This watch is a VERY rare 14 carat solid gold Gruen gentlemans' vintage automatic bumper wristwatch, manufactured in the early 1950's. Gruen only produced this model in small numbers so it is a model hardly ever seen today. Having been a watch seller for over 12 years this is only the second Gruen Art Deco style bumper model I have acquired. This timepiece is in great overall condition so do not miss the opportunity to buy this watch. The case and dial present very well indeed on the wrist. The dial is in excellent condition and the freshly oiled and adjusted automatic "bumper" movement is running strongly and keeping time. A new leather strap has just been fitted so this lovely vintage watch is ready for immediate use. It is signed in three places, on the dial, case and movement. Gruen regarded as one of the best American watchmakers of its time. Gruen movements were made to high standards and are robust reliable units.
I have been collecting vintage watches for over twenty five years and selling them as an enjoyable lifestyle occupation since 2003. I have consistently received excellent feedback and many repeat buyers. Customer satisfaction is very important to me so if you do have any problems please get in touch. I will always do my best to help. I often assist customers who ask for my help several years after they have purchased a watch from me; so once you have bought a watch, you will remain an important customer. You can email me at jackanpet123@gmail.com to ask any questions.
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Case: 14 carat solid gold in very good condition with no signs of abuse, just the expected light marks from careful and probably infrequent use on a watch which is over sixty years of age. The inside of the case is signed “Gruen" and is hallmarked as 14 carat solid gold. The case is also signed by Wads, a quality caseworker which supplied to many of the high end watchmakers selling to the American market from the 1920's to the 1950's. The case measures approximately 28 mm across excluding the crown and 39 mm from lug to lug.
Dial: just expertly restored back to as it looked when new, signed “Gruen Precision Autoing". It has a satin silver finish with an outer minutes chapter and applied gold coloured batons marking the hours. The gold coloured hands are in very good condition and the crystal is clean and clear.
Movement: Gruen signed 17 jewel Swiss cal. 475 automatic bumper movement, just professionally oiled and adjusted, running strongly and keeping time. The bumper unit is an early automatic movement which was first seen in watches in the mid 1940's. Unlike modern automatics where the rotor sits on top of the mechanism and rotates through 360 degrees, the bumper mechanism rotates through a little over 300 degrees, hits a sprung stop at one side of the mechanism and then bounces to the other side. You can see the springs in the photograph of the movement. Wrist action causes it to swing back and forth, winding the watch. As with nearly all automatic watch mechanisms (the Le Culture Futuristic being one notable exception) the movement can be hand wound. It should be "kick started" when first used by manually winding the watch. As older automatics are not as efficient as modern day mechanisms, the watch may, need manual winding from time to time in order to keep the power unit charged, depending on how much use and movement it receives when worn .
Strap: new stitched and lightly padded brown leather lizard grain strap, which fitted to the watch measures approximately 209 mm from buckle tip to last hole.
Overseas buyers should bear in mind that import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or P&P charges. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility. You are advised to check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding.
POSTAGE AND PAYMENT DETAILS 3/2014
Postage within the
I can provide free postage in accordance with the eBay’s requirements for good business sellers but your package will not be insured against loss or damage and it will take up to five working days to arrive. If you choose the recommended method of postage, Royal Mail Special Delivery, this will insure your watch against loss or damage in transit. It also guarantees next working day delivery. The charge is £7.95
Postage Overseas.
The charge for watches sold for £500 or less will be 15.95 GBP by Royal Mail International Signed For. This provides a maximum insurance value of up to 500 GBP subject to Royal Mail conditions.
If you are purchasing an item at a price above £500 and pay using Paypal I must observe their rules by sending the watch by courier if Royal Mail do not provide a full tracking and signed for service for parcels sent to your country. In order to receive Paypal’s protection service, for which I pay a fee, they require me to send the watch to you with full on line tracking and a signature on delivery. The cost of using the courier service is £55-£60 GBP to most countries but I will shoulder part of the cost and charge you just 34.95 GBP. If you wish me to send the watch to by Royal Mail International Signed For at a cost of 15.95 GBP and you accept that insurance will be limited to 500 GBP I can, at your request do so, if you pay by direct bank to bank transfer.
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Payment
All buyers may pay using Paypal or bank to bank transfer.
Overseas buyers: At my discretion I will accept other forms of payment but accept STERLING only. Please contact me if you wish to do this before the auction ends.
Terms of
I pack my watches very well to avoid damage but very occasionally a problem may occur due to rough treatment in transit or the use of scanning equipment by Customs or the postal services which can magnetise the watch mechanism. I warrant that the watch you purchase will, when you receive it, be as described in the listing. If there is a problem when you receive your purchase I provide a no quibble full refund option. Alternatively I will undertake any repairs that are necessary if the watch is damaged or if in any other way differs significantly from the description. If I have not stated that the watch has been serviced, you may wish to have this work done, particularly if you intend to wear the watch on a daily basis. On request, I can provide you with details of independent watchmakers to whom you can send your watch for servicing.
I provide comprehensive details of my watches, including very clear photographs taken with a high resolution macro lens which shows detail not visible to the naked eye. I also invite you to ask questions if there is anything else you need to know. Please take care to consider the dimensions of the watch case as if it is a gentlemans’ Art Deco rectangular vintage watch, they were made significantly smaller than contemporary watches.
You are buying a used watch so there will be signs of use. Please do not expect quartz accuracy from a vintage watch. In the 1940’s/1950’s the accepted timekeeping tolerance for a new 17 jewel manual watch was within three minutes a day. All of my watches are professionally inspected and tested before sale and if they are not running smoothly and keeping reasonable time I have them serviced and/ or have any other work undertaken that is needed to ensure the watch is in running condition. However please bear in mind that a fault can develop unexpectedly at any time as with any used item so I am unable to provide any on-going warranty. Please also note that I provide no guarantee that my watches are waterproof. I would always strongly recommend keeping any vintage well away from moisture.