Gruen Precision Automatic

A quality watch from Gruen's glory days

Description:

This Gruen Automatic has a nice, clean modern look to it even after 50 years, resembling a European railway clock with its simple, clean design. The gradient face, black and white baton hands, red seconds hand and red and black day / date indicators make this watch very easy to read and easy on the eyes. This watch also features a high quality 25 jewel count movement. One thing I like is that when you shake this watch, you can hear the rotor's ratchet, which provides a pleasing noise and an indication that you are winding the watch effectively.

Gruen's Magnificent Time Hill Building in Cincinnati, Ohio

The Gruen watch company was founded in 1894 and was one of the larger American watch companies for almost half a century. They produced a number of iconic designs and innovations including the "Curvex" in the 1930s which wrapped around your wrist and the "Airflight jump hour" in the 1960s, which switched from a 12 hour dial to a 24 hour dial twice a day. Frank Sinatra even wore a Gruen.

However, Gruen ran into hard times and closed its Cincinatti, Ohio based manufacturing center in 1958. After that, Gruen moved its offices to New York and continued to produce watches at its facility in Switzerland until 1977, when they finally ceased all watch production. The Gruen name was sold to a marketing and distribution company and as a result you can still buy watches today that have the Gruen name, but they are produced in China and no connection with the Gruen company's history of quality, innovation, and experience.

Condition:

Case: Very good.
Only a few minor scuffs and scratches from normal use. There are a few light scratches on the gold case and some heavier scratches on the stainless steel case back as shown in the photos.

Face / Hands: Excellent.
The dial is clean with no discoloration or texturing. Likewise, the white hands, tick marks, and chapter ring, which would easily show any signs of rust or imperfections are clean and free of discoloration.

Crystal: Excellent.
The acrylic crystal is near perfect with no visible scuffs or scratches.

Band / Bracelet: Very good.
The band is in excellent condition but is not original.

Function / Accuracy: Excellent.
This watch keeps good time and sets and winds easily.