Gruen Doctor's watch

There are two types of Gruen Doctor's watch, the jump hour type and the normal.

A. Jump hour


B. normal doctor's watch



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Gruen doctor watch

This is a near mint white Gold filled Doctor's Watch circa 1925 with Original silver dial with black markings and original blued steel hands. Nickel 15 jewel movement. This watch is virtually identical to the Rolex Prince, and the same supplier made movements for both Gruen and Rolex. It comes with the original box and bucker. The side view is nice as its has special pattern running across the both sides of the watch, reflecting great details and creativity..

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The Four beauties

In ancient Chinese, there were the Four beauties. In my home, there is also 4 beauties..haha smile! : )

I have sold off some of my favourite vintage hifi equipments to convert cast to get these beauties. I am glad as vintage watches will not occupy much space while those vintage speakers tended to occupy much of the space.







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Rolex Explorer 1 , ref 1016

My Explorer 1 ..I have sent this 1016 to HK Rolex center for a change in the glass..


















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Alpina Gruen doctor's watch

I have always love the Doctor's watch and below are the Alpina Gruen doctor' s watch with the jump hour function. I have missed getting the Rolex jump hour in 1988 (couldn't afford it during my University days)...








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Location:Princess Margaret Road Link,,Hong Kong

Gruen watch company

I am not sure if Gruen company still exits, but these are the information which I have found from the internet.

The watch that I like is the 1928: The Techni-Quadron "for exact time in seconds" aka the Doctor's watch. The “Doctor’s Watch” was distributed under the names of Alpina, Gruen, Alpina-Gruen and Rolex (“Prince”). But the infatuation had only a short duration.

The famous Techni-Quadron "doctor's watches" are so-called because the large seconds dial was handy for timing a patient's pulse. These were not sold only to doctors, however. The watch was advertised as a timepiece for technicians and "radio and mechanical engineers"—anyone who needed to measure time in seconds. The 877 movement, manufactured by Aegler in Biel, was also used in the Rolex Prince; this unusual movement gives the watch its distinctive "dual dial" design. Hours and minutes are confined to the upper half of the dial, while the entire lower dial is dedicated to seconds. The Techni-Quadron provided a useful alternative to the tiny seconds hands on most watches from this era, which can be as little as 2mm (one tenth of an inch) long, and are not practical to use for timing.

Below picture left is the Alpina Gruen, together with the Rolex Prince. After the start of the Depression, 1930 an arrangement was made with Alpina, with the production of a dual branded Alpina/Gruen watch.

Top photo: All Techni-Quadron models have a long case and a large seconds subdial, as large (or nearly as large) as the hour/minute portion of the dial. The "dual dial" layout is a distinctive feature of this line. This particular watch is slightly unusual—most have dials that are more functional and less ornate. Compare this dial to the catalog illustration below, which is more typical. (Photo courtesy of Jack Goldberg.)

The Techni-Quadron does not have the hour and minute hands attached at the center of the dial— as other watches do—on the contrary, these hands are attached above where the crown enters the case. The seconds are in their own subdial, which is symetrically placed outside of and below the hours/minutes portion of the dial. Because these watches are sought after by collectors, other models are often represented as Gruen "doctor's watches" when offered for sale.

The Techni-Quadrons were extremely accurate, and like other Quadron models, did well in European chronometer tests.

Some Techni-Quadron models originally came with "expanding buckles." These look nearly identical to modern deployant buckles, but their purpose was different. With the buckle closed and locked, the watch could be worn normally. However, if the buckle was unlatched, making the strap loose, the wearer could slide the watch up the arm until it fit snugly just above the elbow, keeping the hands and wrists free. A 1929 advertising photo shows a doctor wearing his watch this way. These buckles were available on metal mesh bracelets or leather straps. A smaller version of this buckle was offered for women.

Above: An illustration of a Techi-Quadron with an "expanding buckle" from the 1929 catalog. The buckle allows the watch to be worn either normally, or above the elbow, as shown in the photo.

