AUTHENTIC MARVIN AUTOMATIC BUMPER GENTS WRISTWATCH

Marvin is a classic watch-making brand steeped in the tradition of fine Swiss horology since 1850. For over 150 years, it has remained true to its founding principles of passion, daringness, strong ethics and humor.

The Marvin brand is known for its tradition of beautiful and reliable time pieces, rich in style and history.Marvin's elegant and original watches, powered by top-quality Swiss movements, propelled the company to success early on in over sixty countries. And now, once again, Marvin is poised to reinvent the luxury watch.Unique aesthetics and daring designs. Relentless attention to detail and finish. Exclusive and unique concepts. All brought together with technical perfection at affordable prices. This is what the unmistakable signature of a Marvin timepiece is all about. To view latest version of Marvin watches, please visit Marvin E-Boutique

THE HISTORY

Brothers Marc and Emmanuel Didisheim create their watch-making company in 1850 and base it in St-Imier, in the Jura section of Switzerland. The company experiences quick and significant growth based on product quality and extensive distribution networks. In the early 20th century, the company takes up the name “Marvin”, honoring its largest American partner. It also establishes the three-pointed crown as its corporate logo symbolizing both the inverted “M” of Marvin and the “W” of watch. After taking the USA by storm, Marvin takes top billing among Swiss watch brands in over sixty countries worldwide. Over time, millions of watches are produced including several well known collector classics.

Marvin components were considered so reliable, that even other brands licensed them internally. Movie stars, politicians and racing legends all wore Marvin watches at one point in time. And Marvin also produced official corporate pieces for Air France, KLM, Ferrari, Mercedes, Jaguar, MG, Chevrolet and Rover. Over time, four generations of Didisheims have taken the helm at Marvin, succeeding one another. And while Marvin has always embraced change, the same vision of authenticity, originality, detail, and quality has driven the company and its people for over 160 years until today.

RARE SWISS MADE GRUEN GENTS AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCHES COLLECTION

Gruen GULDITE Precision Autowind 35x38mm, manual winding 17 Jewel Cal. 516SS- RM950

Gruen PRECISION AUTOWIND 38x42mm, manual winding 25 Jewel Cal. 03- RM600

Gruen Precision Veri-thin Auto Bumper Sub Second 36x41mm, 17 Jewel Cal. 460- Auto not functioning -manually wind - Personal collection





Gruen PRECISION AUTOWIND 34x39mm, manual winding 25 Jewel Cal.551- RM800





















Gruen PRECISION AUTOWIND DAYDATE 68x42mm, 17 Jewel Cal.33 - RM850









Gruen PRECISION AUTOWIND 36x42mm, 17 Jewel Cal.550SS - RM950

TRADED WITH MR KAMARUL FROM CHERAS, KUALA LUMPUR

BRIEF HISTORY OF GRUEN WATCHES

The first Gruen watches are of very high quality and are beautifully made. Both 18 and 16 size versions were manufactured, each in both open face and hunter styles, and in 18- and 21-jewel versions. The earliest D. Gruen & Son serial numbers started around 62000. The Gruens dealt directly with individual jewelry stores; there were no wholesalers or jobbers involved in the distribution of their watches.



In 1898 George Gruen joined the firm as treasurer and financial officer. The company incorporated and its name changed to D. Gruen, Sons & Company.



In 1903 Gruen introduces its "VeriThin" line of watches.



In 1908 Gruen introduced both men's and women's wristwatches. These proved popular only with women. Gruen was one of a very few companies to take wristwatches seriously this early, seeing their potential in spite of disappointing early sales to male customers.



Gruen made both wrist and pocket watches for the military during World War I. Most had silver cases, which would tarnish but would not corrode under adverse conditions. To satisfy U.S. military regulations, these watches all have luminous dial markings and hands.



1911 Dietrich Gruen dies suddenly. Fred Gruen takes control of the company.



In 1913 the company purchased Nanny Goat Hill, a pasture just outside of Cincinnati, and renamed it Time Hill. Work began on a new building designed by architect Guy C. Burroughs at a construction cost estimated at $50,000 USD. The company moved to the new location in 1917.



