Bulova 1946 -Unknown

Submitted by favorite_watches on January 22, 2016 - 9:38pm
Manufacture Year
1946
Movement Model
5AF
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
-
Case shape
Square
Case color
Rose
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

Sorry guys for the complete lack of information above.
New to the forum and will be happy to provide any more information if someone's willing to guide me along the way.

Outside: "14K Gold" Stamp. 
Inside on Back Case: "14K" "8"
Inside Movement Area: 17 Jewels, See photos below

Additional Details: 14K Rose Gold, Automatic, 23.1 dwt, 10 Diamonds.
Fantastic condition as you can tell from photos.
There is an engraved love note on the back signed off with a date of 2/10/1946 - may or may not signify approximately the time the watch was purchased.

That's the best I got!

 

1946 Bulova watch
1946 Bulova watch
1946 Bulova watch
1946 Bulova watch
1946 Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
favorite_watches
Posted January 27, 2016 - 11:46am

In reply to by Geoff Baker

Any advice on whereelse I can go from here? Also thank you so much for your efforts.. is this case now considered closed or will other people be contributing still to this thread?

favorite_watches
Posted January 27, 2016 - 11:48am

In reply to by favorite_watches

And as for the last photo (and the lower left hand corner).. the back casing is sculpted perfectly to outline and fit the Bulova movement. Would you still be able to entertain the idea of the case being Bulova?

Reverend Rob
Posted January 27, 2016 - 2:06pm

Bulova outsourced their solid gold cases, so not having the Bulova name or other familiar Bulova case marks may not mean that it is non-con. The movt shape and size is quite common, so the fact that it fits properly is not conclusive that it was supplied as we see here. I'm going to have to say Unknown for now. 

1955mercury
Posted January 27, 2016 - 8:30pm

I'm curious about the "8" inside the case back. What could that possibly mean?

Geoff Baker
Posted January 28, 2016 - 7:53am

I'm not sure were else you can go for further identification, Bulova's own records only go back to the early seventies. The thread remains active as there is always the possibility of uncovering more information at a later date. Regarding the movement fit into the case, it is VERY common to find marriages of movements to cases of different manufacturers. Some are done of necessity, some are done unfortunately in an attempt to confuse or trick the watch buying novices into buying something misrepresented.

Rob, my thought around Non-Conforming are only based on the mismatch between case date (based on personalization) and movement date.

Alan, I wonder if the "8" is a hallmark for the case maker.

mybulova_admin
Posted January 29, 2016 - 7:27am

Could we please see a detailed closed up of the inside back case. Other markings or signs might suggest it being a Bulova case or not. Certainly looks nothing like your typical 1940s ladies Bulova (except for the movement).

William Smith
Posted January 30, 2016 - 3:29am

I'm also thinking it's not a Bulova case, although like Rev Rob said, no Bulova hallmark doesn't rule out being contracted by Bulova...but we don't see anything like Jonel or the other known contracted solid gold cases used by Bulova. 
I'm holding out for a closeup of the inside case back, just in case there's more info there.  
 

jabs
Posted January 30, 2016 - 5:47am

non-conforming for me

JP
Posted February 3, 2016 - 10:55am

Unknown for me

Alex
Posted February 3, 2016 - 12:52pm

Difficult case this one. I tried to set some rules for myself:

1. All the markings + an ad = a match

2. Not all the markings + an ad = a match

3. all the markings + no ad = unknown

4. not all the markings + no ad = ??????

5. mix of Bulova and non-Bulova markings + no ad = non conforming

We have a situation 4 here. What to call it? I would say since we do know situation 2 exists, specially for solid gold cases, but no ad to match, I go for calling situation 4: UNKNOWN