Founded in Ohio in 1894 by Dietrich Grün, a German born watchmaker, Gruen grew to become the largest watch manufacturer in the US by the 1920s. Its production included such notable models like the Curvex, a thin curved watch, and the Pan American, a pilot’s watch with a 24-hour dial.
In the late 1950s, Gruen would introduce a novel compilation to 24-hour watches with the Airflight. Where conventional military time watches featured either an overcrowded dial with two tracks marked with 24 indices (such as the Pan Am models) or a single track with 24 indices (like the Glycine Airman) that could make reading the time awkward, Gruen created an ingenious mechanism that would automatically switch the hours (visible through small windows on the dial) between 1-12 and 13-24.
Today’s example also happens to be one of the rarest variants of the Airflight, as the dial is stamped with an American Air Force Association (AFA) logo. We've paired this unique watch with a classic grained calf in black from Molequin.
Details
Movement: Type: Manual Wind, Caliber 510RSS, 17 jewels Movement has been fully serviced and keeps accurate time. Hour indicators switch smoothly at 1 and 13 hours. One year mechanical warranty included. Case: 35mm (not including crown) chrome case and stainless steel back Strap: Molequin grained calf in black, quick release spring bars (MSRP: €105.00) Overall condition: Chrome case has been replated and presents in superb condition, aside from visible wear on the bottom lugs. Steel back is clean, with minor storage marks. Original signed crown is good. Fantastic dial, with vibrant colours on the AFA logo and crisp script, only minor spotting visible under magnification. Hour disk is excellent, with bright numerals. Hands are clean. New acrylic crystal.
