My grandfather passed away last month and left this watch to me. I believe he told me he was given the watch prior to WWII. From the research I've done on this site I believe it may be a President from around 1940. Any thoughts? Update 23 Sept 2011: I'm now thinking it is a 1939 case with a 1948 movement? Case measurement: 45mm x 20mm
In reply to Fifth, Sorry, I Have to by bourg01
I absolutely agree. I have 5 mid-30's known Bulova's marked on the outside only. Cases as notable as the 1935 Ambassador.
I'm telling you... over the last several months I'm more and more convinced that this Keystone company or whatever made original Bulova cases FOR Bulova's line in the mid 1930's.
In reply to I absolutely agree. I have 5 by plainsmen
In reply to I am tending to agree with by OldTicker
In reply to Yeah I posted that in a post by plainsmen
bullshyte boys, Keystone Cases are Jeweler replacements.
Bulova manufactured their own Cases and hallmarked them.
Don't feel bad, I own a couple - they were much cheaper than buying a new Watch back in the Day....and some are still available.
If the inner caseback is not stamped Bulova then it's not a Bulova, Christ We'd have every 'FRANKENBULLY' in the Universe in the database.
In reply to bullshyte boys, Keystone by FifthAvenueRes…
In reply to Mark, How did we determine by OldTicker
In reply to We had a clear shot of one by FifthAvenueRes…
In reply to It would be good to get some by plainsmen
I agree Jerin and that works in opposite, because You 'think' it could doesn't mean it is.
Have You noticed how nice all of these Cases are compared to their (used) 1930's counterparts? It's because they were most likely changed in the 1950's onward which would make them at least 20 Years younger than the originals.
My faith says Bulova Cases are stamped Bulova inside and I'm sticking with that notion until someone proves otherwise.
* and this is why a clean shot of the inner Caseback should be mandatory to the database, replacement Cases are out there.
In looking I've noticed several members dodging the inner caseback picture when a majority of their Watches show it. Any Watch not showing the Bulova hallmark inside the Caseback will not attain a 3 star confirmed ID from Me....but, that's just Me.
Pass the plate bud.
The dial is not centered : it is a bit too high and to the right. It does look more like a 1930s dial rather than a 1940s one.
I don't see any cases decorated with engraving in 1948. It is more of a 1920-30s fashion.
I would suggest that the dial and case are from the 1930s and that the movement is from 1948. 21 jewels was not uncommon that year. This could perhaps explain why the dial is off center.
Sorry, I can't give this watch a 3 Star rating.
1. Movement date and bezel era do not jive.
2. Case is not stamped Bulova inside like others of this era, but I am starting to get the feeling that Bulova may have contracted someone to make cases for them or simply changed the way they marked them in the late 30's because many of the late 30's watches entered here lately have the same case markings and traits as this one.
3. While I do feel this bezel matches the President ad's from the late 1930's, and the movement is definitaly a Bulova with the '48 stamp, can you really call it a 1939 President and give it 3 stars?? or call it a 1948 President and give it 3 stars?? To me a 100% 3 star Bulova should have a movement and case that are within 2 years of each other.
Our database would make your head swim with the watches listed from 1937-1940 that are called a "President"...there are 6 listed for that era and only 3 look alike, and many of them have little or no info or pictures to back them up...Time to clean this up, because all this causes is confusion.
A watch like this as nice as it is really is not a 1939 President nor is it a 1948 President, it is a Frankenbully or an Unknown, and belongs in another catagory.
No offence Ameroo50, it is a nice looking watch and very valuable, but not a 100% 1939 Bulova President.
Greg