Bulova 1945 -Non-Conforming

Submitted by ChicagoWatch on January 12, 2013 - 2:12am
Manufacture Year
1945
Movement Model
7AP
Movement Date Code
Triangle
Movement Jewels
21
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
8092286
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

This is a wonderful site! Thank you all so much. I have had fun trying to figure out the following watch.

Very Handsome and unusual Bulova Men’s watch. Rare Harlequin / Checkerboard / chess face in contrasting silver colors that reflect the light differently.  Applied Gilt Arabic numerals 1 -12 with a small seconds sweep instead of the number 6.  Hour and Minute Hands are Gold.  Crystal is has a significant cruve to it. (Don’t really know how to explain – see photo).

Gold Case-back with serial number 8092286 marked “10K Gold Filled (next line) Bulova”. Inside: 21-Jewel 7AP Movement marked with a triangle (1945?).

As I have been obsessed with this site all day – here is what I have found – Seems to be a similar style to a late 40’s Director, the case style looks a lot like a General, and the checkers is similar to the Park Lane (even down to the thicker line just between the second hand and where the hands attach in the center of the face – weird.)

I bought the watch in ’86 and it ran fine while I used it for a year or two and then I switched it out for another one and have not really looked at it much since. Needs a good tune up, but worked when I got it and has only been sitting in a drawer. May sell, not sure yet.

Good looking, interesting watch. This is a tough one - Good Luck !

checkerboard Bulova watch face
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
William Smith
Posted January 12, 2013 - 2:19am

Nice watch...and with the 4 by 4 checkerboard dial...similar to Old Tickers seen here.  Thanks for adding it to the database!

mybulova_admin
Posted January 12, 2013 - 3:35am

President style case with a Harlequin checkerboard dial = Unknown/ Good to see the 4x4 confirmation.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted January 12, 2013 - 6:14am

Case is '48 and the Movement is Dated prior (1945).

'NON CONFORMING'

Geoff Baker
Posted January 12, 2013 - 6:20am

Great watch Chicago

Agree with Stephen, the case is Presidential (seems like the General was only rose gold?). What were the Harlequin dial date ranges? Wasn't that more of an early 50's thing? I thought those ads were in the decades threads but I didn't see them in the 40's or the 50's. Dial is nicely done if it is a redial. Is there an extra line between 5 & 7 running through the seconds bit?

Unknown for now.....

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted January 12, 2013 - 6:34am

1952 is currently the earliest Date We see this Dial advertised.

bobbee
Posted January 12, 2013 - 7:07am

Strange how the shading goes over the line demarcations in several places, that makes me think it is a later addition, to make it look like the later Academy Award.
I think fifth AND admin are correct, this is a President, but with a non-conforming dial.

JP
Posted January 12, 2013 - 9:32am

Non conforming

OldTicker
Posted January 12, 2013 - 11:21am

Non conforming, Defiantly a President case with the wrong dial, you can see that it does not fit the contour of the bezel in this picture by the space between the bezel & dial.

ChicagoWatch
Posted January 12, 2013 - 11:37am

In reply to by OldTicker

As I am completely new at this, I am an amateur photographer. When I look at the watch itself with a magnifying glass there is actually no space in that location. In the photo the darkness is actually a shadow. I think since the crystal is curved the shadow is of the top of the crystal. But when I look at the watch itself - there is no space in that location. Sorry for the bad photo.

 

As a non-conforming watch does anyone have any opinion of what model the original face may have come from. The numerals are distinctive and so is the open circle around the second hand sweep.

 

Thank you! 

OldTicker
Posted January 12, 2013 - 1:29pm

In reply to by ChicagoWatch

If it seems to fit the bezel, then it might be the original dial that was refinished to look like the Park Lane/Academy Award vairiant of the early 50's.

The number style, script, and sunken seconds dial looks the same as this ad and I think the numbers & script were applied not printed on the 46' President.

Usually (but not always) a refinished dial will be painted on the backside the same base color as the front, and usually (but not always) a original dial from the 40's and up will be a dirty brass color on the back with a ink stamped code.