Bulova 1932 Joan

Submitted by jobrien8771 on August 29, 2016 - 7:49am
Manufacture Year
1932
Movement Model
4AD
Movement Date Code
T
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
1308965
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Ladies
1932 Bulova watch
1932 Bulova watch
1932 Bulova watch
plainsmen
Posted August 31, 2016 - 1:38pm

I'm going to make an educated guess that the red enamel was aftermarket when the stones broke or fell out.  Those spots are very common for Bulova to have stones in during that time period, blue or green as a rule.  I've seen some red ones for sale recently, but I think those are aftermarket as well as they are to inconsistant with what we've seen.

Though they could have been a special order from an individual jeweler, in my humble opionion they were not factory sent.

Reverend Rob
Posted August 31, 2016 - 8:08pm

In reply to by plainsmen

That's my impression also. From the picture it looks like the enamel kind of goes beyond 'the lines' and the recesses it fills are a tad deep for just enamel. It's entirely likely this had stones.

Reverend Rob
Posted August 31, 2016 - 8:34pm

Unknown.

Bulova made a lot of Deco ladies watches, and I've done an exhaustive search and come across some that are very unusual, but nothing that matches this. 

jobrien8771
Posted September 1, 2016 - 10:04am

It seems like an odd shape for stones, like almost rounded on the outside.  Would they have been triangular or actually rounded?  I believe this to be my grandmothers watch and she grew up in Brooklyn, NY and would have been in her mid-twenties so perhaps a gift from my grandfather but likely purchased in NYC. 

Reverend Rob
Posted September 1, 2016 - 10:13am

In reply to by jobrien8771

The shape is in keeping with many Bulova ladies models. Do a Google image search for 'Bulova ladies deco' and you'll see a lot of them.  

mybulova_admin
Posted September 3, 2016 - 8:03am

I'm thinking along the lines of the Joan as posted on page one from the advert on Lisa's site. The top advert looks to have what could be curved stones the same as the subject watch.

The case is 14Kt White Gold Filled, which is standard for this period.

I'm tentative 1932 Bulova Joan.

Reverend Rob
Posted September 3, 2016 - 10:17am

That does kinda look like it, good catch! 

Not much info anywhere on this model in this year, but I'd have to say that this comes the closest.

I'd go with tentative 1932 Joan also.

Geoff Baker
Posted September 4, 2016 - 7:26am

I would be tentative on Joan