Need help identifying watch.

**Josephine Warshauer** · 12-12-2011, 11:56 AM

Can you identify the maker or anything more specific about this gold wrist watch. has a grosgrain ribbon watch band. I really appreciate your help!

**Don Dahlberg** · 12-12-2011, 06:12 PM

Welcome to the NAWCC Message Board.

The case appears to be from the 1920s, but since the maker of the watch movement usually did not case the watch, we would have to see the movement back to have any change to identify it. Also list anything written on the movement.

The case may be gold filled. Anything written on the inside of the back of the case will help determine the material used.

Don

**Josephine Warshauer** · 12-13-2011, 09:05 AM

Don, thank you for your speedy reply! Unfortunately, I do not have the watch in hand. I was interested in the watch, which was for sale at a consignment shop, and watched it for months. It was recently sold, and I am trying to locate one similar to it. I compared the font of the numbers on the face of the watch with some of the makers from that period (1910s/20s) and thought that Gruen might be a good match. What do you think? Only problem is that ebay seems to be the only place with a number of Gruen watches for sale. Any ideas?

**Mikrolisk** · 12-13-2011, 09:09 AM

What's that text on that tag? "..nta Watch Co." ?

Andreas

**Josephine Warshauer** · 12-13-2011, 01:26 PM

I have another image that isn't as good. But between the two, I have sort of pieced together what the tag says:
... 14K
Vintage .. Cord
Watch Co. ladies
dress watch with

It appears I did not take a picture of the other side of the tag. Interestingly, when speaking with the sales lady, she said they could not figure out what the maker was. I assume they would have opened up the watch during consignment assessment, but I guess they did not. Otherwise I think they would have figured it out.

I attached another picture. If you look at the pocket watch in the corner, you can make out the numbers at the dial and see that the "1" is very similar, albeit slightly italic. The demarcation of minutes on the outside of the face is also similar. The face of the watch notes:
Gr...
Ve...
Could this similarly numbered pocket watch be a Gruen? I'll stop by and see if I can get that info.

**Cary Hurt** · 12-13-2011, 05:34 PM

The pocketwatch is a Gruen Veri-Thin, likely from the later 1930s. The wristwatch is unlikely to have been made by Gruen, as they almost always marked their dials. Gruen was one of the first major makers to manufacture all of the components of a watch and sell it as a finished product. Most other watch companies sold movements direct to jewelers who could match it with a standard sized case, to the customers order.

There was a Cord Watch Co., as well as a Cort Watch Co. This watch could have been made by either of them. It also could have been made by almost any other company operating in the 1920s.

The fact of the matter is that watches of this type were made by literally hundreds of firms, and it is nearly impossible to identify the actual manufacturer of the finished product. Watch movements were made by dozens of large scale makers, then finished and customized by smaller makers, fitted with dials made by a different firm, then matched with cases made by other manufacturers, then imported into the US by an unrelated wholesale importer, only to be retailed by independent jewelers, department stores, mail-order houses, and any number of other sellers. Any of these companies may have had their name engraved, stamped or printed on some part of the watch at some step along the way.

I would advise that you peruse the offerings of some online retailers (and yes, eBay is flush with watches like this) ask for references and a return policy that you are satisfied with, and choose a watch that you like. Even in solid gold, these watches are not terribly expensive, (the cases will generally hold less than 5 grams of 14K, about $125 at current prices). In gold-filled, the cost should be commensurately less.