Bulova 1937 Tuxedo

Submitted by J.C. Evans on March 13, 2018 - 1:12am
Manufacture Year
1937
Movement Model
17AE
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
7012234
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

This watched belonged to either my grandfather who passed in 1931 or my father who passed in 2002.  They both have the initials “C.L.E.” which are engraved on the back of the watch.  Grandfather was a farmer and a photographer’s assistant and my father was a carpenter, so neither would have worn the watch except for special occasions, which probably explains its condition.  I took it to a jewelry repair shop to remove the back and get these pictures.  It had been a drawer for decades but started to run after winding.  Any help you can give me about the year of manufacture would be appreciated.  I am giving it to my son on his wedding day next month.  The photographs are attached. The information that I was extracted with the help of a jeweler’s loop at a jewelry store revealed the following:

Inside of the back of the watch: BULOVA - 10K ROLLED GOLD PLATE - NEW YORK - W965 (scratched in) - WR 1534 (scratched in) - W3394 (scratched in)
7012234 (stamped) - On the movement: - SEVENTEEN 17 JEWELS - ADJUSTED - Bulova Watch - 17AE  There appears to be a “V” stamped just across the opening from the 17AE (circled on my photo)

1938 Bulova watch
1938 Bulova watch
1938 Bulova watch
1938 Bulova watch
1938 Bulova watch
Geoff Baker
Posted March 13, 2018 - 6:55am

Hello J.C, welcome to myBulova. I think you're most fortunate to have this lovely keepsake from your father (assuming it was made after your grandfathers death). I hope your son appreciates the value as an heirloom, it certainly is a wonderful thing.

I agree with Jaroslav that the model is Tuxedo. Thanks for sharing it, congratulations to your son.

 

J.C. Evans
Posted March 13, 2018 - 4:51pm

I thought it might be a Tuxedo.  The other question that I have is the year of manufacture.  I found from looking around this site and others that the 17AE movement was used between 1929 and 1940.  I guessed at 1938 when filling out the watch profile mainly because the only other watch that had a dark inner circle on the face with a lighter outer circle was a watch found to be manufactured in 1938, based upon its date symbol.   Mine has what appears to be a "V" when you expand it using a higher resolution picture.  I am trying to send another picture but no such luck yet.
 
Any thoughts on the age?

mybulova_admin
Posted March 13, 2018 - 9:19pm

Case serial number indicates it's 1937.

1937 Bulova Tuxedo it is for me too.

Andersok
Posted March 14, 2018 - 6:53am

I agree with Tuxedo

Reverend Rob
Posted March 14, 2018 - 11:11am

Tuxedo works for me. 

neetstuf-4-u
Posted March 17, 2018 - 10:03pm

Agreed, Tuxedo