1921: Gruen introduces The Cartouche wrist watch calling it "The logical wrist watch shape".



1922: Gruen introduces "The Pentagon" pocket watch. "the Croix de Guerre of American achievement"



Up until 1922 there had actually been three Gruen companies: D. Gruen, Sons & Company; The Gruen National Watch Case Company of Cincinnati; and The Gruen Watch Manufacturing Company of Biel, Switzerland. In 1922 all three businesses were merged to form the Gruen Watch Company, with Fred as President.



In 1924, Gruen released a special pocket watch in an edition of 600 to commemorate their 50th anniversary. The watch cost $500 at the time.



In 1925, Gruen introduced the men's Quadron. These were rectangular watches containing very high-quality 15-j or 17-j tonneau-shaped movements.



In 1928 Gruen releases The Techni-Quadron. The famous Techni-Quadron "doctor's watches" are so-called because the large seconds dial was handy for timing a patient's pulse.



In 1935 Fred Gruen, now 63 years old, became Chairman of the Board and Benjamin S. Katz was brought in as President of the Gruen Watch Company. In 1935, Gruen was about $1.8 million USD (roughly $36 million USD today) in debt; nervous stockholders and investors were behind the change. Fred would retire in 1940, but continued to sit on the board for the rest of his life.



In 1935 Gruen introduces the most famous Gruen wristwatch- "The Curvex". These watches are one of the greatest examples of 1930s streamlined design.



1937: Gruen introduces "The Ristside" or "driver's" watches.



In 1938, continuing the success of their VeriThin pocket watches, Gruen also launched a series of Veri-Thin wristwatches. Contemporary Curvex and Veri-Thin movements often are closely related, and can share many parts. By the 1940s, most Gruen wristwatches were either Veri-Thin or Curvex models.



Although Gruen did not manufacture watches for the U.S. military, they offered the public a collection of eight military-style watches, to be used as personal watches.



In 1949, the company introduced their first watches made entirely in the U.S., a line of 21-jewel men's models called the "Gruen 21". The movements are marked "Cincinnati" or "US" instead of the usual "Switzerland."



Fred Gruen retired in 1940 and died in 1945, and his brother George died in 1952. In 1953 the Gruen family sold their interest in the company. The same year, Gruen president Benjamin Katz was forced into retirement after a scandal, and in 1954 the company bought out his shares for $2 million USD.



In 1953, the Gruen Watch Company had its highest sales in its entire history.



The Myth about Gruen, Rolex and Aegler - The True History



One of the most deeply-held myths about Gruen is that Gruen and Rolex at one time manufactured movements for each other's watches. Both firms did use some of the same movements—the best known examples are the Gruen Techi-Quadron and its twin, the Rolex Prince. In reality, these movements were manufactured by a third company, Aegler, who was a very close neighbor to the Gruen Precision Factory.

Above: The Aegler factory in Biel. Aegler made movements for Rolex (which had no manufacturing capability at the time), and this building is the main Rolex factory today. Aegler was partly owned by Gruen.

Gruen and Rolex were Aegler's biggest customers, and were both large shareholders as well—the full company name at one time was, Aegler, Societe Anonyme, Fabrique des Montres Rolex & Gruen Guild A. Gruen and Rolex both occasionally showed pictures of the huge Aegler factory in their advertising, making the implication that this was a Gruen- or Rolex-owned facility, although ownership at the time was divided among Gruen, Rolex and Aegler itself. Gruen sold their Aegler shares in the 1930s, after they moved all production to the Precision Factory. After this time, Aegler became increasingly tied to Rolex through the sale of stock. Today, the main Rolex building in Biel is the old Aegler factory, and though it is now owned by Rolex, it is still run by the Aegler family.

