Bulova 1932 Calendar

Submitted by mybulova_admin on January 21, 2022 - 11:26pm
Manufacture Year
1932
Movement Model
10AC
Movement Date Code
T
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
575937
Case Serial No.
1183481
Case shape
Square
Case color
Two-tone
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
19.5mm x 21.2mm
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Part of the earliest calendar watches produced by Bulova. This appears to be the first square dial/case design we have seen.

Fully working movement and date function after a full service and restoration. Last photo shows condition when purchased. Rusted hands, setting lever and cannon pinion.

Suggesting 1932 based on the 10AC movement date stamp which is also stamped with an open diamond as shown in the comments. This open diamond stamp appears on both examples of the 10AC movement that I have.

The calendar watches we have seen thus far all seem to be housed in various case models, suggesting that Bulova varied the production of these, possibly to gauge interest in a particular design and style.

I know of only five examples that exist.

1932 Bulova 10AC Calendar watch
1932 Bulova 10AC Calendar watch 10AC Movement, under dial
1932 Bulova 10AC Calendar watch 10AC Movement
1932 Bulova 10AC Calendar watch 10AC Movement restoration
1932 Bulova 10AC Calendar watch 10AC Movement case serial number
1932 Bulova 10AC Calendar watch 10AC Movement
mybulova_admin
Posted January 22, 2022 - 12:04am

Open diamond stamp on the Bulova 10AC movement. The movement also have the standard 'T' date code for 1932.

1932 Bulova 10AC movement

mybulova_admin
Posted January 22, 2022 - 1:51am

Something that came to mind this morning. When I re-assembled the watch the date wheel was positioned to the 3rd, so this morning I decided to advance it forward to the 22nd. It took me many many rotations to get the correct date.

I think one possible reason these early calendar watches didn't take off may have been due to this fact. That is the extra wear and tear on the cannon pinion and/or center wheel arbor due to this need to keep rotating the hands forward to reach the desired date. This may have made the movement unpopular and more prone to error. A normal watch might take up to 5 spins to adjust the time, but with the added calendar wheel this could easily be 20 times that.

Just a thought.

Andersok
Posted January 22, 2022 - 7:20am

Good looking square case model of the calendar. No remnants of the 3 marker, which was likely taller than the date opening.

The one I had also showed the diamond stamp:

10AC_1932_Calendar

neetstuf-4-u
Posted January 22, 2022 - 10:23am

Congrats on acquiring this beauty! Kudos on restoring this one instead of parting it out! I like your theory that these were just too much trouble for the average watch buyer to keep synchronized. I know that mine is the same and very time consuming to re-set when it is seldom worn. The only time mine gets wrist time is when the date is a day behind to start (once a month), as I'm always afraid that the next 24 hr rotation might be the last...... Maybe some day we will find documentation regarding production numbers and why these early calendar models never made it into the market.

A true "hen's teeth rare" watch. Thanks for saving it and adding it to the database!

1932 Calendar

Geoff Baker
Posted January 22, 2022 - 9:18pm

No doubt, I've burned a fingertip once or twice spinning that crown to set a date. Bulova introduced the 'quick set' in the late sixties maybe early seventies, HUGE improvement. Accutron had a cool feature for quick set as well.

It seems that 1932 Bulova Calendar under represents the name but I don't know what else to call it. (I sure wish it was mine). Super excited to see this one in the dB, it's a dandy

Kathy L.
Posted January 23, 2022 - 6:08pm

Wow congrats on sure a rare find!

1932 Bulova Calendar