Bulova 1949 Her Excellency

Submitted by Kathy L. on May 14, 2018 - 10:37pm
L
Manufacture Year
1949
Movement Model
6BC
Movement Date Code
49 (A9)
Movement Jewels
21
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
J173148
Case shape
CornerCut
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
Square
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

Hello,  I really like the Her Excellency line and picked up this one to add to my collection.  It is 10K white gold filled.  It has a 21 jewel movement and a band that matches so well it looks like it was made for this model but I do not find an ad with it.  I believe this is the Her Excellency "L".  In looking at the ads it doesn't seem to matter what face or band it has to be an "L" which I find interesting when they change variants in other lines.  Thanks all!

1949 Bulova watch
1949 Bulova watch
1949 Bulova watch
1949 Bulova watch
1949 Bulova watch
Bulova Watch advert
Kathy L.
Posted May 14, 2018 - 10:38pm

jabs
Posted May 15, 2018 - 5:43am

no doubt, they are Her Excellency "L" of the year 1949

Geoff Baker
Posted May 15, 2018 - 6:09am

We've had a couple spirited debates as to whether or not the mount determines the variant. Over the years we've clearly decided that, in some cases, it might. Part of the fun is the speculation. At the end of day we will most likely agree that your watch is, as you've so expertly identified:

1949 Bulova Her Excellency L

It looks like you're having fun with the photos, they very good. I like the way you're matching subject matter.

Kathy L.
Posted May 15, 2018 - 11:25am

In reply to by Geoff Baker

Thank you Geoff.  Yes it is fun.  I have gotten a couple of things on ebay to use and these were from a good find at an antique store.  I got a couple of books and a stack of 1940s newspapers and ads all for $10.  Sadly no Bulova ads in the bunch but it will give me some backgrounds to use.  

neetstuf-4-u
Posted May 15, 2018 - 8:14am

Well done Kathy. I'm going to agree tentative (for now) per the ad specifically calling out black face/white gold as  Her Excellency L. None of the ads specifically call out face color but that one. Also note (for the sake of debate) that both ads showing a black face display a cord band, while the ads showing white face have a metal band.

A first for the data base.

It's possible that this model Her Ex. with a white face and metal band may be an under advertised different variant, the most likely in naming progression would be  "M". We have no examples of this watch with either color face in a white case except now - yours; so that is pure speculation at this point.

From an inventory ordering standpoint, it seems odd that a model wouldn't have a variant call-out for face color AND band combined difference to avoid store ordering/stocking confusion. There is a possibility it's one of those cases of "also available in/with", like the ad stating "L" also available in yellow", where the called out yellow "L" is actually a "K"..

You have also highlighted another example of where variant letter indicates color in progression, with the first letter in alphabetical sequence for model being yellow and second being white (K=yellow / L = white).

Maybe I'm splitting hairs here but thought I would throw out the possibility, based on the way Bulova represented variants in printed ads.

Kathy L.
Posted May 15, 2018 - 12:21pm

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

Thank you neetstuf-4-u.  The ads that list both variant letters with the color are really nice to find.  As you said I am sure there were more variants than were listed in ads and it leaves us guessing a bit : ) 

 

bourg01
Posted May 18, 2018 - 3:45pm

I'm all in with Her X " L ". I don't really put much stock in the current band type as a factor in deciding the model as who knows if it has been changed over the years.

Best Shawn

Kathy L.
Posted May 18, 2018 - 4:01pm

Thank you Shawn!  Yes I think you are correct.  It seems they have been changed more often than not sadly.  Just an issue of wear and tear I suppose.