1920’S Gruen Quadron Y/G Filled Caliber 157

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• Details
  For those who follow me know I love the Art Deco period for timepieces. A casual look at my listings will confirm that. This Art Deco Gruen is the epitome of Art Deco. In my watch restoration and personal collecting I have a soft spot for the Gruen Quadron series. Introduced in the mid 1920’s their engineering was revolutionary because their movements were rectangular flat and small. This allowed Gruen to introduce chronometer timing with their 15 and 17 and in later years 21 jeweled movements.
  
  
  
  In Gruen’s early years from the 1920s through the 1940s, they Gruen Watch were one of the leaders in wristwatch design and quality, even collaborating with Rolex (e.g., the Aegler movement duo-dial doctors watch) from its factories in Switzerland.
  
  
  
  Did you know that prior to WWII, Gruen was better known in the USA than Rolex, which at that time was concentrating on the British and Commonwealth countries.
  
  
  
  Hans Wilsdorf ( Rolex founder)and Gruen were friends and neighbors in Switzerland (their manufacturing facilities were across the street from one another), and even agreed to market their watches as Rolex Gruen in Europe, but the Great Depression prevented this.
  
  
  
  A little Gruen History:
  
  
  In 1925, Gruen introduced the men’s Quadron. Similar in concept to the women’s Cartouche models, these were rectangular watches containing very high-quality 15-j or 17-j tonneau-shaped movements. A larger movement is generally more reliable and accurate, and is generally more rugged, than a smaller one of the same quality, so the Gruen Cartouche and Quadron, with their case-filling, purpose-built movements performed much better than the small, round movements used by most of their competitors at the time. Round movements were still used in the less expensive rectangular Gruen wristwatches.
  
  
  
  According to their advertising, Gruen submitted a consecutive run of 200 ordinary Quadron movements for observatory chronometer tests in Switzerland. There was not a category for wristwatches in 1925, so they were tested to pocket watch standards. Each of the 200 were granted a certificate for timekeeping excellence, which Fred Gruen believed to be a record at the time. These were the earliest American wristwatches to qualify as serious timekeeping instruments on par with a pocket watch. The efforts of companies like Gruen during this era helped change the public’s negative attitude towards men’s wristwatches, thus the smaller more flat designed movement was born.
  
  
  
  The Quadron Movements:
  
  
  
  The Quadron collection consisted of the following calibers as the years went by.
  
  
  
  117 17 jewel
  
  119 17 jewel
  
  123 17 jewel
  
  157 15 jewel
  
  325 17 jewel
  
  3251 21 jewel
  
  877 Techniquadron
  
  
  
  I am pleased to offer for sale the following Gruen vintage timepiece. Notice the crown, it’s original with the dust collar on it, a nice design touch. This watch dates to the depression. What a beautiful survivor.
  
  
  As an avid Quadron collector ( I have lots, see picture 10) I do not see many great survivors with a yellow gold filled case, or as Gruen called it 14 karat gold filled reinforced. Review the pictures for the case condition. This is a stunning example. For accuracy disclosure there is a bit of plating loss on the lug tips and bezel corners if you real close. It is very hard to tell.
  
  
  The case measures:
  
  
  37MM lug tip to lug tip
  
  
  24.50mm in width (25.4MM with original winding crown)
  
  
  The caliber 157 has been fully serviced June 2022, ensuring it winds and sets smoothly while keeping accurate time.
  
  
  The 100% original dial was sent to refinish to its original status and is in excellent condition. The shadow box numbers have a beautiful outline.
  
  
  It features a 60 minute outer track border and the seconds track also show an outer track border for the second display.
  
  
  The solid glass crystal is in mint condition with zero flaws. The three-piece case is 14 Karat Yellow Gold, Reinforced with Metal and in superb condition
  
  
  Turning the watch over I note that the case back is in amazing condition with absolutely no wear.
  
  
  This watch has been fully disassembled, cleaned, oiled and regulated to ensure it winds and sets smoothly while keeping accurate time.
  
  
  I have finished the restoration with camel colored watch band, very period correct.
  
  
  What a beautiful survivor from a most turbulent time in our countries history. This is a true depression survivor. The back story to this watch is this case condition. It is very rare and hard to find cases from this time period that are in this condition. No wear through, deep dents and scratches, this is a true treasure.
  
  I will carefully pack the watch for a safe arrival, this will include it being fully insured as well. If you feel you need additional information to make an informed decision, please ask. I am happy to answer as many as you want. I am passionate about what I do, if you can’t tell. Use the pictures as part of your description.
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