Gruen Techni-Quadron Doctor's Watch

Why We Love It

The 1930s were the golden years of American watchmaking, and Gruen was a bright star in the horological firmament. Ties to Swiss brands like Rolex and Aegler resulted in the creation of some of the finest watches ever made in the United States. This watch, a Techni-Quadron, is one of the most elegant—and, at the time it was minted, accurate.

This particular Techni-Quadron is, without question, an Art Deco masterpiece. The white gold-filled rectangular case (“reinforced with extra gold”) has ornate engravings along the side. Stately and subdued with a handsomely-aged silver dial, the Techni-Quadron has all the makings of a distinctive dress watch.

The Story

The Techni-Quadron shares a movement—the Calibre 877—with the Rolex Prince. In fact, due to this agreement between movement manufacturer Aegler, Rolex, and Gruen, the Techni-Quadron is, more or less, the Prince by another name. Rolex sold this watch as the Prince in Europe and throughout the British Empire, marketing it to “men of distinction,” while Gruen sold it in the U.S. to the “man who requires the exact time in seconds”—mainly physicians, which led to the Techni-Quadron gaining a reputation as a “doctor’s watch.”

Gruen sold its shares in Aegler in 1934, which effectively ended the production of the Techni-Quadron. With Gruen out of the way, Rolex was allowed to sell the Prince in the United States, which it did from the 1940s to the 1950s, when the model was discontinued. However, the Techni-Quadron is rarer than the Prince, and paradoxically more affordable, due to the lack of “Rolex” on the dial.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.