Bulova 1931 Sky King

Submitted by Geoff Baker on August 22, 2012 - 11:55am
Manufacture Year
1931
Movement Model
10AN
Movement Date Code
Square Shield
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
504348
Case Serial No.
1142153
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
Two-tone
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Wonderful condition 1931 Bulova Sky King sporting it's original white / yellow Maxim deployment bracelet. Yellow / White "Bulova Quality"  gold case bears Jan 11, 1927 patent date and is in extra fine condition. "Dress" dial. I'm proud to report that I now own the yellow/white AND the white/yellow version! Inscribed as shown "To Father From Les Dec 25, 1931" Clasp is inscribed Jno A Jones (apparently Jno was an abbreviation of John)

Ownership Update 1/26/2013 - I purchased this watch from Panda (Brian) late last year. Photos Updated 5/17/2023

Geoffrey Baker 1931 Bulova Sky King 1 5/17/2023
Geoffrey Baker 1931 Bulova Sky King 2 5/17/2023
Geoffrey Baker 1931 Bulova Sky King 3 5/17/2023
Geoffrey Baker 1931 Bulova Sky King 4 5/17/2023
Geoffrey Baker 1931 Bulova Sky King 5 5/17/2023
Geoffrey Baker 1931 Bulova Sky King 6 5/17/2023
bourg01
Posted August 22, 2012 - 12:10pm

Absolutley beautiful watch! Wrong display case but the watch is awesome! I'd bet your gg grandfather retired his older Bulova to the Caravelle case when he bought a new watch. Sky King has my 3 stars

William Smith
Posted August 22, 2012 - 1:17pm

Hi Brian  Nice watch.  Looks like the Sky King to me.  If you open the back of the watch, there will be info inside- the movement type/jewel count, and some signature info on the inside case back.  Are you comfortable w/ opening the back?  It's real easy to do.  Thanks

panda
Posted August 22, 2012 - 1:22pm

i have opened the back, its a 10an movement, 17 jewel and the serial number is 1142153. also the date stamp symbol, matches the symbol on this website for 1931.

 

i am new to watches, i collect old coins, its sorta similar.

JP
Posted August 22, 2012 - 1:55pm

Sky King.

panda
Posted August 22, 2012 - 4:29pm

i added 3 more pics of the inside case back and movement. its interesting that bolova or anybody had never kept record.

Daca102090
Posted August 22, 2012 - 5:30pm

Bulova did have records up until the late 1960s or early 1970.

During a move there were reportedly 2 truck loads of records that were lost or destroyed.

Thus the success of this site, as everyone here is hepling to try to rebuild model recognition and supporting records.

William Smith
Posted August 22, 2012 - 7:22pm

Good job with the photos.  I believe there's a movement serial number that's on the bridge just above teh balance cock.  Can you make it out in person? Very nice watch.
Here's a snippet of the 1930 ad linked above:

unfortunately all ads that I can find have the fishy engraving.....

mybulova_admin
Posted August 23, 2012 - 12:31am

Sky King for me until we finally find the advert showing the watch listed as something else. We have discussed this at length before and all points have been noted. There is nothing else that comes close in the adverts other than the SK and I'm more than happy to be proven wrong when and if an advert comes along that shows this watch as something else.

We have many examples of this in the Dbase listed as the SK. That may not make it right but for consistency sake I'd prefer if it went into the same bucket as the rest so that if we do find a different model name we can change them very easily.

William Smith
Posted August 23, 2012 - 12:58am

it's four Sky King and one unknown to date...so it looks as it's going that way Admin :)