I submitted photo and info to admin Stephen. He said it was 1944 but to submit it here for more through ID. There may be a circle just under the word Swiss. I can't tell for sure. Not sure about the name of shape or where to find movement serial. The watch was my mothers and she died in 1979. I remember her having the watch repaired a couple of times in the 50's. Inside the case back teh letter "U" is missing from BULOVA. It also shows 10K Rolled Gold Plate, Sterling Base and New York. The crystal is scratched and I do not know if the watch even works. I intend to have a repair shop look at it and ask for an estimate. I'm not a collector of watches or antiques. On a whim I decided to look up the watch on internet and found this site and now my curiosity is peeked. I would like to gather as much info as possible about this watch as one day it will pass on to my son. Thanks. Feel free to contact me for any additional info.
Hi Giffy. You have a nice family heirloom. These were made during WWII when all the steel manufactured was being used by the military. So Bulova used sterling silver as the base for their watch cases. That makes the cases during this time period have a little more value. I have a 1942 version of your watch in my collection.
To the best of my knowledge, no advertisement has surfaced identifying the name of this model. To me that adds to the mystique and desirability of them. Oh, by the base being sterling it will cause the watch case to get a black looking tarnish from time to time and will need to be cleaned to make it sparkle again just like silver. I have seen them turn completely black.
In reply to Hi Giffy. You have a nice by 1955mercury
Thanks for all that info. I'm even more curious now about it's history. The face of this watch seems common to a lot of watches in the archive. Only the case is different. I hope the panel can give it a name and even a birt date. Going to have clock/watch fellow look at it tomorrow. As you look at the top left of the movement you can see the word Swiss and just under it there appears to be what looks like a circle or a blemish. Im just not sure.
Hello Giffy, welcome to myBulova. I love it that you have this wonderful keepsake from you mother. I think you are most fortunate to have something so precious from her. If you feel the estimate for service is too high, perhaps we could recommend an alternative.
In terms of ID, I don't really see anything in our database of old adverts that looks to match. I see a couple that are close, as jabs and Alan state above but for now I'd have to say the model is Unknown to us. Thank you for sharing it.
My watch shop has this piece now. Didnt know until he told me but the watch crystal is glass and very scratched. He did wind it and it runs. He will service it for $40 which I don't think is too bad. I asked him to look at the circle I thought I saw under the word Swiss. He said the symbal he sees is an "x". If so, then that places it at 1943. If circle 1944. I will need to see the X to be convinced.
My watch shop has this piece now. Didnt know until he told me but the watch crystal is glass and very scratched. He did wind it and it runs. He will service it for $40 which I don't think is too bad. I asked him to look at the circle I thought I saw under the word Swiss. He said the symbal he sees is an "x". If so, then that places it at 1943. If circle 1944. I will need to see the X to be convinced.
In reply to My watch shop has this piece by Giffy
I really do appreciate the comments so far. Nice to know that there are several out there just like mine. I didn't expect that it would be so difficult to identify a watch by name. My guess is that Bulova did not keep good records. I look forward to getting my watch back from the shop. Next up will be to find a band for it and maybe a small display case for it. Any help in those areas would be welcomed.