This article taken from Complete Price Guide to Watches, American Wriswatches, Rolex Wristwatches: Best of Time and Gruen Master Book

AUTHENTIC VINTAGE JAEGER LECOULTRE POWER RESERVED AUTOMATIC BUMPER WRISTWATCH

BRAND/JENAMA: AUTHENTIC VINTAGE 10K GOLD FILLED LECOULTRE POWER RESERVED GENTS WRISTWATCH

MADE IN/BUATAN: SWISS

CIRCA/TAHUN: 1960's

MODEL: POWER RESERVED

CRYSTAL/CERMIN: ACRYLIC

MOVEMENT/ENJIN: LECOULTRE 17 JEWELS AUTOMATIC BUMPER MOVEMENT CAL.481

DIAL COLOR: BLACK WITH NICE DISTRIBUTED PATINA

FUNCTION/FUNGSI: HOUR, MINUTE, SECOND AND POWER RESERVED INDICATOR AT 12:00

HANDS/JARUM: GOLD TONE (REPAINTED HANDS)

MARKERS/TANDA WAKTU: GOLD TONE STICKS AND DOTS MARKERS

CASING : 10K GOLD FILLED

LUGS: 16mm UNUSUAL LOGS LUGS

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN: 34mm DIAMETER INCLUDING CROWN and 37mm LUG TO LUG

BEZEL: 10K GOLD FILLED BEZEL

DITANDA/ENGARVED BACK CASING: -

CROWN: ORIGINAL CROWN

STRAP/TALI: BLACK/GP SPIEDEL BAND

SIZE STRAP/SAIZ TALI: 8.5" FULL LENGHT

DISCONTINUED LECOULTRE MODEL... RARE BUMPER MODEL!

EXCELLENT CONDITION, KEEPING GOODTIME AND RECENTLY SERVICED

PRICE/HARGA: RM3,100 (NEGOTIABLE)

A BRIEF HISTORY OF LE COULTRE WATCHES

A brilliant inventor and self-taught watchmaker, Antoine-LeCoultre founded his first workshop in 1833, following the invention of a machine to produce watchmaking pinions. Ever since, the Manufacture Jaeger-Lecoultre has developed constantly around the founder's original workshops.

Surprisingly enough, it was neither a physicist nor an engineer who first measured the micron; it was Antoine LeCoultre, in 1844. He had created watch components that were so perfect no tool could actually detect their degree of inaccuracy. He followed that up by inventing the world's most accurate instrument: the Millionometer, which served as a benchmark for over half a century.

In 1847, LeCoultre created a revolutionary system that was to do away with the need for keys to rewind and set watches. His simple and brilliant solution was a pushbutton that activated a lever to switch from one function to another. It was the first keyless winding mechanism, and the first reliable system that eliminated the need for keys to wind or set a watch.

In 1866, when Swiss watchmaking was still structured around small home-run workshops, Antoine LeCoultre and his son Elie decided to bring together under one rood the many skills involved in making watches, and installed a steam-driven machine to operate their new tools. LeCoultre & Cie thus became the first Manufacture in the Vallée de Joux.

It was in 1903 when the Parisian Edmond Jaeger set Swiss watchmakers the challenge of producing ultra-thin calibres. It would lead to the Calibre 145, the world's thinnest mechanical movement, measuring no more than 1.38 mm, and the friendship of Antoine LeCoultre's grandson, Jacques-Devid LeCoultre. These two men would give a rise to a range of horological wonders, and eventually the birth of the Jaeger-LeCoultre brand in 1937.

In the year 1908, the Manufacture created its first rectangular-shaped calibre in response to the challenge created to miniaturize watches to wear on the wrist. By the "Roaring 20s" (1920s), very small ladies' wristwatches were all the rage, but extreme miniaturization always led to a loss of reliability and precision. The Duoplan brilliantly solved this problem by arranging its parts on split levels. It would lead to the world's smallest movement, Calibre 101. Outdoing the Calibre 145, Jaeger-Lecoultre miniaturized the Duoplan caliber to the extreme, weighing in at barely one gram and comprising of 74 parts. Its record is still unmatched to this date.

Since its founding, the Manufacture has created and produced over 1,000 different calibres in many varieties. Over 200 patented inventions have contributed to the progress of Swiss watchmaking in the field of movements, as well as that of cases, bracelets, dials, and watch functions.