Gruen's Pilot Watch
Sometimes you guess wrong. Sometimes you get it right. There is never a hundred percent chance of something not going wrong. Even when we buy new watches there are defects. I recently returned a defective watch. When you buy vintage watches, you will get some clunkers. It is unavoidable. Research is your friend. It increases your chances of success.
I have been relatively happy with the state of the collection recently. I feel like I am entering a phase with less buying. I am looking less and less at online auctions. I am still interested in the history, especially of the American watch industry, but I don’t feel the need to have one of every brand. However, I can’t seem to have just one Bulova, Benrus, Hamilton, Elgin, or Gruen. Sometimes, when you are not looking, they just seem to show up.
Gruen is a grand old American brand. In the 1920’s they were the second most popular watch brand in the United States, the largest market in the world. They had an arrangement with Rolex to not sell watches in each other’s markets (Rolex in the U.S., Gruen in the U.K.) But, like Waltham, they were doomed to exit in all but in name in 1958. That is a decade before Elgin crashed and Hamilton moved. Remember, quartz didn’t kill the American watch industry.
Gruen timed and cased its watches in Cincinnati, Ohio, at Time Hill. It manufactured its own movements in Switzerland. When the Second World War came Gruen was not awarded any military contracts by the United States Government. Those went to Hamilton and to a lesser degree Elgin. It was thought that the importation of movements would delay the process. During the war Gruen could not telephone its Swiss holdings. Every communication was by mail. This made Gruen less nimble than its domestic competitors. Waltham and Elgin repurposed plants for wartime industries making gauges and timers, so did Gruen.
Gruen had designed military watches. The military style became the dominant watch style. Gruen decided that they would venture into pilot watches and test-market in long distance airline routes. They believed that pilots required larger, more visible watches, with a 24-hour marker for the longer flights. The Pan American was introduced in 1943. The first run bore the name on the case back. When the models were released to the public a few years later Gruen expanded the line to include fancy scarab lugs and gold cases. It was thought that the sweep seconds and 24-hour track would also be popular in the beginning of long-distance commercial aviation.
This wasn’t advertised as a Pan American. It has the right movement (Gruen 420SS). The dial appears to be un-repainted. Many watches have been re-made into Pan Americans. It has the Guildlite stainless steel back and the base metal case of a 1940’s Pan American. I am satisfied that I found a real one. It is a 1940’s watch intended for commercial pilots that has no design taint of the Wehrmacht. It is not a Flieger. I wasn’t actively looking but I did not want this to get away. This may be the last Gruen that I buy.
Restitutor Orbis. Aristocrat of beauty. Autocrat of time. (Trying to perfect trolling over at theescapementroom.com)
Nice well written read and some interesting facts, as I have said before I prefer dials that have numbers on them rather than markers in any shape or form, that dial is smashing 👏🏻
Unlike yourself I don’t do much research, I buy with my eyes and my heart which I guess may be my downfall in watch collecting one day …..🤔
This is amazing and thanks for the run down. I've filled up my watch box now and also slowing down my purchasing and being more selective. It's great to hear more about American watches as that is one area that I haven't started looking at. At this point, my Hammy KFA is as close as it comes to the good ol' USA.
Are there any newer (non-vintage) American watch brands you would recommend? I love the vintage look but not so much the potential maintenance involved.
Thank you for putting this together. 🍻
I love Gruen, especially some of the dressier models. I only have one in my collection so far, but could happily add more.
Thank you for the history lesson. I like the idea of studying history from a watch perspective. Beautiful watch. I’m happy you found a watch that fits into your passion for history and watches. Cheers!
It's a beautiful watch, but why would it be the last Gruen that you buy? No interest in their models that flip between 1-12 and 13-24?
Great classic design. I'm still in the "mostly new watches" chapter of my collecting. But I think I may delve into vintage divers eventually, all my symptoms are pointing me that way. May start with some of these simple 3 handers though to get familiar with movements and brands.
What a good-looking watch and a great story. I appreciate longer posts like this about American watches and pilots watches in particular. Even better when it’s a local company!
And it’s always nice to see a non-Wehrmacht pilots watch. Wish we saw more and wish that Longines et al would make something like this. The Spirit line is nice but there’s just….something missing.
I’m a big fan of the Gruen brand and think they were extremely innovative in their designs. Like the Veri-Thin, Curvex and others.👍
Great history lesson. As always well written with high entertaiment factor. It’s interesting to learn about all historical american brands. Not so common i Europe so there is slim chances to get aquinted with one. On C24 most are sold in the US and MX. But I have to say of all I seen on the net you managed to find one with a specially great looking dial.
Thanks for taking the time to share. I enjoy reading the historical backstory on these businesses and engineers.
Nice watch and an informative write up.
Thanks so much for posting this. I grew up and still live about half an hour from Time Hill in Cincinnati. I'm not into vintage but would consider a Gruen if I came across a good one.
That's a great looking Gruen you have there. Have never seen one like that. I always associate the Gruen name with their curved watches. I really appreciate the historical information. Where else would you find an article like this?
That's tragic what happened to Gruen in World War II. I hope this country learned its lesson. If Gruen had been awarded the military contract instead of Elgin or Hamilton, we would have won that stinking war.