• Country of Manufacture - Switzerland
• Year - 1940's
• Serial - 134605
• Model - N/A
• Movement & caliber -  450
• Case diameter - 33mm
• This Item is Final Sale

A solid 14 carat yellow gold Gruen Chrono-Timer, manually wound watch. While Gruen may not be a name you hear often, They were certainly a prominent watch maker during the 20th Century. This chronograph is perfectly proportioned, and in a very rare Batman-like lugged case in solid gold. This was not a common watch, but in gold it is very rare indeed. These models really helped propel the Gurney name during the 1940’s. This was deemed watch puts Gruen on the map.

Gruen was an American watch manufacture based in Ohio; it produced watches from 1894 until 1958, when the company was sold and broken up. This is a snap back case with the distinctive single button, unlike most traditional two button chronograph models. The gold dial on the watches original, and not refinished, often the case with watches like this from the early to mid part of the 20th Century. There is some wear to the dial, but overall it is well-preserved and has a pulsation scale, which was used by doctors back in the day. An example of this exact reference has been found, in steel, as a presentation piece to 9th place in the Indianapolis 500 race in 1947 for 9th place, showing that it was also favored by early motor racing drivers!

The chronograph is activated and reset by the single chronograph button underneath the crown. The rest of the watch works like a regular time only watch, wound and set through the stem. The watch is powered by the Gruen caliber 450. This movement was only found in this reference.

Overall, this is a very rare, handsome on wrist and aesthetically pleasing design. The long wide and flat lugs really stretch a 33mm case out to feel a lot larger and more prominent when being worn. This is a superb example of a true “vintage” watch; rare, great look, original, great patina, full of character. It is certainly a piece that will be a conversation stater, and leave you in a room of people who will certainly not share the same watch!