Gruen Curvex factory re issue quartz Gruen movement watch

Gruen Curvex factory re issue quartz Gruen movement watch measuring (on a flat surface) 52mm in length by 22mm in width ex crown.  I say on a flat surface because the actual watch length is 55mm using a tape measure because of the curve in the body of the watch.  So although if you put the watch on the counter and measure it - 52mm if you were to take a tape measure to it you will see that it is actually 55mm.

1935: The Curvex "your curved wrist deserves the world's only truly curved watch"

The most famous Gruen wristwatch was the Curvex. These watches are one of the greatest examples of 1930s streamlined design. The patent for the movement was applied for (in both Switzerland and the U.S.) in 1929 and was subsequently granted 3 additional times during the Depression with the first watches released for sale in 1935.

This watch is a 1980s Re-Issue of the original 1930s model "The Curvex Majesty", an early model using the 311 movement. At 52mm, this is the longest Curvex model that Gruen made.   The re-issue does not disappoint in this regard.  The Curvex Majest was designed with a very ergonomic, heavily curved case to "cradle" the wrist of the wearer and to slide effortlessly into the sleeve without catching on the sleeves of the shirt or suit.  This re-issue is in Rose Gold and is the most popular and least produced of the Gruen Re-issue models, (not to be confused with the shorter, flatter and significantly cheaper re-issues). 

During the mid-1930s, the fashion was for longer and more curved rectangular watches for men. However, the thinness and curve of the case was limited by the need to put a flat movement inside. As the case got thinner and more curved, the only conventional option was to use a smaller and smaller movement. By a clever internal arrangement of the wheels and bridges, Gruen solved this problem by building a curved movement—this allowed them to put a bigger and more reliable movement into a thinner and more curved case than their competitors could. Since the design was patented, these curved movements were exclusive to Gruen. The Curvex was very successful.