A charming late-1960s Gruen Precision that combines a remarkably readable 22mm format with a silver sunburst dial, applied markers, and a practical date display. Its full stainless steel case and hand-wound Swiss movement make this an appealing alternative to the more delicate cocktail watches commonly offered for women during the period.
The round stainless steel case features slender angular lugs, a polished bezel, and a snap back marked reference 397 RSS CA. The silver sunburst dial is arranged around an oversized applied 12, faceted baton markers, dark hands, center seconds, and a framed date window at 3 o’clock. A light patina around the date window and outer dial give the watch an honest vintage character without compromising its strong legibility.
Inside is the Gruen-signed caliber 397 CA, identified as an ETA 2541 base movement. This compact 17-jewel Swiss caliber is manually wound and provides center seconds and a date display—a useful, well-proportioned mechanism for a watch of this size.
The movement has been fully serviced, regulated, and is running well. A new crystal has been installed. The stainless steel case shows light scratches, marks, and other age-appropriate wear, while the dial has some visible spotting and localized surface aging, particularly near the date aperture. Please review the photographs closely for the best representation of cosmetic condition. A brand new leather band has been installed and is included with the watch.
Manufacturer: Gruen
Model line: Precision
Reference: 397 RSS CA
Movement: Gruen 397 CA, based on ETA 2541
Winding: Manual wind
Jewels: 17
Complications: Center seconds, and date
Case: Stainless steel with snap back
Case diameter: 22mm excluding crown
Lug to lug: 28mm
Thickness: 8mm
Lug width: Approximately 11.2mm
Recommended band: 11mm
Crystal: New
Origin: Switzerland
This Gruen represents a practical side of late mid-century women’s watchmaking. Rather than emphasizing jewelry-like proportions alone, it offers a clear dial, center seconds, a date complication, and a robust stainless steel case. The result is a small but genuinely usable mechanical watch with the restrained styling associated with the later Gruen Precision era.
A new leather watch band, as depicted in the photos, is included with your purchase. This has resulted in a small price adjustment to the listing. If you would prefer to supply your own band, please contact me immediately upon purchase (prior to shipping) and I will remove the band and issue a partial $20 refund. If you would instead like me to help you source and install a different band, I am happy to do so if you contact me immediately after purchase.
Once the watch has been packaged and shipped, the sale will be considered final and band deletion or replacement will no longer be an option.
A charming late-1960s Gruen Precision that combines a remarkably readable 22mm format with a silver sunburst dial, applied markers, and a practical date display. Its full stainless steel case and hand-wound Swiss movement make this an appealing alternative to the more delicate cocktail watches commonly offered for women during the period.
The round stainless steel case features slender angular lugs, a polished bezel, and a snap back marked reference 397 RSS CA. The silver sunburst dial is arranged around an oversized applied 12, faceted baton markers, dark hands, center seconds, and a framed date window at 3 o’clock. A light patina around the date window and outer dial give the watch an honest vintage character without compromising its strong legibility.
Inside is the Gruen-signed caliber 397 CA, identified as an ETA 2541 base movement. This compact 17-jewel Swiss caliber is manually wound and provides center seconds and a date display—a useful, well-proportioned mechanism for a watch of this size.
The movement has been fully serviced, regulated, and is running well. A new crystal has been installed. The stainless steel case shows light scratches, marks, and other age-appropriate wear, while the dial has some visible spotting and localized surface aging, particularly near the date aperture. Please review the photographs closely for the best representation of cosmetic condition. A brand new leather band has been installed and is included with the watch.
Manufacturer: Gruen
Model line: Precision
Reference: 397 RSS CA
Movement: Gruen 397 CA, based on ETA 2541
Winding: Manual wind
Jewels: 17
Complications: Center seconds, and date
Case: Stainless steel with snap back
Case diameter: 22mm excluding crown
Lug to lug: 28mm
Thickness: 8mm
Lug width: Approximately 11.2mm
Recommended band: 11mm
Crystal: New
Origin: Switzerland
This Gruen represents a practical side of late mid-century women’s watchmaking. Rather than emphasizing jewelry-like proportions alone, it offers a clear dial, center seconds, a date complication, and a robust stainless steel case. The result is a small but genuinely usable mechanical watch with the restrained styling associated with the later Gruen Precision era.
A new leather watch band, as depicted in the photos, is included with your purchase. This has resulted in a small price adjustment to the listing. If you would prefer to supply your own band, please contact me immediately upon purchase (prior to shipping) and I will remove the band and issue a partial $20 refund. If you would instead like me to help you source and install a different band, I am happy to do so if you contact me immediately after purchase.
Once the watch has been packaged and shipped, the sale will be considered final and band deletion or replacement will no longer be an option.
