Swiss white gold lever watch fiftieth anniversary Circa 1924

White gold open faced pentagonal watch
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A Swiss rare white gold open faced pentagonal watch fiftieth anniversary, circa 1924, gold lever movement, bridges engraved with foliate scrolls , 21 jewels and two diamonds.
Silvered dial, applied white gold Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, gold pierced hands, pentagonal 18 Carat white gold case, engraved bezels and case band, gold cuvette, case, dial and movement signed.
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Diameter: 45 mm
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Signed: Gruen  fiftieth anniversary
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The Gruen anniversary watch was manufactured in 1924 to commemorate the company’s fiftieth anniversary. The watch was produced in a limited edition of 600, the number of months Gruen had been in business. The movements were made in 12 Carat gold with 21 jewels and 2 diamonds. The original selling price was $500, the same price as a new Ford or Chevrolet. Gruen publicized the prominent owners of the anniversary watches, such as General John J. Pershing, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker (a famed World War I pilot) and Howard Hughes.
For a complete history of the Gruen 50th anniversary watch see Eugene T. Fuller, The Priceless Possession of a Few, in theNAWCC Bulletin Supplement.