Does anyone know if the rubies on the 1940s cocktail watches are real or simulated? Thanks.
It's always been my assumption that a watch made of solid gold with diamonds and rubies, that the rubies would also be real, but you raise a great question. Could they have been synthetic?
I've so far only found one advert that listed a Bulova watch with 'synthetic' rubies and it was priced at $150.
Most ads seem to only state 'rubies' and not specify if they are real or simualted.
In reply to It's always been my by mybulova_admin
My thought: It has always been my assumption that if stones were real, they were listed in ads as diamond, sapphire, emerald, etc. If not, they were listed as white stone, red stone, simulated, in quotes like {case with "rubies"} or Emerald stones; which is a reference to color - which would imply they aren't real emeralds. Here is a good example. The first Beau Brummels were called out as "white stones" and "simulated rubies", while subsequent later BB ads call out "diamonds". I've tested most of my BB's and all stones large enough to get the tester on test as real diamonds except the one pictured below.
I don't know when truth in advertising standards came into effect, but at least from the early 50's on manufacturors were pretty careful about not misrepresenting their goods for legal reasons. I always look for the legal but subtle "disclaimer" as listed above.
One would have to believe that both mens and ladies watches followed the same standards for truthfulness in advertising.
In reply to My thought: It has always by neetstuf-4-u