Adding to the Academy Award questions.... non-curtain case?

Submitted by plainsmen on April 10, 2011 - 10:59pm

I bought this tonight...  seller said it's the original case that goes with the watch... NOS?  I don't know about that but....

It has a Director type case.... with the X-Dial we've now come to see was in fact a Academy Award variant dial.

What do we think about this?  I've seen this watch before... and with what we're learning... it could very much be legit.

cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 10, 2011 - 11:04pm

It is what it is until proven otherwise Plainsmen, there are far too many variants listed to limit this line of Watches to one or two Case and Dial designs.

IMO

Killer find btw.

plainsmen
Posted April 10, 2011 - 11:28pm

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

So when you say it "is what it is" are you thinking it's an Academy Award until proven otherwise or no?

OldTicker
Posted April 10, 2011 - 11:08pm

Another Mystery to unravel!

LOL! To bad I didn't see it first, I would have done the BIN!!

Good one Plains! AA with a case for peanuts, can't get any better!

plainsmen
Posted April 10, 2011 - 11:29pm

In reply to by OldTicker

Yeah... the pictures weren't that great but the color of the velvet inside the case jumped out at me...

Pretty stoked... can't wait to see... she advertised it as watch new in case with tags... hrmm.. pictures don't do it justice but if it is... wow... this is one for the shelf alright.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 10, 2011 - 11:16pm

...was doing a little research today on the 'X' pattern, diamond design or 'Harlequinn' as it's called.

The design is synonymous with Theatre and goes back to Medieval Days.

 

* a little 'I've had way too much caffine today' trivia for Y'all.

plainsmen
Posted April 10, 2011 - 11:30pm

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

Good caffine trivia... I'm right there with you on this one Mark... hah.

Geoff Baker
Posted April 11, 2011 - 6:11am

Oh Plains..........seller told me the date code on that case is L3. I thought about offering that same amount thinking the watch seperated from the AA box was worth the price.......but me thinks you might have an NOS but probably not an AA.

-gb

NOVA
Posted April 11, 2011 - 8:44am

Isn't this a "His Excellency" like Wayne's?

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 11, 2011 - 11:00am

The previous Owner stated the Watch is in it's original display Case - looks like an 'AA' display to Me .

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 11, 2011 - 11:21am

If Bulova 'agreed' (they were not forced)  to cease using the Name Academy Award in 1952 it is feasable that inventory already produced would be used, into 1953.

Innocent until proven guilty.

NOVA
Posted April 11, 2011 - 11:30am

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

On October 21, 1952 Bulova stipulated to the Federal Trade Commission that it would no longer use the Academy Award name.  That's a legally binding agreement, apparently based on action taken by the FTC (rather than resulting from a private lawsuit).   Failure to comply would likely result in severe penalties.

I don't know if Bulova pulled all the AAs currently on the market at that point or if they just quit making new ones, but I think we can assume that anything dated after 1952 cannot legally be called an AA.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 11, 2011 - 11:34am

I dunno Counselor, here's one dated 1953....unless it's L2 and not L3.

NOVA
Posted April 11, 2011 - 11:39am

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

You are basing that assessment solely on an eBay seller claiming that was the original box for this watch.

And I didn't say that you couldn't call it an AA, rather I said that you couldn't legally call it an AA after 1952.  Not according to the court order I just read.  I'm looking for the FTC proceeding to see if we can get more details about the exact terms of the stipulation.

And don't call me Counselor.  I am not holding myself out as an attorney.  I could get in big trouble for that.  Seriously.

GVP
Posted April 11, 2011 - 11:42am

 I've not read the entire thread but I am almost certain this case was never used as an acadmy. looks like a director watch in an academy box to me. 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 11, 2011 - 11:59am

I'm not argueing for or against and I can't understand why eveything becomes a battle here, it's getting a little boring. I don't automatically assume that every eBay Seller is a liar, I look at the Seller befor e I buy and never Buy from 'watch dealers' - private individuals only and what would this individuals motive be to lie - it's not a $500 sale.

Shown is the Watch - as I originally stated it is what it is. Jerin is a big boy, He will figure this one out.

Peace.

NOVA
Posted April 11, 2011 - 12:14pm

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

No one has accused the seller of lying.  There's no need to be so dramatic.  We all know that most eBay sellers know little about what they are selling.  It very well could be that this seller obtained the watch from someone who claimed the box was original. . . or bought the watch from a jeweler who put it in that box.  That still doesn't make the watch an AA, despite the best of intentions and full disclosure of all available information on the part of the seller.

Fifth, you argue about almost everything anyone says on this site.  I'm surprised to hear you say it is getting boring.  I was under the impression that you thrive on the debate.

Jerin surely can "figure this one out" but he asked for our opinion.  And that's all we're giving him--including you.  So chill. . . please.

 

NOVA
Posted April 11, 2011 - 12:39pm

I was just reminded of this thread, where an obvious AA was sold in a Director box.  Does that mean we should really consider the watch a Director?  I mean, it was sold that way, by a trusted eBay seller, no less.

http://www.mybulova.com/node/1586

GVP
Posted April 11, 2011 - 1:21pm

 Wow lots of tetchyness on here lately? At the end of the day people, its just a watch.

NOVA
Posted April 11, 2011 - 1:47pm

In reply to by GVP

I'm not feeling testy at all, but I can't speak for others.  There may just be way too much reading between the lines going on here.

