Product Details
+"Your curved wrist deserves the world's only truly curved watch"
Gruen Watch Company, one of the most important and prestigious American watch manufacturers, founded by a brilliant German horologists, Dietrich Gruen and later by his sons Fred and George Gruen.
"The most famous Gruen wristwatch was the Curvex. These watches are one of the greatest examples of 1930s streamlined design."
In 1935, Gruen introduced the first Curvex wristwatches for men. Expanding on the then-current fashion of the rectangular wristwatches shapes, these models were curved to wrap around the wrist. The biggest innovation of the design was the ability to produce a movement which followed the shape of the case, allowing the watch to be thinner and more curved. This, in turn, allowed the movement to be larger, more durable and more accurate.
There were four men's Curvex movements, they were introduced by Gruen in 1935 with the thin caliber 311. This was soon replaced by the more curved 330 (1937), also long and thin. As fashions changed, later Curvex models used the short, squarish-oval 440 (1940) and the short and wide 370 (1948). Watches with the 330 were called Custom Curved and 370 models were called Curvametric in Gruen advertising, although the dials are all marked simply Curvex and Precision. Any man's watch that does not contain one of these four movements is not a Curvex.
1938 GRUEN Curvex
Commodore
Driver's Ristside
Watch
Curved Case, Dial & Movement - "Edge-of-wrist watch - The extreme curve was designed to be worn only on the edge of the wrist."
Today, we are presenting a real, very rare and EXTREMELY curved timepiece! This is a vintage Gruen Curvex Precision Commodore Driver's Ristside watch, caliber 330, style 356 and dated from 1938.
It is a manual wind watch powered by the original Gruen Precision Curvex movement caliber 330, 17 jewels, sub-second, unadjusted, 18,000 A/h, 40 hours power reserve, Swiss made.
In good condition, this watch still has the original white curved dial with gold Arabic Numerals, bold minute track and gold matching hands. The sub-second is located at 6 o’clock and the dial is also signed with Gruen Curvex on top and Precision on the bottom.
Cased in a 22.6x37.4mm rectangular and extremely curved fancy Wadsworth case with solid lugs, all in 14K yellow gold filled.
It comes on a vintage new-old-stock brown leather two-piece strap. It will fit a wrist up to 7 1/2" (19.1 cm).
This watch is lovely condition, it is a very attractive looking watch. It runs very well and keeps great time!
Thank you for looking! Please feel free to contact us with any questions, or respectful offers.
Movement:
Gruen Watch Co.
Precision
Curvex
Switzerland
Conoruma
Seventeen 17 Jewels
520306
Unadjusted
Cal. 330
Case Markings:
Cased & Timed in U.S.A.
By Gruen Watch Co.
Wadsworth
14K Gold Filled
G082197
330 - 356
Measurements (mm):
Case 22.6x37.4
Case w/Crown 24.7
Case Lug to Lug 37.4
Case Thickness 10
Lug Width 16
Band Width 16
Vintage watches are traditionally smaller than today's watches. Men’s watches typically measure between 29-36mm wide (some larger, some smaller) excluding the crown. In the listing details we typically try to do our best to list all pertinent dimensions of a watch. If you don't see it, or we failed to do so, please reach out to us. Women’s watches from the 1900s-1970s were also much smaller than today's offerings. Please also feel free to ask any questions you have pertaining to size.
We prefer to shoot photographs outside when weather is permitting. However, when we shoot indoors, please be aware that we shoot our photographs inside of lightboxes that are lit with 360 LED bulbs. This indeed magnifies any flaws. Usually, they are much less obvious to the naked eye. Having said that, we never photoshop any of our photography, remove blemishes, etc. We adjust the lighting, when necessary, but what you see is what you are getting, and we take pride in that.
The condition is pre-owned.
The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear but is fully operational and functions as intended.
Please review the photos and feel free to ask any questions you may have.
It will be carefully packed.
Please view our other listings.
Thank you for looking!
WA-4088