I generally hesitate to refinish vintage watch cases. Still, there is a point beyond which a watch case becomes so battered that it crosses the line from “vintage and charming” to “old and ugly.” For me, this case had definitely crossed over that line, so a restoration was in order. In this post I walk through the process, showing the case as it slowly transforms.

Kicking off a new blog series, we take a look at the Gruen N 710 SS. This 1960s automatic movement was manufactured for Gruen by… someone. It’s a bit of a mystery, as, beyond a stamp indicating Swiss manufacture, the movement only has Gruen markings.