1960s Gruen Precision Ocean Chief

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Why This Watch Matters This Ocean Chief is a gentle reminder that patina, when right, can be good, really good. The Full Story The history of Gruen is an interesting one. It began with Dietrich Grün, a German immigrant to the U.S., when he first filed for a patent for a safety pinion in 1874. Subsequently, in 1876, he established the Columbus Watch Manufacturing Company in Columbus, Ohio. There, he started his workshop assembling parts imported from Switzerland. However, due to disputes with his business partners, he and his son, Fred, ventured out to start their own company called “D. Gruen and Son” which was the beginning of Gruen. Gruen and other American manufacturers such as Waltham, Elgin, and Hamilton had a golden era in the early part of the 1900s with the high demand for pocket watches; soon after, the manufacturers moved on to wristwatch production to accommodate the needs of their customers. The humble Ocean Cheif diver, like the one we have here, hit the Gruen catalog of offerings sometime in the 1950s and continued to be produced, although in low numbers, into the 1960s. The watch clearly shows a few of the same design principles used in Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms and Breitling's Superocean, most notably the concave or "stadium" bezel. While the twisted lugs are a nice touch, collectors always come back to the bezel on this watch, it is stunning. Furthermore, a black dial is accented with silver text and the look is completed by a pair of uncharacteristic and striking "snake head" hands. The generous application of lume in the handset would have proved immensely useful back in the day. We paired this uncommon Gruen with our aged leather watch strap in hunter green to lean into the tool watch nature of the model. The Fine Print Maker: GruenModel: Ocean ChiefReference: 560 RSS 165Year: 1960sCase No: N/AMaterial: Stainless steelDimensions: 39mm diameter; 14mm thicknessCrystal: PlexiglassLume: Yes, tritiumCaliber: Gruen, self-winding, caliber 560 RSSBracelet/Strap: HODINKEE Aged Leather Watch Strap In Hunter GreenLug Width: 19mmBox/Papers: No What We Love And What You Should Know Things We Love: Concave "stadium" bezel Black dial with silver gilt printing "Snake head" handset Recently serviced Things To Know: Scratches on case Even spotting on dial Hands are color corrected This Gruen diver is in good overall condition. The movement has been recently serviced. The case is in very good condition retaining crisp edges to the lugs and case sides. The reverse sides of the lugs have some scratches from strap removal and placement. The caseback has a few scratches but the engravings are all clearly visible. The dial is in attractive condition with an overall patina to the glossy black finish. The center of the dial shows concentrated patina and wear but overall the patina presents as an even spotting. Mostly, the dial has matted in texture. There is some wear to the printing such as in the "G" of "Gruen." The lume on the dial is full and has aged to a dark cream color. The lume in the hands has been color corrected to match that of the dial. The hands themselves have developed a light patina. The external "stadium" bezel has developed an overall patina with some wear but the luminous triangle at 12 o'clock is intact and has a patina that matches that of the dial and hands. The dial, case, and movement are signed by Gruen. This watch was photographed on a 175mm/6.9inch wrist. Show more