Gruen Precision 'Doctor No'

Along with Hamilton, Bulova, and Elgin, Gruen was one of the largest watch manufacturers in the United States. Its founder, a German named Dietrich Gruen, became a watchmaker's apprentice at the age of fifteen, in 1862, and immigrated to the United States five years later. On the voyage to America, he met and fell in love with the daughter of a watchmaker who lived in Ohio. The couple settled there in 1867, and two years later Gruen partnered with a businessman from Columbus to form Columbus Watch Company. By 1874 he had filed a patent for a safety pinion for pocket watches, which protected the movement from damage in the event of a mainspring break.

Dietrich Gruen was forced out of the Columbus Watch Company after the Panic of 1893, an economic depression that shook every pillar of the economy and sent the unemployment rate skyrocketing to nearly 19 percent. But Gruen, ever resourceful, took that as an opportunity to go into business with his son, Frederick, forming D. Gruen & Son in 1894. They changed the company’s name to the Gruen Watch Company in 1898, and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio.

So began the Gruen Watch Company. Gruen has made many of the coolest watches the market has seen, and a number of more traditional pieces as well. This particular example is an example of the latter.

Housed in a modest 33mm case and dating to the 1960s, this piece captures the essence of the era in the watch industry. Fashioned from 18K yellow gold and topped with an acrylic crystal, this piece is outfitted with a manually wound Calibre 510 movement. It features a classic stick dial with pencil hands very reminiscent of the era’s Calatrvas.

This particular piece also has ties to James Bond as well. The Gruen Precision 510 is the first watch we ever see on 007 and apparently was worn during pre-production on the very first day of shooting! It's believed that it was an error in filming continuity as Mr. Bond's watch switches to the Rolex Submariner during subsequent scenes.

With a case in beautiful condition and handsome design, this piece on its own has a license to kill with its good looks.

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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.