Bulova 1941 Nightingale

Submitted by Ozme on August 2, 2015 - 3:58pm
Manufacture Year
1941
Movement Model
7ADC
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
1349641
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Crystal details
15mm dome
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

This looks to me like a Nightingale. The movement is dated to 1950 (L0), and the case serial starts with a "1". The crystal has a ring of cracks around it. The case seems to be RGP with a stainless steel caseback, but there are no markings indicating this. This was a thrift store purchase.

1941 Bulova Nightingale
1941 Bulova watch
1941 Bulova watch
1941 Bulova watch
1941 Bulova watch
William Smith
Posted August 4, 2015 - 3:05pm

I did go and cross reference the examples Lisa gave above " (seen in four examples dated 1950, 1951, 1953, and 1958)", and her tables describing examples suggest there were also alpha-numerci date codes included on the cases (see entries for "Case Date" fields), however she didn't provide pictures of the case backs to confirm this.  Since the alpha-numeric date stamp was the "rule" for these years, she would not need to post pictures showing a date code she can see with watch in hand.

So I'm starting to think you may have a 1941 case with a movement swap to a latter 1950 movement.  This happens quite often.

Geoff Baker
Posted August 5, 2015 - 8:40am

In reply to by Ozme

Ozme, what would you do if you had this beautiful old watch that you dearly loved because someone very special gifted it to you?

One day you realize it's not running so you trip it to the local watchmaker. He peers into the movement and says...."I can repair this one for $25......OR I can put in a brand new movement for $22.50". The result could be a 1941 watch with a 1950 movement.

PS, I began collecting Bulova's when I learned they could be accurately dated, I kinda got that OCD thing going on here too.

mybulova_admin
Posted August 5, 2015 - 8:51am

Agreed, potential movement swap. Looks like the 1941 Nightingale came with a 7AM movement which looks like morphed into the 7ADC.

http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1941-nightingale-4570

Still based on the unique case design and matching dial and hands I'm still comfortable IDing this as a 1941 Bulova Nightingale (movement swap noted).