#164 • Gruen, Fiftieth Anniversary Watch, w/presentation from Frederick Gruen

Part of 251023 - "Fall Featured Auction" Horology, Jewelry & Coins - October 2-23 (live auction by Jones & Horan Auctions)

High bid $9,100.00

Status: Sold

EPW - Gruen, Fiftieth Anniversary Watch, "Twenty-One 21 Jewels & Two 2 Diamonds" marked mvt with gold plates, Swiss-made for American market, 45mm at widest point (mvt is a 12S for North American market), 14K green gold OF original pentagonal Gruen Verithin case, gold cuvette engraved "It's A Pleasure To Have Made This Especially For Our Friend, Allan Collier, Fredy Gruen," silvered dial with applied gold numerals, SW-SS, fully capped lever escapement, diamond endstones over balance and escape wheel, ornately engraved rose gold mvt plates, s#70. Gross weight of assembled watch 43.8 dwt (68.1 g). A terrific example of this beautiful prestige watch highlighted by its personalized cuvette presentation signed from Gruen Watch Co. President Frederick G. Gruen to Allan C. Collier of The Procter and Collier Co. which was an advertising agency located in Cincinnati, Ohio across the street from the Gruen Watch Co. factory headquarters. The Gruen Fiftieth Anniversary Watch was produced in 1924 with a total output of 650 made; this total figure corresponds to a group of 600 in recognition of each of the months of the 50 years along with a separately numbered series of 50 in recognition of each of the years. The high majority of these were in gold casing, and platinum examples such as the present watch are rare. These watches catered to a very exclusive clientèle, being marketed as "The Priceless Possession of a Few" at a prohibitively expensive base cost of $500 in 1924. From the collection of Art Bissell, longtime aficionado and collector of Gruen watches. CONDITION: Mvt: Running, nearly mint cosmetic mvt condition overall, very few small micro-fine scratches; excellent dial with some light hazy toning in areas; excellent hands; case shows very little wear, no dents, some fine scratches to rear, excellent engraving detail; tight bow, crown shows very little wear; good glass crystal. Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000 JH-75901