Bulova 1936 Francine

Submitted by terilee1957 on July 17, 2013 - 2:19pm
Manufacture Year
1936
Movement Model
?
Movement Date Code
Square
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
311789
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
?
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

I am curious to find more information on my grandmothers Bulova- the engraving is so tiny I can't read it with a magnifying glass, so I can't provide all the information requested above. The number on the outside of the case is very worn on the first digit, so it could be 311789, 511789 or maybe 811789. I cannot find this particular version of my watch, as the only ones that look anything like it posted on this website only have two diamonds. My watch has 6 diamonds altogether; three silver triangles arranged in the shape of a triangle on each side of the crystal, each with one diamond inside, the diamond in the top triangle is larger than the other two. The square inside the movement indicates 1936, but I can't find this watch posted for that year. It looks like the Lady Bulova, but I can't find a Lady Bulova pictured for 1936. Seeking information for this watch has been a trip down memory lane for me! I am seeing watches I remember my great-aunts and uncles and grandparents wearing from when I was a little girl. Of course in those days, you didn't replace something that was in good working order, so I would see these same watches year after year. Each watch face corresponds with the face of an elderly loved one who is now gone. Each watch face holds dear memories for me!n I am also curious about the numerous "ghost" engravings inside the back case cover! There are about a dozen or more tiny groupings of either numbers or letters, in different  text styles which is an amazing feat in itself because this watch is so tiny!  Was is customary for people who worked on, or manufactured the watch to "sign" the inside of the watch? Any one know? Intriguing!!

terilee1957 1936 UNK 01 09 2014
1936 Bulova watch
1936 Bulova watch
JP
Posted July 17, 2013 - 5:00pm

Hi Terilee,  Welcome to mybulova. Could you possibly take pictures of the back side of the movement while it is out of the case and pics of the inside of the case back.  Yes, when the watch is serviced the watch maker leaves a code and his personal code for who he is engraved in the back case on the inside.  It is a lovely watch and we will maybe be able to identify it when we can see the back of the watch out of the case and the inside of the case back.

JP

terilee1957
Posted July 18, 2013 - 12:32am

I will do this, I guess I will add the photo to my account as I don't see where to attach it here!  

Thanks so much!  Teri

terilee1957
Posted July 18, 2013 - 12:54am

Okay... hope the quality of the two additional photos I just added to "my watch" is okay, they are taken with my Iphone. Please let me know if these are okay, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Teri

Geoff Baker
Posted July 19, 2013 - 6:01am

Hi Terilee, this is a very nice watch. Remembering that the square could also indicate a 1946 date I checked our ads for both mid 30's and mid 40's but haven't found a match. The case style/size (Bulova called this style "Baguette") does point to the mid 30's. There are a couple possibilities. First is the case manufacturer  - Bulova almost always put their name in their cases - does "Bulova" appear anywhere in or on the watch case back? If it doesn't it's possible that you have a Bulova movement in a non Bulova case, this happened frequently because of damage or wear to the original case.  If that's true we wouldn't consider it a true Bulova but would certainly agree that it's a lovely watch and a magnificent family heirloom. If the case is marked Bulova, we either haven't found the ad to verify the ID yet (most likely) OR the case was customized along the way (least likely). We continue to search.....

Either way, you are so fortunate to have your grand mothers watch. As a keepsake, I would consider the watch priceless. Sounds like you had a fun filled trip down memory lane perusing our data base as well (a trip I often take my self quite).

mybulova_admin
Posted July 21, 2013 - 5:41am

Could we please have a photo of the inside back case or a description of what is written. Trying to determine if the case is a Bulova case.

JimDon5822
Posted December 10, 2023 - 7:58pm

Confirmation of model.  1936 Bulova Francine

Francine