DESCRIPTION:
EPW - Gruen, Fiftieth Anniversary Watch, "Twenty-One 21 Jewels & Two Diamonds" marked mvt with gold plates, Swiss made for American market, 12S, heavy 18K white gold pentagonal Gruen marked case with "J.F.D." initials in blue enamel to rear, gold cuvette engraved "Made Especially For and Presented to J. Frank Darling by his Associates and Employees August 1924," refinished silvered dial with applied gold numerals, SW-SS, fully capped lever escapement, diamond endstones over balance and escape wheel, ornately engraved rose gold mvt plates, s#220. The Gruen Fiftieth Anniversary Watch was produced in 1924 with a total production of 650 made, this total figure corresponds to a group of 600 in recognition of each of the months of the 50 years along with a separately numbered series of 50 in recognition of each of the years. These watches were catered to a very exclusive clientele being marketed as "The Priceless Possession of a Few" at a prohibitively expensive base cost of $500 in 1924. For those who weren't feeling quite extravagant enough with just the $500 base cost in 1924 dollars, there were even higher priced options available with upgrades of case material, finish, and design.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, nearly mint cosmetic mvt condition overall, bright lustrous surfaces with few small micro-fine scratches; refinished dial cosmetically excellent with few small mild surface spots, upper portion of the of the "1" numeral in 12 is lifted from surface; nearly mint hands; case shows light wear, profuse micro-fine scratches to rear, no dents or dings, engraving detail with mild reduction, some flaking and losses to blue enamel inlay of rear initials; tight bow, crown shows light wear; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$3000
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$5000
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