Bulova 1939 Ambassador

Submitted by neetstuf-4-u on January 13, 2018 - 6:59pm
B
Manufacture Year
1939
Movement Model
10AE
Movement Date Code
Shield
Movement Jewels
21
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
9418567
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
High Dome appears original
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

21 Jewel 1939 has me a bit puzzled. There were a multitude of watches that looked similar in this time period. Band apears that it could be original and would have been factory equipment on an Ambassador A. I thought at first it might be a Oxford/Montgomery, but the face is slightly different if you look closely at the "0" and "2"s. The Oxford and Montgomery models has a "0" with a slight peak on top and "2's" that were more blocky without the flourish at top and on foot. They were also 17 jewels; this one is a 21 like the Ambassador and Eagle. Lugs appear too smooth to be an American Eagle. I found a couple ads in the short ad section that are from the same year picturing a watch referred to only as a "Bulova 21". Ads seem to indicate that this was a model name, although there isn't an example in the database. Ads appear to show a face identical to subject watch.

1939 Bulova watch
1939 Bulova watch
1939 Bulova watch
1939 Bulova watch
1939 Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
neetstuf-4-u
Posted January 13, 2018 - 7:24pm

 

Take note the crown isn't inset into the side of the case, which seems to be a indicator of a Montgomery or Oxford.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted January 14, 2018 - 6:32am

Good call Stephen, don't know how I missed those ads. I agree, Ambassador B like this one except with a variance in seconds subdial, which is likely a style change from 1939 to 1940.

http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1940-ambassador-7475

Referenced watch also has the same "AAA" stamped movement as subject watch. I spent a long time trying to ID this one and guess I convinced myself too early in the process that it wasn't an Ambassador  due to the absense of engraving on bezel at sides of crystal.

Geoff Baker
Posted January 14, 2018 - 6:31am

See how easy this is Bob? Just kidding........

1939 Ambassador B

neetstuf-4-u
Posted January 14, 2018 - 7:01am

In reply to by Geoff Baker

Yes Geoff, I know it's "easy" (smiles, gives eyeroll) -  thought I looked at every ad from 1936 to 1939 and all ads in the short section from 1930 to 1940 enlarged; and sorted the database by year, looking at every watch posted in the 1936 - 39  time frame. Guess I should have gone farther, here's one in an ad from 1942.

Andersok
Posted January 14, 2018 - 7:00am

Good call, Ambassador B