Here is another interesting one I just picked up. White gold plate automatic 23J with 6 diamonds on the dial in diamond shaped settings. Interesting 2 tone face with stone placement on odd numbers. Signed 3 visible times case, crown and face. I haven't opened it up; case is dated L8. Watch is very clean and runs accurately. KestenMade 10k GP NOS scissor center mesh band added by me, not original. There are 2 other identical examples of this watch in the database, one in yellow gold and one in white; both are ID'ed as BB (one as variant "O", one as no variant).
This certainly is a fine looking watch, I like it a lot.
We have Bulova 23 watches in the dB with diamonds on the dial and we have Beau Brummells in the db with diamond dials, we even have Beau Brummell watches in the dB similar to this one! It's confusing. In the early days of myBulova, users were able to assign names to watches when they were added. As a result we have many watches that may be mis-identified. We also have watches ID'd without proper ad support. I cannot find an advert showing this dial configuration. I'm reluctant to ID it as a Beau Brummell.
In reply to This certainly is a fine by Geoff Baker
Hi Geoff, Point well taken and understood. I saw that both watches I referenced were added early on without any real verification except perhaps intuition at the time. I just made mention of them for reference and, I suppose, to confirm the watch as a verified multiple example model rather than an obscure jeweler "one off" dial modification.
It is worth noting that then, as now, Bulova did custom dials. Back in the day they even did other custom orders, so there are some odd models out there, usually in precious metals and stones. Most manufacturers did this and still do this, the rarest watches are sometimes custom made for wealthy customers and are only seen by the public when they come up for estate auctions.
I'm more inclined to go down the Bea Brummel path as there were a few variations, and I'd prefer (but that's just me) to categorise the diamond dial variants as BB's rather than a standard 23s, were there is no advert evidence one way or anoither. If it were earlier, prior to the release of the BB models I'd tend to agree with a Bulova '23' variant.
This from the 1958 price list.
It's interesting that a number of variants were given different model numbers; eg Beau Brummel 'A' = 38734 ($195), 30873 ($89.50), 30112 ($89.50).
Doesn't help us much in determining what was what, but does show a number of variations existed during this year.
Also keeping the consistancy going with this Beau Brummel database entry I'm tentative Bulova Beau Brummel, variant unknown.
Doesn't mean I'm right or wrong, just trying to keep them grouped, so that if we do eventually get a solid ID it's an easy update for these existing records.
In reply to I'm more inclined to go down by mybulova_admin
I am inclined to also go tentative with Beau Brummell. Although I did not find a matching advert; here is one that looks to show an identical case, just has fewer diamonds.
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