18k 1928 What?

Submitted by NOVA on March 16, 2011 - 6:12pm

I know some of you saw this on the Bay and may have already figured out what it is.  I haven't been able to match it to any ads or anything in the dbase.

9AN (or 8AN--it's really hard to read), 17J

1928

18k solid white gold

Case serial number:  4910

Crystal opening:  approx. 19.5mm long x 19mm wide

Case is in amazingly great shape; needs crystal, hands, winding stem and crown.  Don't know if movement works.

 

geezer_D
Posted March 16, 2011 - 8:20pm

 Check out the 3rd 1926 ad, lower half center.  It looks like a Senator.

WatchCrystals.net
Posted March 16, 2011 - 8:54pm

OMG!!!

I (strongly) suspect that there are only a handful (perhaps even less than a dozen, as is common with some rarer Hammys, Illinois, etc.) of that watch STILL INTACT? (i.e. that the case wasn't MELTED??) That is likely the RAREST and most valuable Bulova I've seen on eBay???

Model name? LOL... I doubt it... Unless you can find a 1928/9 ad?? (Perhaps in a period Jeweler's catalog... or Saturday Evening Post, etc.??) Maybe sell it to a "Bulova" descendent, for $5,000- $10,000... once restored??? (Or gold will be at $5000.00 per ounce... soon enough! :-)

Someone needed CASH, apparently???? That's WHY I'm buying gold scrap jewelry, etc. NEXT!!! (As a new venture...) AND looking for "investors," (or trainees?) if anyone wants to earn 10%- 100%+ a month, on their money????? (NO JOKE!) I'd like to be buying SOLID Karat Gold watches, ASAP... Gold and silver will soon go to the moon... when the (FAKE) "economy, corrects!!!!!!"

Philip recently refurb'd and resold a stellar 18 karat cased 60s Accutron for me, I got scrap price+ for... It was even likely a VERY RARE timepiece, as I've never even SEEN another one??? But like most on eBay, etc... I needed to EAT, that month! :-(

 

:-)  Scott

NOVA
Posted March 17, 2011 - 9:59am

In reply to by WatchCrystals.net

I bought it to keep someone from melting it down.   It cost me a pretty penny, although apparently far less than the gold is worth, per your estimations.  It may be first on my restoration list.

NOVA
Posted March 17, 2011 - 10:05am

Here's the Senator in the third ad from 1926, suggested by Geezer as a possible match.  I see more differences than similarities.  Mine has a picture frame shape with added on lugs, while the Senator's sides continue straight into the lugs.  The side engraving also looks different.  Also, no 18k variant is mentioned.  The dial seems like a very good match.  The overall dimensions appear proportionally similar.

shooter144
Posted March 17, 2011 - 11:13am

Again Lisa its a junker, prolly had radium in it too so you should send it to me for proper and safe disposal (snicker snicker)

I tried to find it but failed as well but its as Scott said nice and a good find !!!

WatchCrystals.net
Posted March 17, 2011 - 4:44pm

 OK...

I had WAY TOO MUCH French Roast last night... but at least I added another half dozen new model IDs!?And now Stephen is ranked TOPS under "Bulova" and likely other key words, in Google, etc.!!!

SERIOUSLY though... go to the Hamilton and Illinois forums and read what people PAY for watches with less than perhaps 1- 2 dozen still in EXISTENCE... And then realize this is a 1928 watch... I'd wager there are like 10- 20 of them even LEFT? And perhaps only 50 +/- produced??? Likely closer to ten remain... since Bulova didn't produce very many watches in 1928, left alone in 18 karat... The watch given (by Mr. Bulova) to Mr. Lone Eagle was apparently solid 18 karat gold? Then put in into "perspective!" (i.e. Bulova wasn't exactly "high end," per se,' year three to four, was it!?)

You can send me the bezel+ to match the glass??? (But don't listen to Chris... Afterall, he's just a another crazed "collector..." who wants what you've got!!!) 

