Bulova 1938 Dean

Submitted by tshanno on September 13, 2019 - 7:13am
Manufacture Year
1938
Movement Model
10AE
Movement Date Code
Cresent Moon
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
8764059
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
~17 mm (base) X ~20 mm (middle) X ~25 mm (height)
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

When I bought this watch I couldn't quite make out the date code but I figured early 1940s Bulova Dean.  To my great surprise, I found once I got the jelwer's loupe out that it appears to be a 1938. Its the earliest one I've ever seen.  I've attached an ad from the site and it also looks just like the 1939 on the site (indeed, the design doesn't seem to have changed much year to year).

1938 Bulova watch
1938 Bulova watch
1938 Bulova watch
1938 Bulova watch
1938 Bulova watch (zoom in to cresent moon date code)
Bulova Watch advert
Kathy L.
Posted September 15, 2019 - 10:44am

A very nice example.  The Dean was a well advertised model.  Is the case back stamped Bulova on the inside and is it missing a serial #.

1938 Bulova Dean

tshanno
Posted September 15, 2019 - 12:16pm

HI, Kathy.

Thanks for the response.  I do have a case serial # (on the exterior of the back): 8764059.  I'm afraid that the movement is, indeed, missing a serial number.  Is this bad?

The inside back cover is marked "Bulova Fifth Avenue New York". 

Tom S.

Kathy L.
Posted September 15, 2019 - 3:56pm

In reply to by tshanno

Hi Tom!  Thank you, I will at the case serial #.  No it is not bad that the movement doesn't have a serial #.  Bulova stopped using them on the movements at this stage I believe.

tshanno
Posted September 18, 2019 - 1:46pm

In reply to by Kathy L.

HI, Kathy.

So I did a little bit of online research.  I can't find an actual place to look up these case serial numbers but it does appear that in most men's watches made after 1926 and before 1950, the first digit indicates the year.  That is, the serial number beginning with an "8" in my case would indicate 1928, 1938 or 1948.  In my case, I am obviously guessing 1938.

I assume there is more to it than that.  Can you expalin what I'm missing?

Thanks,
Tom S.

Kathy L.
Posted September 18, 2019 - 2:33pm

In reply to by tshanno

Yes the case serial # system is pretty simple indicating the year by the first #.  However it doesn't tell you what decade it is from.  So that is where we come in with knowing the styles of the decades and finding the model and what years they were advertised.  So you aren't missing anything : ) 

mybulova_admin
Posted September 19, 2019 - 4:47am

Good match for a 1938 Bulova Dean.

mybulova_admin
Posted September 19, 2019 - 4:47am

Good match for a 1938 Bulova Dean.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted September 20, 2019 - 10:03pm

1938 Bulova Dean,  I like the band; not original but quite stylin'.

tshanno
Posted September 21, 2019 - 12:53pm

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

Thanks.  I wasn't sure if it was original or not but I thought it was cool, too.  

Unfortunately I think it might be broken.  The clasp is complicated but I think its supposed to slide open without completely seperating.  That's just a guess, though.  If its right, it looks like someone with a large hand (like mine) had trouble getting it off and accidentally slid the two peices apart.

The two pieces stay together around my wrist well enough that it isn't a big issue either way.

Tom S.