After Gruen moved all production to the Precision Factory and stopped buying movements from Aegler, they made some dual-dial watches that are superficially similar to the Techni-Quadron, using modified versions of Gruen's calibre 500.

Gruen, Rolex and Aegler

One of the most deeply-held myths about Gruen is that Gruen and Rolex at one time manufactured movements for each other's watches. This is not true, although both firms did use some of the same movements—the best known examples are the Gruen Techi-Quadron and its twin, the Rolex Prince. In reality, these movements were manufactured by a third company, Aegler, who was a very close neighbor to the Gruen Precision Factory.

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Not for sale

There are some who wrote to me asking to buy watches but I am not a dealer and my collection is not for sale. Hope you understand that I am more of a collector. : )


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Prices of PP 3940

For those who is keen to find the discontinued PP 3940, the prices are below: good luck!



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Rolex Explorer 2 vintage1655

I have often wonder why didn't I buy these collectable vintage watches when they were just launched?

After much thinking, I realised that when these watches were launched duing the early period, Iwill never be able to afford as I was still a student then.

Anyway, I ahve bought my Rolex 1655 cheap (around US$1000)  in the late 1990s when these watches are not that collectable. My first servicing of the watch was done in Taiwan in the year 2002.  and took the watch back for another service last year..Time flies..














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Object of desire

This Beyer Pp looks really nice...


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Patek Philippe 3940 - discontinued model

I really love the discontinued PP 3940.The best part of the pp3940 is that the watch is so slim 36mm diameter and yet it is able to have a grand complication of perpetual calender plus automatic movement and a power reserve of 48 hours from the 1980s. This is really one of the modern Classic now. In addition, it is a very comfortable daily us watch that rest very nicely on the wrist...like the vintage Rolex Prince..

To get this watch, I have to let gold one solid gold Rolex bubbleback and one vintage 1910 Omega single button chronograph & a Patek 3445 white gold..

This watch was produced and sold in 1988 (when I am still in the University) and I will not be able to afford it then.

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Patek Philippe

After much searching, I have managed to find the PP 3940 with the early 2nd generation dial. This 3940 has been discontinued and it is the most quitessential expression of pure elegance, with 'grand complication.' those complications you rely on daily and A delightful Moonphase watch! Even though it's only 36mm diameter, with the slim movement, the watch rest nicely on the wrist and it is always a joy to wear it!

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Patek 3940: 3 generation of dials?

First generation (1985-6)



Second generation (1987 - 1990?)



Third generation (1991- 2005?)



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Pp 3940

The PP 3940 is of course the first modern and most iconic Patek perpetual, launched in 1985, and based on the ultra-slim cal. 240 (it is 2.4 mm high) developed in the seventies. It was discontinued in 2006. From the nos of times i am mentioning, you will know that i Can't stop thinking of 3940

I was originally eyeing on the Rolex 8171..This Pp 3940 is the watch that has the honor of being worn by the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy. Patek Philippe retains its value far beyond your purchase date so you need not worry about investing in one. Even though the style is not the most trendy watch, it is one of the classic ..together with the 2526 and others in the Patek Philippe collection, transcend style eras.






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PP 3940

Looks so elegance. The Patek Philippe 3940 features a perpetual calendar with moon phase, day and date functions, as well as programming for leap years. It is powered by a self-winding movement housed within a 36 mm case that is available in platinum, 18kt yellow gold, rose gold, or white gold.







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Patek 3940 dream

I have always love the moon phase watches. During the course of my collection of Patek vintage watches, one watch has captured my attention, the Patek 3940 perpetual calendar moon phase watch. Even though it's a complication watch, it stil has he distinctive gentlemen watch look... Hope I can save enough money to get one soon!

The Patek 3940 was later replaced by 5140 and In particular the diameter of the case grew to 37mm, and they changed the bezel from a concave bezel to a convex [domed] bezel but have kept the Caliber 240Q movement.

3940, side by side with the Patek Philippe 5140.














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