This is what Tourneau 'Time Machine' Repair Dept. NYC (they also sent the watch to Bulova corporate HQ Repair Dept.) wrote on the repair receipt:
1. Case serial number "9401471" (marked on outside back cover)
2. " B - 10K GOLD FILLED " (marked on outside back cover)
3. " Bulova Fifth Avenue New York " (marked on inside back cover)
4. Watch movement: " 17 Jewels " ... then, on a subsequent repair Tourneau repair dept. stated, " 21 Jewels "
5. Caliber: " 10 AE "
6. Dial Color: " Beige "
7. Size: " M "
8. Tourneau repair dept. stated, "Made 1945"
9. Tourneau repair dept. stated, "Retail in 1946 $65.00"
Gents,
Once again THANK YOU very much for sharing your expertise ... I wish the International Cuff Link Association - Home of which I'm a charter member was as organized and helpful as y'all. You should be very proud of your camaraderie and ability to let opinions flow. From that, consensus is formed and the truth is divined. And yes, spell check in all forms of written communication is always appreciated.
One last thing ... I want to reiterate, "Bobbee" who posted two pictures on the first page of watches (Ambassador) that on the surface is exact in every way of mine. HOWEVER, 1.) the lugs bend in, go further, than mine. Mine go straight up but do 'not' bend in the amount of length those do. If you extended a line straight and down to follow the side-line of the crystal cover ... that's where the lugs end and the spring pin begins. The lugs are NOT like ('as long') the ones pictured in "Old Ticker's" picture just above. 2.) the band does not hide any part of the lugs. The band fits precisely over the roller springs in between the lugs. I don't know if that makes a difference to identification but to my anal-retentive sensibility and eyes, it is different in that respect unless I'm getting optical illusion from the pictures.
Guys, is this were 'variant' kicks in? The Ambassador has an A, B, C, D, etc. variant and each might have a very slight difference in decoration or architecture?
I might not have made it clear, I had my watch serviced at Tourneau NYC. I live there and Fort Lauderdale. Yes, I know that you pay a premium to have your watch serviced there but they give you a year guarantee on the work. I must say though, the initial servicing was abominable. The watch was simply running slow. I got it back after almost 4 weeks and not only did it still not keep time correctly, the second had no longer worked and the crown fell off. The manager was quite horrified and had it immediately FedEx'd to NYC. And as I mentioned, they ended up sending it to Bulova on the second servicing (which if you read online reviews of customer's experience with Bulova Repair Dept. you would not send your watch there to get serviced. This is what I read, I'm just the messenger!). 4 weeks later, got it back and all is well.
That said, when I go up there in two weeks I'll ask them to open it up and look for "the date code, the jewel movement (17 vs. 21) and any other markings on the watch movement." per Mr. Baker's suggestion. Stay tuned ... I'll let you know on that.
In reply to Can you show us a pic of the by bobbee
I wish I could.
Of course, that is the obvious answer to start with. I would have when I had the photographer here last week shooting pictures of my watch collection for insurance purposes. However, I paid a lot of money for a new, beautiful crocodile band with 14k gold hardware ... to have it unstitched and disassembled now would just be too much rigmarole and additional cost. Frustrating, to say the least.
Question ... I have a newer Bulova Chronograph watch I bought in the mid 1990s, if I gather all the necessary information on it does the panel deal with one of this age (model name and such)?
In reply to I wish I could. Of course, by Derek
In reply to Bulova will still have by mybulova_admin
