Bulova 1930 Round the World

Submitted by rbaines on April 27, 2017 - 1:33pm
Manufacture Year
1930
Movement Model
10AN
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
239129
Case Serial No.
0420816
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Two-tone
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
square 20mm x 20mm
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

I'm not sure what this is.  So far, I can't see a date code.  From the case and 15 jewels, I'm thinking maybe a "round the world"?.  I'm not even sure of the year. I'm guessing based on the movement code and comparing it to others in the database.  If'll go back in to look for a symbol on the movement, but I'm not too optimistic.

Rich 

1930 Bulova Round The World watch
1930 Bulova watch
1930 Bulova watch
1930 Bulova watch
1930 Bulova watch
mybulova_admin
Posted April 30, 2017 - 1:09am

In reply to by Reverend Rob

The case style is exactly that of the Ambassador, except for the gold two-tone. We know both the Fleetwood and the 'Round the world' were two-tone models.

Bulova POst and Gatty, Round the World watch

If we look at Geoff's 'Round the World' watch we see that the subject watch is identical in appearance.

My concern about the Fleetwood model is that the two good adverts we have both show it with part-engraved top and bottom bezel. The subject watch and Geoffs are fully engraved.

Bulova 1930s Fleetwood

rbaines
Posted April 29, 2017 - 3:53pm

OK, here is a better? image of the possible date code.  I'll leave it to you guys to figure out what it is. and what it means.  BTW, somehow, I didn't get the file name changed to meet the desired format.  Sorry!

 

mybulova_admin
Posted April 30, 2017 - 1:36am

At first thought I was seeing a mistruck square (1927) but now I realise it could be a mistruck square shield (1931). If that is the date code, it certainly wouldn't be either the symbol for 1929 or 1930.

1931 Bulova Watch Movement

So I'm still leaning (heavily) to a 1931 Round the World, noting that the case was manufactured in 1930 and quite possibly (guessing here) was an Ambassador re-purposed (application of gold) to become the 'Round the World', again in order to capitalise on an international event.

rbaines
Posted April 30, 2017 - 8:15am

I don't know if this will complicate the issue  or make it easier.  If you look at the 1929 ads, #18 of 24,  is an ad that includes a Fleetwood, at the bottom of the page. (sorry, I don't know how to post it)  If you look at the bottom edge, with a magnifying glass, you will see two rows of etching.   The line separating them is a bit hard to see, but it is there.  I think this may be the only illustration that shows  2 rows.   Below the etching, it shows a blank strip before the band attaches.

I've looked at the Fleetwood and Round the World examples on this site, and I haven't see any with that blank strip.   So, does the watch that the illustrator drew really exist, or is it a misconception?  Or are other illustrations just not detailed enough to show the two rows?  The Ambassador in image #19 seems to show two rows, while image #14 shows one.  

As Admin suggested, this watch looks identical to Geoff's, and they are both  real-life examples.  Frankly, the Fleetwood and Round the World cases, look identical to me.  I'm kind of glad I don't have a vote.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted May 1, 2017 - 4:29pm

Greetings, I'm going to throw in my 2 cents for what it's worth. Look under the "c" of "watch". Am I seeing an "X" just to the left of the jewel, or am I seeing pixelations in the photo? If that is an "x", this would date the movement 1933. Maybe a more close-up photo of that area would help.

Daca102090
Posted May 2, 2017 - 12:59am

No, that is probably just a scratch or digital defect.

Where Admin has the lines highlighting the possible date symbol is the normal location for the date code on a 10AN movement. 

rbaines
Posted May 2, 2017 - 9:09am

I did one more photo attempt and ran it through some filters.  Improved image.  Is this a square shield, as Admin suggested?

 

mybulova_admin
Posted May 3, 2017 - 11:04pm

In reply to by rbaines

Certainly is the closest match to a date symbol.

As this watch case design is an exact match for Geoff 'Round the World' and others in the databases, we would need to have some level of consistency.

Reverend Rob
Posted May 6, 2017 - 12:21pm

Based on the ads for the Fleetwood I'd say it is not a Fleetwood. I missed the part about Geoff's watch being the same as this, I misread it as something else. Geoff's watch is indeed identical to this, and that pretty much tips the balance as well as the ad for the Round the World. 

I'm sold at 'Round the World.'

EDIT:

As to the issue of the earlier production date, we may be looking at a situation in which there was stock in the form of either cases and/or movts, and when they decided to do the 'Round the World', they adapted these. 

jabs
Posted May 4, 2017 - 4:06am

Agree - Round the World, I would say that now it is clear