Bulova 1933 Ambassador

Submitted by cuad on January 2, 2012 - 5:38pm
Manufacture Year
1933
Movement Model
10AN
Movement Date Code
Cresent Moon
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
402013
Case Serial No.
335827
Case shape
Stepped
Case color
Two-tone
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
Optical
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

I've been researching this one for a while and 1938 Ambassador is the best I can come up with. I'm hoping you all agree with my logic.  The movement is the 15 jewel AN10 (4 adjustments) serial number 402013 and a crescent moon date symbol.  The case is the hinged type matching others identified as 1934 and later Ambassadors in the database. However, the case serial numbers for those in the database are as follows: 1934 - 408674  -  1935 - 5050387  -  1935 - 5061224.  This one's case has serial number 335827, which looks to be earlier than those above.  With the crescent moon symbol and the earlier serial number I thought it may be 1928. The problem is that the late 1920's Ambassadors don't look anything like this. This style start showing up around 1934, so that's where the 1938 assumption comes from.

1938 Bulova Ambassador
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
mybulova_admin
Posted January 2, 2012 - 6:31pm

The movement certainbly is 1928.

1938 movements didn'y have a serial number. Looks like a movement swap but the case is certainly that of an ambassador. So the ID is correct as long as the non-original movement is noted the ID is good. Just ned to narrow downw when the case was released. Lets go with 1933 based on Fifth Avenues theory of the case serial number starting with the year of manufacture.

Reverend Rob
Posted January 2, 2012 - 7:06pm

 More trivia for those who enjoy such things... (like myself)

The 10AN was an FHF 324, and produced from 1925-1937. 

cuad
Posted January 3, 2012 - 3:23pm

Another point of interest on the movement. It is marked "FOUR 4 ADJ". The other Ambassador movements of this style in the database are marked "ADJUSTED". This may be an indication of an older movement, but I'm not sure. 

Based on this discussion, should I change the name to 1933 Ambassador or just remove it from the database? I would hate for anyone to be misled.

Paleotime
Posted January 5, 2012 - 11:35am

My 1934 Ambassador is only marked "Adjusted"...You might be onto something.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted January 6, 2012 - 4:56am

Crescent Moon below the seriel number?

William Smith
Posted March 12, 2012 - 3:28pm

so 1928 mvent in 1934 case Ambassador

bobbee
Posted August 14, 2012 - 5:58am

Subject given six-number case s/n starting with three, but that is outer caseback. No inner seven-number case s/n, which would be the true case s/n in my opinion.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted August 14, 2012 - 7:21am

not in this era Bob.

The S/N is correct.