Style: Mid-Century Dress, Military
Circa: 1940's
Case: Fancy 10K Gold Filled Pan-Am style bezel with Guildlite back. Signed Cased and Timed in the USA by Gruen Watch Co., Wadsworth with correct model and serial numbers for the watch. Shows some minor wear from regular use including a small nick on the lug at 5:00. Gruen signed original crown.
Dial: Original factory printed 2-tone dial with 24 hour dial and centre second chapter both in black. Applied gold markers. Original Crown and hands.
Movement: High quality Swiss made center seconds movement signed Gruen Watch Co. Precision 17 Jewels, Switzerland. Caliber 420SS. Recently serviced and in excellent working condition.
A very nice example of the famed Gruen Pan-Am watch produced for the airline company and general sale in the 1940's. I love the complicated 24 hour dial and center seconds set off by that hot red seconds hand. This particular dial has some slight even discoloration which, I think, adds to its vintage character. You just can't reproduce that look, it only comes with time. A very slick vintage timepiece.
Note: Many of the larger swiss factories such as LeCoultre, Gruen, Longines etc. set up North American factories which undertook the finishing of the complete watches. The movements would be produced in Switzerland, shipped over and watches cased and timed in the US.