Bulova signed dial - "T" marking below the center. No lume apparent on the hand set. Hands and numerals appear to be the same color. on the case back - WATCH NAVIG - TYPE A17A SPEC MIL W 6433A MFR BULOVA PART NO 10BNCH - MFR - BULOVA SERIAL NUMBER 92373 - ORDER NO DA 36 038 ORD 20328 - STOCK NO 8TAA 993000 24 - US PROPERTY - Its got a larger case and different case shape than the other A17A's I've seen I wonder about the "T" marking as well
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No lume on the hands indicates replacements, as this is clearly marked Tritium, however Tritium was used first in around 1968.
I suspect the dial is at least a re-dial, possibly entirely fabricated. The dial does not conform to any Military contract. I don't recognize this movt, it is certainly not the 10BNCH.
The three known Military spec watches provided by Bulova all had centre sweep.
There is a significant number of watches being assembled from old Military parts and cases online that are classified as 'Frankens' or 'Non-Conforming.' It would not surprise me if someone has actually started to fabricate the cases as well as the dials.
A Military watch with the wrong movt inside may simply be a repair from the past that was considered legit at the time to restore an heirloom watch. These watches have become very collectible, so unfortunately there now exists many examples that are simply a collection of parts, and in the worst cases, mostly non-Bulova in this type of example. Another example of this would be the collectible 'Spaceview' Accutrons.
This one has too many discrepancies and appears to be Non-Conforming.
Although nicely done, it looks to be Non-conforming to the standards of the military grade issued watches of that or any time period.
I do not believe we've ever seen anything quite like this, and it is probably either a one off custom job or someones new line of fabriacated watches.
The case back looks legit though.
Is it possible that the MIL SPEC case back has been married to a new case? We have other A17A watches in the db, dating to the late 1950 and they are not similar to this case style at all. To Rob's points the Tritium dial is not of that era and the movement, while noted on the case back as a 10BNCH does not appear to be such.
I'm afraid I have to agree that this watch is Non-Conforming and may have been made to deceive. If this one was advertised and sold as genuine Bulova MIL SPEC, I would seek a refund.
The case back is not the same size as the A17A I posted a few years ago,
http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1967-military-issue-7612
This case back is larger, so... are there Bulova case backs that have a larger size? A tetrakidecagon or 14-gon rather than the Decagon on the listed watch? What miliatry watch backs had 14 sides?