I am just talking about a watch. . . and also the criteria we use for identifying them.  The larger picture here is that, if asked the question generically -- should a watch identification be made solely on the basis of the box it was sold in? -- I believe that no one here would answer "yes".  So, let's come up with some other basis for naming this watch.  It doesn't matter to me whether it's an AA or not.  I just don't think the box alone is sufficient to identify it. 

And, by the way, I don't think Plains thought that was sufficient grounds either, which is why he presented the issue for discussion--the watch, that is, not the box.

Bob Bruno
Posted April 11, 2011 - 1:24pm

Mark you stated that you never buy from watch dealers. I'm curious as to why? Is it because they tend to charge a little more than private sellers? I've bought a 3 or 4 watches from dealers. Had some good experiences and some not so good. There's one guy here in Chicago who has the best examples of every watch you can think of but his prices are at least 5 times higher than they are worth.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 11, 2011 - 2:32pm

Bob,

I think the genuine article is more likely to be found in Grandpa's watch being sold by Susie Smith - It may not be shiney and new looking but the odds of it being an original piece are much higher.

IMO

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 12, 2011 - 5:25pm

....and the beat goes on:

Walks like a Duck.....

Quacks like a Duck.....

must be ........an unknown Academy Award.

* Note the Dial characteristics of this Watch are identical to the known Academy Award Watches in the database, it is not a redial and Yes, this Dial is plain.

** Please keep in mind there are known Ladies plain Dialed Academy Award models.

NOVA
Posted April 12, 2011 - 6:10pm

"unknown Academy Award" = unknown watch.  Unless Stephen wants to add an "Academy Award Hopeful" category to the list--then quite a few lovely watches would finally have a home.

Sometimes it just looks like a duck and turns out to be some fool parading around in a duck suit. ;>]

Elgin Doug
Posted April 12, 2011 - 6:50pm

How about "Academy Award Nominee", instead of "Hopeful".  Fits with the theme better!  ;-)

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 12, 2011 - 7:09pm

Nominee would be reasonable as there were no such things as 'X' dialed AA'S......until a month ago that is. AND considering the Watch was produced in the early 1950's these things have shown to be rather elusive creatures.

'Quack'

NOVA
Posted April 12, 2011 - 7:09pm

I much prefer Hopeful as, IMO, it completely captures the spirit of the debate.  Also, as with the real Academy Award contest, there are far more hopefuls than actual nominees. 

mybulova_admin
Posted April 12, 2011 - 7:15pm

There has always been a general 'Academy Award' category available in the dropdown.

If in doubt use that until their is a general sensus of agreement in the myBulova community.

Debate is always welcome here as long as it is conducted in a friendly manner were by the end result is the correct identification of a Bulova watch.

OldTicker
Posted April 12, 2011 - 7:18pm

Seems that the ID's come sooner or later.

I think that when I first joined this site last Oct. there were only around 200 Id'd watches  in the database and maybe 5 pages of ad's.

Now there are almost 800 ID'd watches and over 8 pages of ad's

If it didn't have a curtian dial, it was not a AA, it was just something that somebody put together was the cry.

That was proven wrong thanks to Plainsman's super ability to find old ad's.

We only have a positive ID on about 6-8 models, and there are over 20 listed in the glass catalogs, so there are many more to find.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 12, 2011 - 8:02pm

Watch is showing all the characteristics of an 'AA' - minus the Dial finish we are currently aware of.

OldTicker
Posted April 12, 2011 - 8:06pm

Here is a Picture that was posted by Scott-WatchCrystals.

The one in the center is surrounded by known AA's, I don't know if this is his collection or something from a known collector but it sure looks like the same watch Plains purchased (stole) ;-)

NOVA
Posted April 12, 2011 - 8:09pm

Well, except for the tiny little problem that the case has never been identified as an AA.  So, we just have the case and the dial to worry about. . .  oh, and it looks like we don't know that it has the AA movement either.   But we have the box!   LOL!

OldTicker
Posted April 12, 2011 - 8:18pm

In reply to by NOVA

The watch that Plains bought has the Quadrent dial just like the "R", and "G" right??

A month ago I had two watches with a AA case and a quadrent dial that I thought were AA's, now I have a AA "R" and an AA "G" and knowing Plains, he won't rest until he hits paydirt! :-)

NOVA
Posted April 12, 2011 - 8:25pm

In reply to by OldTicker

I'm with you.  My money is on Plains and his fantastic ad finds.  Eventually, he'll find all the AAs, and we'll have to find something else to debate.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 12, 2011 - 8:27pm

As Greg mentioned, there are 6 models ID'd out of the 20 known 'ACADEMY AWARD' variants in the Crystal catalogues and I doubt a Dial variant would warrant a different Crystal.

21 Jewel Movement, 10 K Gold filled Case... in a nice box.

 

OldTicker
Posted April 12, 2011 - 8:26pm

LOL,

It gives all of us Watch Nuts something to do too!

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 12, 2011 - 10:23pm

We need a Van....

NOVA
Posted April 12, 2011 - 10:34pm

Hahaha!  That's me--the red head (girl, that is)!

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 12, 2011 - 10:44pm

Daphne, and that sorta looks like Plainsmen.... with His head hanging out of the window.

lol

plainsmen
Posted April 13, 2011 - 6:38am

I was gonna call, "I'm Scooby Doo!"  Haha