Bulova 1943 -Unknown

Submitted by Ellierose on May 18, 2012 - 9:09am
Manufacture Year
1943
Movement Jewels
Unknown
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
055785
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Crystal details
glass
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

hello,long time since i posted..anyway i bought this ,what i would call a military style watch..i know there is and agruement about calling a watch that is not military,a military style watch,but i don't know what esle to call it..the watch is obviously military inspired..the case is chrome steel and not stainless..the back doesn't have the military markings,but it looks replaced. so who knows..i don't see a regular cilivian watch being that coroded,also i though the cilivian ones were stainless steel,i am not sure..i bought the watch at a local antique auction with several others and only ended up paying like 15 dollars for this watch...even though it might not be truly military,it has that look,from the period, and looks close..i rather have this military style watch then a new seiko 5 military and much rather this watch then the new bulova military style quartz watch(at least the seiko is an auto..

   any info on this watch would  be great,since i am foggy in this area..also can someone please tell me how to take the back off? i don't want to damage the watch.. military or not its still a cool bulova and till i get a real one,this watch will do the job for now..

the case number is either starts with a d or an o becase it kinda looks like a backwards c but i can't really make it out so its 055785 or d55785

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
FifthAvenueRes…
Posted May 18, 2012 - 9:36am

The Watch looks like a WWII Military issue A-11, although non issued as the back does not contain the correct Military nomenclature and seriel numbers, or the back has been swapped at some point.

Case dimensions would be stellar and the Caseback unscrews.

I'll assume the Year of manufacture and Jewel count are a guess as the back has not been removed to confirm the Movement information. Please inform Us as to what You find inside.

Ellierose
Posted May 18, 2012 - 10:56am

thanks i will..i figured it was atleast 17j...it looks very military but yeah because of the back i and we don't know..the thing is it that the back is in so much better shape then the rest of the watch,which seems like someone over the years changed the back..someone who didn't care about the watch being collectable 40-50 years down the line and to sell it on ebay.someone who just needed a watch to work...

  i wish i had one of the suction ball case openers..i don't think my waterproof case wrench will work..

 

Ellierose
Posted May 18, 2012 - 12:35pm

i'll try that,i'll put something over the jaws as to not mark the case

 

JP
Posted May 20, 2012 - 7:59pm

Looks a lot like my dads 42 Army Air Corps watch  but I don't have it to compare since I gave it to my sister when dad passed away. It was Bulova Military issue for Air Corps Pilots back then and had a black band on it. Later he got a Bulova Air Force issue pilots watch with blue nylon band but the other sister has it. I got his Bulova RGP dress watch which is what got me started looking into the Bulova scene and then the son of a master Bulova watch maker who passed away gave me a real nifty watch and here we go.

DarHin
Posted November 26, 2012 - 12:27pm

Dave, were you able to open the watch?

bobbee
Posted May 15, 2014 - 6:07pm

Not a type A-11 dial, as these had a chemin de fer "train track" minutes track.

JimDon5822
Posted January 8, 2020 - 2:49pm

Matches this ad very closely black luminus dial, hands, hour markers and right down to the outer minute markers seen in the photo.  The only question is the case color.  I wonder if the Commuter came in both stainless and yellow gold.  

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) · 14 Oct 1945

1945 Bulova Commuter