The Techni-Quadron watches which were released in 1928 comprised of a rectangular face and were similar, to the Quadron. The top and the bottom dial were of similar big sizes, while the former consisted of the hour/minute, the latter consisted of the second hand.
The Techni-Quadrons were famously known as “doctor’s watches” as this large seconds subdial was easy to watch while measuring a pulse. The watch was also popular among engineers and other technical professions. Take notice that not all dual dial Gruen watches were doctor’s watches. The hour/minute hands on a Techni-Quadron are mounted above where the crown enters the case as apposed to the center of the dial. Some had an expanding buckle allowing them to be slid up the arm freeing the hand and wrist.
The Carr, French for square, resembled the shape of a square and was a pocket watch released in 1931. Technically, a diamond shape, as the numbers 12, 3, 6 and 9 were placed at each of the 4 corners. Being technically useful for the usage of both the genders, this watch was marketed as a man’s pocket watch, a women’s purse watch and also could be used as a portable table clock. A number of models also consisted of luminous hands and numbers which could be seen in the dark. The Carr was called off in the year 1934 and was priced around $55 (~$1400 currently).
The Curvex, which was released in 1935, was termed Curvex Governor for men and the Curvex Queen (1936) for women. It was not only the most famous watch of the Gruen vintage collection, but was also the flagship watch until the late 1940s. The production of this watch was terminated after 1954.
An elite and unique aspect of the Curvex was that the watch as well as the movement inside it was curved. The patented movement (1,855,952) was applied in these watches and hence the configuration of the gears was curved in arrangement. Numerous other curved watches in the 1930s were compelled to use smaller movements which weren’t that accurate and were also very fragile.
All real men’s Curvex watches were Precision grade and had one of four movements. As a matter of fact What makes these watches unique is the movement, without it, it’s not a Curvex. The four movements are the caliber 311 (1953) – a long, thin movement, caliber 330 (1937) – a long, thin and curved movement (Custom Curved), caliber 440 (1940) – a short, square/oval movement, and the caliber 370 (1948) – a short and wide movement (Curvametric).
The Ristside watches, pronounced as wrist side, were released in 1937 and were designed to be worn on the side of the wrist in line with the thumb. These designs of watches were extensively beloved by the collectors but were very rare as Gruen did not wish to sell many. There is a possibility that a few collectors would try to sell any watch which has hinged lugs as a Ristside. Except Fraternity (mentioned below) and another one similar model all the Ristsides are rectangular in shape and have curved cases.
The Curvex-Ristside watches fit into both the Curvex and the Ristside family of Gruen vintage watches. The Curvex Coronet, Curvex Lord, and the Curvex Admiral all used the 330 movement mentioned above. The Curvex-Ristside Fraternity had hinged lugs and used the 440 movement.
Alan Brenner Maintains BlueTreeVintage.com, a complete source of vintage watches. If your trying to find a women’s antique Gruen watch we have plenty to select from. This and other unique content ” articles are available with free reprint rights.