265(R)."

Interesting.

Other models used the descriptor miniature marvel too, Sea Mist from November, 1955. Same question as Fred, anyone know if this a 265R?

Turbulent time for Gruen in Spring 55 too. No surprise if it went unused.
I don't know if "miniature marvel" is connected to Gruen Miniature. But I like the brainstorm!

[Dietrich]

AW Sea Mist is based on caliber 362, the Newport I do not know, I just have a late Cartouche with that name from 1937, cal. 159. As Cal. 265 is a manual wind movement there are no Autowind watches with it.
And yes, Astrin cases were often used for cal. 265, mine are also from this maker.
The Moritz is style #960, just next to your 959, I did not write down the Mannequin case insciption yet, so I did not have a style number. But I also have a WG767 which is still nameless but also cal. 265R based and style #959.
Both style number are btw missing in Mike Barnetts table.

[Fred]

I posted a few ads to Jeweler Ads thread from Dec 1955. Looks like some you've seen, but there are several models that seem to be in this family.

[Mr. Bieser]

Don't wanna send us off too far into the weeds (or do I?) but as I mentioned, my initial impression of what "Gruen Miniature" could possibly mean wis based on when Gruen *was* in the "Tiniest Watch in the World" game circa 1926, 1927.

[Fred]

And continued to make them from time to time--6 superthin ones made inside $10 gold piece circa 1948, if memory serves. But I've never seen a pic