Made not only in the same factory as the Rolex Prince, but on the very same production lines was a virtually identical wristwatch, the Gruen Techni-Quadron. Our photos show a comparison to the case and movement of a Prince.
For a number of years after the company's founding, Rolex had no manufacturing capability of its own so the company received its movements from Aegler, a superb Swiss watch manufacturer partially owned by Gruen, Rolex, and the Aegler family. Because of the large number of Aegler shares held by Rolex and the Gruen brothers, the full name of the manufacturer for a time was actually Aegler, Societe Anonyme, Fabrique des Montres Rolex and Gruen Guild A, translated "Aegler, Limited Company, Manufacturer of Watches for Rolex and Gruen Guild A". The Aegler family used their workshop to produce a large number of movements for Rolex, most notably for the Prince series, as well as for this special wristwatch sold by Gruen.
"Why was the identical watch sold as both a Rolex and a Gruen?" The answer is quite simple: when the watch hit the market in 1928, Rolex was still a London-based company selling almost exclusively in the British Empire and Europe. They had no distribution facilities in the United States, then as now, one of the largest markets in the world. Aegler had invented the watch and put time and money into it. They wanted to recoup their investment from as large a market as possible, and so Gruen was given the 'franchise' for the United States. These were the only markets anywhere in the world worth selling an expensive watch to." - Explanation courtesy of Hess & Dowling, The Best of Time - Rolex Wristwatches, an Unauthorized History.
The rare Gruen Techni-Quadron featured in today's offering is an original example of one of these fine wristwatches. Here are a few of its features:
- Possessing a long, stylish case and an ultra-high quality mechanism, these wristwatches set a standard of the day for refinement and accuracy, performing very well in European chronometer tests
- Powered by the legendary caliber 877 mechanism, manufactured by the Aegler family in Biel, Switzerland, used in these Techni-Quadron and Rolex's Prince line of watches
- Extremely high quality movement design featuring an oversized winding barrel and balance wheel. By placing this two mechanisms at opposite ends of the movement the watch achieves incredible levels of accuracy and carries a longer power reserve, enabling it to run longer and more accurately on each wind
- Curved, long and elegant case make it appropriate for both casual and dress wear
- Larger, peripheral seconds dial insures the hour and minute hands never obstruct the view of the seconds, perfect for taking a patient's pulse and for technical uses
- Striking Art Deco dial
Its thickly plated 14K gold filled case is in near mint plus condition. Much of the time these cases have been polished so that the gold has worn through. That's not the case with this one, which shows very little signs of previous polishing and no gold wear. The Gruen stamping on the back is still very strong.
Its iconic duo-dial face, which has a wonderful Art Deco style, is original and untouched.
One of our Master Watchmakers has disassembled it down to its last screw and cleaned and oiled it. It is running very strong and true, keeping time nearly on par with a new watch in our testing position.
For the finishing touch, we have equipped it with a brand new Teju lizard strap making it ready for immediate enjoyment.
Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. international warranty on the movement and its function, a full-page custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity, and a new timing certificate.
This is an opportunity to own an exciting historical timepiece on par with coveted Rolex Prince watches.
- Manufacturer: Gruen/Aegler
- Country of origin: Switzerland
- Serial no.: 1,828,218
- Year built: c. 1930
- Model: Techni-Quadron, ref. 877/8
- Functions: Hours, Minutes, Large Subsidiary Seconds
- Designed for: Men
- Case material: 14K gold-filled
- Case condition: Near mint plus. Much of the time these cases have been polished so that the gold has worn through. That's not the case with this one, which shows very little signs of previous polishing and no gold wear. The Gruen stamping on the back is still very strong.
- Dial: Silver, Art Deco, outer minute track, black painted radial Roman indexes, larger peripheral seconds dial, signed Gruen, original. Please inquire if you would like it refinished.
- Dimensions: 22mm wide (excluding crown), 40.5mm long lug tip-to-tip
- Hands: Blue steel, original, "Moderne" style with period correct replacement seconds
- Movement type: Original Gruen made by Aegler, Cal. 877, very high quality, 7''' 1/2, 15 jewels, lateral lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance-spring
- Movement markings: Gruen Guild A, Fifteen Jewels, Switzerland
- Jewels: 15 rubies
- Band: Teju lizard, fully stitched, padded, brand new and unworn
- Crystal type: Mineral glass
- Serviced: One of our Master Watchmakers has disassembled it down to its last screw and cleaned and oiled it.
- Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system. It is running very strong and true, keeping time nearly on par with a new watch in our testing position. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center.
- Warranty: 1-year warranty. Please email [email protected] for details.
- Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; New timing certificate
*Aegler factory information excerpted from Paul Schliesser's article "Gruen Watch Company History",
