This is my first Bulova and first vintage watch, it works and keeps time great and cosmetically is pretty good considering its age. The seller i purchased it from had fitted it with a Lizard calf band.
This certainly looks like a Director's case...but several 1953 ads show a completely different model in 1953...I have several of them (I think 3!). Did they produce some using the old case design and some with a new case design in the same year? Just another way for Bulova to mess with our heads when attempting to maximize profitability by using up old watch cases and also launch a new model! What year is the case stamped and what year is the 10BT movement stamped? I'm not trying to rain on your parade...I'm just trying to nail down my 1953 Directors too!
A little research on your part would reveal that there are ads in the database showing this style of Director through 1954, and there are actual watches posted in the database that run through that year.
We also have ads showing at least two other, completely different styles of Director selling concurrently with this one.