Bulova 1946 Craftsman

Submitted by gcw13 on April 23, 2016 - 4:29pm
Manufacture Year
1946
Movement Model
7AK
Movement Date Code
Square
Movement Jewels
21
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
6864999
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Rose
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

This is a non working watch. The case is solid 14k RoseGold. I took it to a local shop a couple years ago and the guy told me the main spring was broken and he could not find a replacement. I didn't notice till a couple months later that the second hand was missing. When i confronted him about this he said it was missing when I brought it in.

1946 Bulova Craftsman watch
1946 Bulova watch
1946 Bulova watch
1946 Bulova watch
1946 Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
mybulova_admin
Posted April 26, 2016 - 8:09am

It's always wonderful to hear the back story of a watch. I really do hope you find a photo of Mr Cole wearing this watch, that in itself would be fantastic. Both the Tuxedo and Craftsman are basically the same watch, what made one a Tudexo is the combination of that gold band.

Either way it's a great watch and I really look forward to seeing it restored.

Reverend Rob
Posted April 30, 2016 - 4:28pm

So if I'm reading this right, that would make this a Tuxedo, yes? 

mybulova_admin
Posted May 1, 2016 - 12:01am

In reply to by Reverend Rob

To be a Tuxedo it would need to have its original 14k solid gold basket weave bracelet. Anything else would make it a Craftsman. I'l review that other record.

Reverend Rob
Posted May 4, 2016 - 10:13am

If this watch with its serial number was originally sold and presented to Mr. Cole with a Gold band, it will be in sales records as a Tuxedo. The loss of the band does not make it a Craftsman, in my humble opinion, it was originally sold as a Tuxedo. If we are speaking of watches to which we do not have access to the history or detailed information about it, then yes, it would have to be classified as a Craftsman, and presented as such to any would be buyer. For our purposes, this opens  the possibility that it needs a footnoted ID, that is, that it was originally a Tuxedo that has lost its bracelet.

So do we ID it as a Tuxedo, with the lost bracelet description, or as a Craftsman, but with a footnote that it was originally a Tuxedo?

This method of ID exists in other realms of antique and/or collectibles, where the serial number will show what the object was originally sold as, and descriptions must detail the mods or losses of original parts or labels.  

gcw13
Posted May 14, 2016 - 9:15am

Lets not split hairs over Craftsman verse Tuxedo. Since I haven't found any pictures of the watch with gold band and the fact that "which it is" , is not important to me, lets just drop its model. It is a shame serial number records are not available. I have a nice Bulova and a lot of plesant memories.