2.1283 GRUEN MECHANICAL MUSIC BOX POCKET WATCH, SWISS 1970s

A classic Swiss Gruen pocket watch with a real mechanical music box. It’s the kind of object that instantly makes sense in the hand – a proper timekeeper on the front, and a small, beautifully engineered surprise on the back.

Unlike many “novelty” pieces, this one is built around a fully traditional Swiss 17-jewel movement (Unitas 6497 calibre), signed “Gruen Watch Co … 497 R … Swiss”. Open the back and you’ll find the second personality of the watch: a Reuge music mechanism integrated into the cover, designed to be wound and started/stopped from the rear controls. We serviced both movements for time and for music. The melody plays clearly, and it’s exactly the sort of detail that made these musical pocket watches so desirable.

Specifications

• Brand: Gruen
• Type: Musical pocket watch (open-face)
• Origin: Swiss
• Era: 1960s
• Movement: Gruen cal. 497 R, manual wind, 17 jewels, Swiss (signed “Gruen Watch Co … Unadjusted … 497 R … 17 Jewels … Swiss”).
• Music mechanism: Reuge mechanical music box integrated into the back cover; wound / start-stop from rear controls.
• Case: Gold-tone open-face case, snap-on back/bezel, coin-edge sides.
• Crystal: Mineral glass
• Setting / winding: Stem-wound / stem-set

Servicing and Warranty

• Fully serviced with disassembly in our Bristol shop
• Mechanics in full working order
• 12-month movement warranty
• Warranty Terms and Conditions
• No water resistance warranty