Counterfeit Bulova?

Submitted by KodachromeCrawford on February 12, 2022 - 7:59pm

Hello everyone! Received a recent eBay purchase and it seems to be a mish-mash of watch parts. The dial says Bulova, however it does not say Swiss and seems to be in a paint color/style I have not seen before. Looking to see if Bulova dials always say Swiss on them. Also looking to see if they used this metallic copper paint on the dials. Close up pics of numerals look like thick paint. Does this most likely mean this was hand painted? Thanks!02/12/2022

KodachromeCrawford
Posted February 12, 2022 - 8:00pm

02/12/2022

KodachromeCrawford
Posted February 12, 2022 - 8:00pm

02/12/2022

mybulova_admin
Posted February 12, 2022 - 11:42pm

We have a name for these kind of watches. Frankenwatch. This is indeed what you have here.

I doubt the case is Bulova. The hands are common to the early 1920s and even late teens. Dials aren't screwed in via the front (well Bulova never did this).

Is the movement a Bulova?

So bottom line, it's not a true Bulova watch, but regardless of that if it appeals to you as a vintage watch, then that should be its main purpose.

KodachromeCrawford
Posted February 13, 2022 - 9:07am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Haha Frankenwatch is very fitting! That is very interesting about the hands! I thought they may be a little long for a ladies watch? The movement is a 15 jewel VanBuren (cannot find very much about this company, maybe a brand sold through Sears) so it is not a Bulova. The case is also not Bulova I’m assuming (the side engraving doesn’t look typical of Bulova). I am just trying to authenticate/figure out the origin of the dial. As it does not say Swiss, I thought it may be a repaint? The size and shape of dial seems like it would match some 1920s/1930s Bulova ladies models (1932 Muriel). I guess without an exact match there is no way to know for sure. Thank you so much for the info!

neetstuf-4-u
Posted February 13, 2022 - 5:05pm

In reply to by KodachromeCrawford

There were companies that produced replacement cases with a supplied dial so jewelers could "rejuvenate" trade ins for resale or re-case customer watches as a sort of "restore" Many had a name on the dial not related to or in any way connected to the case company. They ran into copyright issues (lawsuits) for doing this and ceased. If you have ever seen a watch with a dial marked "Bulova Movement", this was the copyright issue temporary "fix". I suspect your watch was constructed using one of these kits and has Bulova on the dial because the kit fit the movement. Hands don't really match dial layout, so it's possible they were the original hands on the VanBuren watch that the movement originally lived in. I see a lot of similar "Frankens" on eBay. Many look legit, but case back  isn't marked Bulova inside or out and they have no case s/n.

Hey, it's cool and an interesting historical item. Wear it and enjoy it (and the backstory). No Bulova parts :o)

KodachromeCrawford
Posted February 13, 2022 - 9:26pm

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

That is awesome, it's always interesting to learn new things like this. It can be disappointing to open up an unknown and realize it's not a Bulova movement, (or anything authentically Bulova for that matter) but I still really like this one. Thank you for this info!

mybulova_admin
Posted February 13, 2022 - 7:01pm

It's also worth noting that not all Bulova watches were made in Switzerland. The vast majority were made in the US. Bulova Swiss watches were the norm though in the 1920s and early 30s before they started to manufacture them in the US en masse.