Bulova 1929 Bernard

Submitted by Renee LaFlamme on May 10, 2022 - 8:18am
Manufacture Year
1929
Movement Model
10AN
Movement Date Code
Shield
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
579376
Case Serial No.
9229979
Case shape
Square
Case color
Two-tone
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
25mmx25mm
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

There are no marks on the back or sides of the case.  This belonged to my grandmother (born 1928). I do not have the tools to open the case to look at the movement. I have no other information about the watch and do not know the date of manufacture, or when it was purchased.

Face of Bulova
neetstuf-4-u
Posted May 10, 2022 - 10:29am

Good looking watch and a nice heirloom. We have only been able to determine this is a mens watch, and have not yet found an ad to identify it. There are a couple like it in the database categorized as Unknown seen herehere and here.

I suspect your watch dates to the late 1920's like the three I reference. It's pure speculation, but I suspect your grandmother may have inherited it from her father. If the watch dates 1928 your grandmother's father may have received it or purchased it in celebration of her birth. The only way to tell for sure what the date is, is to see the serial number on the inside of the hinged  case back. If only it could talk.....

Unknown.

I'll change the year above to 1928 as it is not a 1940 - wrong style. Here is an ad from 1929 with your watch shown upper right below Miss America. Unfortunately, no name is given.

Renee LaFlamme
Posted May 10, 2022 - 11:26am

Thank you!  With more research she was born in 1921.  I think your guess is very close. Her husband (my grandfather) was born in 1919 so would also have been young to purchase the watch new.   I will update and post more photos once I get the case open. 

Renee LaFlamme
Posted May 10, 2022 - 11:44am

I was able to gently pop the case open.  1927

Case and movement

 

Case

neetstuf-4-u
Posted May 10, 2022 - 12:16pm

Perfect! The shield on the movement next to the serial no. is the mark for 1929. The serial number inside the back starts with a "9", also indicating 1929. The Stamped date of 1927 is the year of the patent for the celluloid dust cover.

Your watch is a 1929  (for now) Unknown.

Date updated to 1929, movement, case s/n's and movement type added above.

Renee LaFlamme
Posted May 10, 2022 - 12:28pm

OK, very interesting!  Thank you!

Geoff Baker
Posted May 11, 2022 - 10:36pm

Nice one - 1929 Bulova Unknown, one day we'll find and advert for this guy.

JimDon5822
Posted May 12, 2022 - 12:32am

Agree with the unknown designation. Please be careful with touching the hands as they are radium. Only touch them with plastic gloves and wash your hands thoroughly if you touched it.  

JimDon5822
Posted December 2, 2023 - 9:08pm

This  21 Jun 1929 Ad from Omaha World Herald sure looks to be a match down to the engraving and hands,  It does not list it as being two tone but gosh it sure looks like a match.  It also predates the later Bernard watch so this would be an earlier use of this name.

29 Bernard

Kathy L.
Posted December 3, 2023 - 10:23am

Nice ad find Jim!  Agreed.

1929 Bulova  Bernard