Bulova 1931 Nurse

Submitted by mybulova_admin on April 21, 2018 - 3:11am
Manufacture Year
1931
Movement Model
10AN
Movement Date Code
Omega
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
604609
Case Serial No.
1196469
Case shape
Cushion
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Just serviced and bought back to life. Have left the original paint on the dial and hands as it's in pretty good condition. Watch is running within a minute accuracy over a day.

Not sure if these were intended for either military or medical. It's actually a very small watch compared to other men's models of the same period. Case is about 26mm wide.

We have a few similar early center sweep hands watches in the database:

Case in marked 'BULOVA QUALITY'.

I also like the serial numbers 1196469 (case) and 604609 (movement).

1931 Bulova watch
1931 Bulova watch
1931 Bulova watch
1931 Bulova watch
Alex
Posted April 21, 2018 - 9:44am

Nice Watch! Looks in pristine condition, alas unknown. 

Geoff Baker
Posted April 21, 2018 - 10:12am

It's remarkable how different this watch is stylistically to other Bulova of the same era. I can't help but wonder what forces were at play within the company at the time. Was the younger generation trying something new? Remind me - We view this movement as 1930 as opposed to 1940 because of the serial number, right?

1931 Bulova Unknown

mybulova_admin
Posted April 21, 2018 - 7:02pm

In reply to by Geoff Baker

That's correct Geoff the serial number on the movement would indicate 1930s. Also the SWISS instead of USA which was more commonly used on the 10ANs after about 1935.

I was thinking as well as to why this is such a different looking watch to others of the era.

Was it made for a specific group or market? Were they a special order for military or medical groups?

The size is another thing that really throws me....it's way smaller than the normal models of this period....again is this to meet some specific design requirements or just a trail in fashion? Although I have to say that the style is very much old school WWI trench watch, so not really modern for 1931.

Either way it's an intriguing watch which has been on my wrist telling me the time for the last two days.

 

Alex
Posted April 21, 2018 - 10:18am

On this site iT is indicated that the 10AN only ran until 1937. Not sure What the successor was though. I once tried to put a Logic in the 10 series movements as I did for the 5’s, and 6’s but gave up. 

mybulova_admin
Posted April 21, 2018 - 7:04pm

In reply to by Alex

The suscessor to the 10AN was the 10AE. The AN was the work horse of Bulova's men's watches from about 1926 to 1935.

It is by far my favourate movement to work on.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted April 21, 2018 - 11:49am

Sweet watch Stephen, I really like your choice of band as well. No match found by me. Unfortunately - unknown.

mybulova_admin
Posted April 21, 2018 - 7:09pm

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

The watch came with the typical white gold plate metal bracelet of the time and was too small on my wrist and also made the watch look like a ladies watch.

I just happen to have this strap lying around and figured it would give it some 'bulk' to better suit a mans wrist.

Now it's not too small and not too big....it's like Goldilocks porridge.....just right.

Reverend Rob
Posted April 21, 2018 - 1:09pm

It resembles Rolexes and other cushion cased watches of the same period. 

Unknown for now...

mybulova_admin
Posted April 28, 2018 - 1:26am

Well I literally just stumbled across an advert with the watch.

Looks like my gut was correct....it's a nurses watch. Did they have male nurse's back in 1931?

1931 Bulova Nurese watch

1931 Bulova Nurse's watch

Looks like I have the original band as well (not shown here).

Any objections to naming this the Bulova 'Nurse'

Alex
Posted April 28, 2018 - 2:04am

Great find! Is the ad from 1931 as well? Nurse is more a category, not a name.