Bulova 1928 La Fayette

Submitted by Constantin on October 7, 2013 - 5:19pm
Manufacture Year
1928
Movement Model
10AN
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
270069
Case Serial No.
8411966
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova & American Standard
Crystal details
aprox. 25mm x 22mm
Gender
Mens
Bulova watch
1928 Bulova watch
1928 Bulova watch
1928 Bulova watch
1928 Bulova watch
William Smith
Posted August 1, 2015 - 4:12am

Subject watch closeup on left. Another 10AN example on right. 
  
 Possible Square looks kinda small relative to other square date symbols.

mybulova_admin
Posted August 1, 2015 - 5:38am

Based on other serial numbers that I have, I'd probably agree that it has a square date code for 1927.

27 10AN 264196 8388650 15
? 10AN 270069 8411966 15
27 10AN 271331 8848678 15

 

William Smith
Posted August 12, 2015 - 10:33pm

In reply to by mybulova_admin

I'd agree that it "should have" a square, but I'm not sure I'm seeing it.  The case SN does starrt with 84, so both case SN's and mvnt SN's are not too far apart in your examples.  If we are downplaying possibility of movement swaps over many years.

Alex
Posted August 13, 2015 - 9:53am

I did a double check on serial numbers for 10AN in the my ulova database (over 100 records) and can confirm that 270069 must be from 1927

William Smith
Posted August 13, 2015 - 1:30pm

In reply to by Alex

I agree mvnt "should be" from 1927, based on all the 10AN mvnt SN's.  It probably is.  Maybe the guy who was in charge of placing the date code stamps on these movements had too many beers the night before, and simply forgot  to place the square on the movement.... etc...  

I'm a little hesitant to say it must be from 1927 based on SN patterns when we don't see a date stamp (although I think it is).

And even if mvnt is made in 1927, there's the scenario of December 1927 start of mvnt production, with the January 1928 placement of movement into a case.  Movement from 1927, but production of complete watch - as point of sale ready- 1928.  Maybe there was a glut of these 1927 10AN's on stock at Bulova, and they were placed in cases produced weeks to months after mvnt production.

It's kind of two separate issues: when was mvnt produced?  when was complete model ready for POS?  It would be nice for us to have good estimated dates for both of those events.