Bulova 1929 Bernard

Submitted by tunatime on December 17, 2014 - 5:34pm
Manufacture Year
1929
Movement Model
10AN
Movement Date Code
Shield
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
639242
Case Serial No.
9358251
Case shape
Square
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

I was just given this watch as a gift from my father. No history accompanied the watch, but it has been serviced and runs beautifully. I was told it is a 1929 model, and the Shield symbol along with the case serial number beginning with a 9 would seem to back that up. The case is two-tone with an art deco design on the front and sides. This mystery watch model looks like the Ambassador, Revere, Senator, Brewster and Executive merged together. I would love to know more about this timepiece!  

It appears in the following ad. If only they had included the model name!

http://www.mybulova.com/sites/default/files/vintage_ads/bulova-ad-1930-…

tunatime 1929 Bulova 12 18 2014
1929 Bulova watch
1929 Bulova watch
1929 Bulova watch
mybulova_admin
Posted December 18, 2014 - 1:48am

I believe thta this model remains unknown todate. We do have a black and white advert which looks to show the watch, but it is however un-named.

tunatime
Posted December 18, 2014 - 4:05am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Thank you. Would you suggest I contact Bulova directly? How many different design options were available in each model? For example, I see several ambassador versions, including completely plain and also Art Deco. Is it like cars, where the same model could have different "trim packages?" 

Geoff Baker
Posted December 18, 2014 - 5:52am

Hi tunatime, welcome to myBulova. I like this watch a lot, I have one like it. The crown has been replaced but that takes nothing away from the beauty of the watch. When the amount of wear a winding crown gets is considered, it's no surprise that many of them are replacements. The original type crown these watches came with are quite difficult to source. We have at least 5 of this model in our dB and have yet to discover the name. Frustratingly, Bulova has no historical information at all. They tell us that that all records prior to the 1970's were lost in a corporate move decades ago. I'd be surprised if they didn't refer you back to us if you did inquire. Our goal all along has been to rebuild the history using vintage advertisements and other ephemera.

For now....Unknown. Great looking watch.

tunatime
Posted December 18, 2014 - 9:36am

In reply to by Geoff Baker

Thank you, Geoff! I'm excited to become a member of this community. With regards to the advert you mentioned, could you provide a link? I've looked through the 1929 ads and didn't see it (may have missed it). 

Since this was a gift from my father, I hope to one day pass it on to my currently three month old son. I'll do my own detective work and look forward to keeping up with the site's findings also. 

Generally speaking, what does the "unknown" factor do for this watch's value and collectibility? 

jabs
Posted December 18, 2014 - 1:38pm

yes it matches, unfortunately we have not name of watches

William Smith
Posted June 18, 2015 - 4:07am

In reply to by jabs

It matches if the case has the yellow gold strip on white gold bezel.  Hard to tell if the ad is showing two-tone in graphic, and its not in ad text.

plainsmen
Posted December 18, 2014 - 6:44pm

Unknown... super nice though

mybulova_admin
Posted December 20, 2014 - 6:27pm

One day...one day!!!

William Smith
Posted December 21, 2014 - 11:54am

Beauty!  Unknown for now....