Bulova 1959 Rhapsody

Submitted by denupnorth on May 4, 2015 - 2:08pm
GG
Manufacture Year
1959
Movement Model
5AD
Movement Jewels
23
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
L16338
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
Round 11.77mm faceted edge
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

Case back:BULOVA,L9,10K ROLLED GOLD PLATE and serial #

Inside case back:BULOVA FIFTH AVE NEW YORK

5AD 23 jewel 6 adj movement is also dated L9

Dial is marked BULOVA 23 and has applied gold numbers and slashes.Gold baton style hands

Crown is signed BULOVA

Original bracelet is marked:1/20 12K G.F.  WEST GERMANY  9

I believe this is the Rhapsody"GG"(it was also available in white gold so I might be wrong ).I have been looking for this one for over two years and it was worth the wait.This example is in fantastic shape,pristine case,bracelet and dial.Sweet looking watch

1959 Rhapsody"GG"
1959 Bulova watch
1959 Bulova watch
1959 Bulova watch
1959 Bulova watch
Geoff Baker
Posted May 5, 2015 - 6:23am

Here's the 1959 Advert,

Rhapsody

jabs
Posted May 5, 2015 - 7:06am

Rhapsody, good find ad

Andersok
Posted May 5, 2015 - 8:00am

I'm good with the "GG" variant as outlined below: 

The "GG" ad also states a white gold version, but not sure if that version was at the $75 price or another price, since there are no other variants at $75 outside of the three already identified, or perhaps the white gold version was dropped in '61.

Andersok
Posted May 9, 2015 - 12:53pm

Just noticed a 1959 advert calling this the Rhapsody "D":

Also notice that the pricelist from 1961 shows the GG replacing an old model number 5361, which does not show up in the 1958 pricelist, which is the next oldest one that we have. May be possible that the "GG" did not exist prior to 1961 and this model should be the "D"?

William Smith
Posted May 9, 2015 - 2:19pm

Good sluthing.....I'm at two ticks tentative for GG.  Fantastic watch regardless.

denupnorth
Posted May 9, 2015 - 6:08pm

Hmmm,another Bulo-mystery.