Looks like it could be legit though it's the first one I've seen in this style. This is obviously a Bulova style for the days though. We've seen this style in several watches. I for one think it's a pretty sweet fit.
I'm not so sure.
The Ambassador C dials don't have the 'partial 6' that you see on this dial, and on the much-debated Senator/Spencer 'Exploding Numerals' dial.
Looking at the Ambassadors of that type, the distance between the center wheel arbor and the 4th wheel arbor are farther apart than on this watch. The second handon this Senator, and thus the sub-seconds dial, are closer to the center, leaving space for the 'partial 6'.
I think the dial of the Ambassadors, which mounts on a 10A* movement, would not fit on the 8 AE in this watch.
I respect your opinion Doug. My Ambassador C 10AE 21j doesn't show a partial 6. Just a short vertical stripe can be seen. Obviously different dials. I recall some comments in past about two look alike Ambassador Cs and on was given a different model name.
These Bulovas and their variations! Just yesterday I received one, in an American Clipper case, but the movement was a 10AN from - I think - 1930, and the dial wasn't one I see on any of the American Clippers anyone has posted. A Frankenbully, I figure.
Then I see one very like it on Ebay, only THIS case -which looks almost exactly like the American Clipper - is HINGED.
Curiouser and curiouser.
BTW, that's a beauty, Wayne!
EDIT: By 'That's a beauty', I meant the Ambassador.
Item number 160582186208
In this case, to my eye, the fit of the dial to the bezel opening is really, really good. If it isn't original, it had to come from another watch that is very close - the Drake? The Radio City? The Spencer? (Trying to remember all the ones that take the same crystal).
It is a pretty clean job. I wouldn't suspect anything was amiss if I hadn't been in the discussion about Senators and their dials. After looking at step-cased Senators thru the years, it was a very popular watch (9 years that I know of) & many pass thru ebay. This watch, with this dial appears & having never seen this dial/case combination before, it jumps right out at me and says check it out. But it is oh so strange to never have seen it before. I kinda like the looks of it. Maybe it's the long lost Aviator! LOL.
Under the written desription the seller states "Unless I grossly misrepresented the item THIS WATCH IS SOLD AS IS. Pictures speak a thousand words. Please examine them. He also provides an email address for contact.
I know of two people who purchased from diamondhead4 and both turned out to be Frakenbullies or re-cased. The phrase "Gross Misrepresentation" is a subjective term open to interpretation. When you spend the time to "prove" frakenbully status you'll be offered a refund.
That Dial Variant was/is quite popular... (i.e. Handsome!) So it suffices to say that since there's also another "Montgomery" case (hereon?) sporting the same dial... then in general it's a combo of BOTH model ignorance (at the time of redial) AND "upgrading" the dial look for uniquenesss, and appeal...
Are there ANY other illustrations, aside from the (2) ads I have here, showing this dial "look" on models OTHER than the Ambassador and President?
:-) Scott
We can speculate all We like but personally I wouldn't count the Dial out from being original just yet - after all, it is shown in advertisements on 2 other 1940's Models as a variant.
'PRESIDENT' - 'AMBASSADOR' - 'SENATOR'(?)
(....although the strap would have to go.)
In reply to We can speculate all We like by FifthAvenueRes…
Speculation, as you put it Mark, seems to run rampant here. I don't recall anyone saying the dial isn't original? Question is 1- is it original to the case? 2- is it original to the movement? 3-Are there any ads (at present) showing this combination? Seems we have more questions than answers, and I agree with Doug as to personal collections. If I like it and it catches my eye, into the collection it goes!
Dial would have to be original to the Case - different movements:
7 linge in the 'PRES', 10 in the 'AMBASSADOR', 8 in the 'SENATOR'.
I would however question the Hands - the only advertisement shows the Hands as being a Grey-Gold color matching the Numerals and overall Color scheme of the Dial, as in Wayne's image second example.
Wrong hands IMO.
In reply to Dial would have to be by FifthAvenueRes…
I have a number of images that I will post tonight showing NOS dial variations as release by Bulova. It looks to be a sample/parts sheet for a jeweler. They are not listed against a particular watch, but they certainly show that a number of dial variations were available.
Its quite possible that all our questioning over orginal dials and correct ad placement may be put down to the simple fact that Bulova advertised a certain model one way but also released an number of variations to cater for different tastes.