This early 60s Gruen has been given a “light touch” restoration focused almost entirely on the A. Schild 17 jewel Swiss movement, which has been given a full service to assure solid performance and timekeeping. The dial hands and case have been left in original condition, with a clean chrome finish and a nice patina on the dial and hands. The one exception is the crown, which has been replaced as the original was missing.

Looking super sharp in gold and black, this early 1960s Gruen Precision is driven by their innovative N710 SS automatic movement, making this watch a great combination of style and substance. With a 35mm bezel, it also looks great on the wrist.

I generally hesitate to refinish vintage watch cases. Still, there is a point beyond which a watch case becomes so battered that it crosses the line from “vintage and charming” to “old and ugly.” For me, this case had definitely crossed over that line, so a restoration was in order. In this post I walk through the process, showing the case as it slowly transforms.

Kicking off a new blog series, we take a look at the Gruen N 710 SS. This 1960s automatic movement was manufactured for Gruen by… someone. It’s a bit of a mystery, as, beyond a stamp indicating Swiss manufacture, the movement only has Gruen markings.