GOOD SAVE, Lisa :-)

Scott 

Wayne Hanley
Posted March 17, 2011 - 4:46pm

Lisa

I found these pics in my files. May give some insight for refurb.

NOVA
Posted March 17, 2011 - 4:59pm

Thanks, Wayne, for the pics.  Cool that it's the same watch.

The restoration is already under discussion.  It will be given thoughtful and professional care by our trusted colleagues.   The dial will not be touched, and the case needs no hlep.  We're looking at new crystal, hands, winding stem and crown, and whatever else the movement might need.

Of course, pics will be posted when it's all prettied up.

shooter144
Posted March 17, 2011 - 9:40pm

Soooooo...you dont want ME to dospose of it safely and properly???? sigh.....

mybulova_admin
Posted March 17, 2011 - 9:48pm

I think the crystal has to go....gives way too much distortion and I doubt is original.

I'll do some investigation tonight to see if I can find any info on an 18K version.

Possibly a 1928 Senator or Executive.

WatchCrystals.net
Posted March 18, 2011 - 4:24am

The only Bullys I see that were solid karat gold in the mid+ 20s, are ALL 14 karat...

 

The 1924 plain bezel "3176" that looks like a "Banker" Tonneau case... (17 Js, $65.00.)

The 1924 "39744," w/a longer rectangular case, smooth bezel... (17Js $75.00)

The 1924 "3976," thinner engraved Tonneau shaped case... (17s, $75.00)

And the 1926 "Mercury," 14kt. WHITE gold, Radium Dial... (17js, $75.00.)

And the 1926 "President," in White or Green gold, Engraved, Radiuum dial... (17Js, $85.00.)

 

NO MENTION of any 18 Karat BULLYS... I suspect that one sold for either $95.00 or $100.USD? 

Well at least you DO HAVE a model (number) ID" THE "4910." Just need to locate the AD? But again... the larger (and higher end) companies like Elgin, Gruen, Hamilton, Illinois, Waltham, etc. only ran (at most!) perhaps 250 - 500 solid 18 karat cases, on their most EXCLUSIVE models... I doubt Bulova was known for "solid gold" watches... And $95.00+ was a LOT of MONEY,  for ANY watch... in 1928!!! 

 

:-)  Scott

 

 

mybulova_admin
Posted March 18, 2011 - 6:53am

I'm going to go with a 1928 Senator. Case design matches perfectly. The movement and dial may (may!) be a re-case, only because the case may pre-date 1928.

Scott correct, most ads only show either the 14K Gold Filled or the 14K Gold. very rare to find a 18K model.

NOVA
Posted March 18, 2011 - 11:23am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

I'm confused by this.  If the watch is a 1928 Senator, then why would you think it may pre-date 1928?  Are you saying that you think it's definitely a Senator case, but not necessarily a 1928 Senator originally? 

NOVA
Posted March 18, 2011 - 1:10pm

Check out this ad for the 1926 Senator.  This is from the last 1926 ad in the dbase.  The case design is quite different from the other 1926 Senator ad posted earlier in this thread, which was taken from the third 1926 ad in the dbase.

This has more of that picture frame style bezel like mine, and the engraving is closer to mine than the other Senator from the same year.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted March 18, 2011 - 2:28pm

I have this design dated to 1925, don't ask how I forget (?)

Case horizontal engraving matches, vertcal doesn't (?)

Close, but I dont think it's the Senator - the Bezel horizontal and vertical width diifers.

vintagebulova.com
Posted March 18, 2011 - 2:39pm

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

I agree with Fifth on this one.  It's not either of the Senators pictured.  Its kinda close to the second one but it appears that the lugs on the watch in question are straighter and a little narrower.  I realize that we can't  put too much stock in those hand drawn images from the past but I think this beautiful and rare Bulova remains unidentified for now.  It still gets my vote for that best score by anyone I've seen in a while due to it's rarity and condition.  

Jay

vintagebulova.com