Bulova 1930 Sky King

Submitted by Geoff Baker on March 12, 2015 - 6:10pm
Manufacture Year
1930
Movement Model
10AN
Movement Date Code
Omega
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
634994
Case Serial No.
0403200
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
Two-tone
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Update 10/10/2015 - Ownership transfer - Photos Updated 5/15/2023

Here's a family photo of my Sky King collection:

Following are the original comments as entered by brother plainsman: Well ladies and gents, I haven't been as excited for a watch to arrive as this one in a looooong while. When I saw it I about choked.... everything looks absolutely legit to me.  Case and movement match. I have no idea if this was a "prototype" Sky King or maybe they made a super short run and this is the first one we've seen. Original matching two tone MAXIM bracelet.  It almost seems NOS.... or sock drawer candidate. I believe we've got here a (wait for it....) ULTRA RARE!!  Bulova wandering seconds Sky King! ]

Geoffrey Baker 1930 Bulova Sky King Wandering Seconds 1 05/15/2023
Geoffrey Baker 1930 Bulova Sky King Wandering Seconds 2 05/15/2023
Geoffrey Baker 1930 Bulova Sky King Wandering Seconds 3 05/15/2023
Geoffrey Baker 1930 Bulova Sky King Wandering Seconds 4 05/15/2023
Geoffrey Baker 1930 Bulova Sky King Wandering Seconds 5 05/15/2023
Geoffrey Baker 1930 Bulova Sky King Wandering Seconds 6 05/15/2023
timerestoration
Posted March 13, 2015 - 8:19am

Shouldn't the inner seconds track be the same shape as the case? 

plainsmen
Posted March 13, 2015 - 9:27am

[quote=timerestoration]

Shouldn't the inner seconds track be the same shape as the case? 

[/quote]

Looking at our other models, it looks like some do, some don't.  Here's an ad with don't:

 

William Smith
Posted March 13, 2015 - 1:18pm

Plains  Is that TAT Maddux ad from 1930 or 1931?
Also minor, but compare subject watch distance between the 3 and 9 numerals on dial and bezel verses distance btwn 6 and 12 and bezel.  All the ads I remember seem to show the 3 and 9 numerals a little closer to vertical bezel where the angles meet (equidistance). 

Reverend Rob
Posted March 13, 2015 - 9:45am

Holy Cow. How is it I never even SEE these things, an I search a lot......

 

plainsmen
Posted March 13, 2015 - 9:52am

The auction itself had a pretty small picture for the "main picture" so you could kinda see it was a late 20's early 30's Bully.... but not really what it was.  When I clicked on it I did a "gasp".  Whhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaatttt is that?!

William Smith
Posted March 13, 2015 - 1:14pm

Lovely!!  We do have several ads showing Sky King with the tonneau inner minute track in a straght-angled case....but none with the wandering seconds complication.  This is just fantastic. 

1931 ad for Skyking showing inner tonneau minute track in six-sided bezel opening.  Check out the hands in this ad. 

We have this ad in a 1932 Catalogue.  L & C Meyers Co, Wholesale Jewelers, Fifth Avenue. NY. 

I see this ad from 1930; Ambassador jewel count is wrong while Sky King jewel count is correct.

I remember a couple years ago there was discussion on bezel engraving patterns with   XXIXXI    verses  "fishes and balls" for early years, but that difference is minor, and resolved as we found more ads.

timerestoration
Posted March 13, 2015 - 2:41pm

What shape is the actual dial, underneath the bezel?

plainsmen
Posted March 13, 2015 - 4:02pm

[quote=timerestoration]

What shape is the actual dial, underneath the bezel?

[/quote]

Looks like this:

 

bobbee
Posted March 13, 2015 - 2:46pm

I can tell you this:

ALL Sky King ads with radium dials have the 'angular' minutes track, while ALL ads for the gilt numerals/non lume dial version have the 'curved' uprights minute track.

Subject goes against this with radium dial and curved uprights.

plainsmen
Posted March 13, 2015 - 3:55pm

Yeah too bad your theory goes caput when all these other Sky Kings don't conform to said theory: