1930 Bulova, Case Marked Bulova Quality 'AAA' ?

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Submitted by GVP on March 31, 2011 - 10:32am

 I have a 1930 ladies watch here in perfect condition with a white gold looking case. The back inside says Bulova Quality curved at top & Pat Jun 10 1924 curved to meet it at the bottom, like most do of this era.

In the middle of this, where there is usually a blank or '14k' 'or 'gold filled' and so on  this case simply has 'AAA'. 

I have never come across this before and have no idea what it means or what the case is made of.  Anyone?  (i'll get a photo soon, haven't had the time yet)

 

NOVA
Posted March 31, 2011 - 10:38am

I have several watches with the "AAA" in the same position you are describing, but I don't know what it means.

GVP
Posted March 31, 2011 - 11:03am

 I wonder if it just a quality grading. Triple A is used throughout the world for good quality.......have Bulova really done something that simple.........probably not then :) Probably triple layered or something...

shooter144
Posted March 31, 2011 - 1:41pm

AAA is a jewelers grade , I would guess the same, top quality...

Wayne Hanley
Posted March 31, 2011 - 3:40pm

I don't recall seeing AAA on case backs, but I have a 1940 21j 10AE movement with AAA on the bridge, located between the jewels. I tend to believe was a quality symbol with no marketing value, realized the customer doesn't normally see it, before or after a sale.  

NOTE: I make no claims to understanding marketing physcology, just my opinion.

Wayne

shooter144
Posted March 31, 2011 - 6:44pm

I wonder if thats a sly way of denoting (on mvmnt) that its actually adjusted ...The only reason they are mostly marked unadjusted is to get around the trade policies of the time that heavily taxed completed complex goods, being 'unadjusted' leaves the movement technically incomplete ( no one believes they were not adjusted, just marked as such) 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 1, 2011 - 4:37am

I've seen the AAA Cases, typically the stamp appears on the 1920's - early 30's hinged designs and in the same location as the case composition is sometimes found.

Along with the  AAA  there is also   * A *   - a quality grading perhaps?

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