Gruen Bar Harbor - Ultra Cool See Through Case

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X350 XJR

·Jun 7, 2020·Vintage Omega Aficionado

Ca 1955.

This one has a black and silver gilt dial. I have yet to see one with an in tact blue dial as noted in the ads below. I have another one which was blue but has faded to gold, there are traces of the original blue on the sides of the dial.

An oddity about the Gruen caliber 362 is that the hands set clockwise when turning the crown clockwise, try that with most anything else!

Enjoy.

Edited: Jun 7, 2020

 

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JimInOz

·Jun 7, 2020·Melbourne Australia

Interesting design, quite radical for the time I reckon. And in stainless when most watches were in gold of some type.

X350 XJR

.................................

An oddity about the Gruen caliber 362 is that the hands set clockwise when turning the crown clockwise, try that with most anything else!

I have a Rodania that sets clockwise/clockwise, don't know the caliber so I'll have to check it out later.

 

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JimInOz

·Jun 7, 2020·Melbourne Australia

🙁

Nothing exotic in there, just an 11.5''' Schild movement.

Caliber data courtesy Dr Roland Ranfft.

 

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Foo2rama

·Jun 7, 2020·Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...

“One of the new stainless steel and lucite watches everyone is taking about”

I’m guessing that was just in the room they designed this piece in. I’m not saying it’s ugly... I’ve just never seen a wrist watch like that. I’ve seen a few different pocket watches.

as for backwards setting I have 2 or 3 that are like that.

 

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queriver

·Jun 7, 2020

Love it. The first thing that came to mind was a flying saucer might have been the inspiration. If it was mine the streamlined space-age look would be a bit lost by my hairy wrist though.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Jun 7, 2020

This is similar to the Ernst Borel watches that were very popular- particularly the kaleidoscope cocktail watches. I think the peak for the larger mens Borel watches were during the later 60’s so this is much earlier.

 

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pIoNeErOfThEnILe

·Jun 8, 2020

X350 XJR

Ca 1955.

This one has a black and silver gilt dial. I have yet to see one with an in tact blue dial as noted in the ads below. I have another one which was blue but has faded to gold, there are traces of the original blue on the sides of the dial.

An oddity about the Gruen caliber 362 is that the hands set clockwise when turning the crown clockwise, try that with most anything else!

Enjoy.

that is very cool.

 

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Tony C.

·Jun 8, 2020·Ωf Jury member

Very cool! Thanks for posting.

 

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SkunkPrince

·Jun 8, 2020

X350 XJR

An oddity about the Gruen caliber 362 is that the hands set clockwise when turning the crown clockwise, try that with most anything else!

Not unusual at all. I just tested some in my accumulation, a Hamilton, a Waltham, a Gruen, an Omega, they all do that.

I recall someone here posted that a person who bought one of his watches accused him of shenanigans because an Omega being sold set that way. Clearly it's based on the design of the movement and not something a person could change easily, if at all.

Attractive watch, looks nice.

 

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Stripey

·Jun 8, 2020

I love it. I wish Gruen were still around, or that it was easier to identify references.

 

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chronoboy64

·Jun 8, 2020

Great post, thanks 👍

 

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amcclell

·Jun 8, 2020

JwRosenthal

This is similar to the Ernst Borel watches that were very popular- particularly the kaleidoscope cocktail watches. I think the peak for the larger mens Borel watches were during the later 60’s so this is much earlier.

I was into my local jewelry shop this week and they had a pair of them (his and hers).

 

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JwRosenthal

·Jun 8, 2020

amcclell

I was into my local jewelry shop this week and they had a pair of them (his and hers).

And did you buy them? I got one for my lady and she loves it!

 

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amcclell

·Jun 8, 2020

I have already spent my allowance this month. I looked at them, checked prices on ebay and they were priced a bit high for me.