[webbb01]

Here is another piece from my personal collection, a Gruen Precision with a 17 jewel movement, autowind & calender systems. I even have the original Gruen storage box. This is a very accurate piece, and measures 33mm in diameter. I believe the "Ra SWISS Ra" dial markings means it had a Radium lume? If so, can this help me estimate the date of the watch?

 

[mkws]

The movement's a Felsa 4009. Yes, the "Ra" means radium lume. Radium lume was replaced with tritium circa 1960, so I guess that the watch is from before then. Style-wise, late 1950s. Dunno, 1958, 1959... Something like that. Rolex brags about the Day-Date being the first watch with the full day of the week displayed in a window, and the Day-Date was introduced in 1956. So if the cal. 4009 was introduced later than that, then... 1957-1959 seems like a quite plausible range of possible years of manufacture of your watch. There was a website with a good resource on dating Gruen watches by case number, but it appears to be currently (if not permanently) unavailable.

 

[JackW]

MikeTheWatchGuy's site is back up. However, I am not sure you will find what you are looking for in dating the case as MKWS indicates. IF you do have a case style number you are certainly into the "roll over" period. Mike's dating method is pretty much geared toward watches that are in the period of the actual Gruen Watch Company. My bet this watch is after the liquidation of the company (ca. 1958) and movements as well as cases were sourced otherwise then the heyday of the company. Things like serial numbers on movements and case style numbers fell to the wayside over time.

1960 is a good and well reasoned guess based on the few facts known. A better date might be determined if an advertisement could be found. But with such a nice NOS watch (looks like it with the tag there) check the box for the receipt.

 

[webbb01]

Thanks mkws! Is the Felsa 4009 a good movement? It was fully serviced in 2014 and is currently running at +10 seconds per day...

 

[webbb01]

JackW - great suggestion, but alas no receipt... But based on the replies, it looks like I have a 1960ish wrist watch!

 

[mkws]

Thanks mkws! Is the Felsa 4009 a good movement? It was fully serviced in 2014 and is currently running at +10 seconds per day...

Felsa movements have a good reputation, ever since the company has introduced the Bidynator- first automatic wristwatch movement with a bidirectional winding rotor.
Generally, they are reliable, whether this one is any different- I don't know, not that I have ever heard of. But then again, I can only base all of that on the company's good reputation rather than any actual experience with these.