Solid 14K Yellow gold (I have seen an identical model in white gold with 1946 date code on the movement). Flex/movable lugs. Don't know the model name.
In reply to Yes Jaroslav, I agree. I've by Geoff Baker
The 1947 example and another one I have seen both are white gold. This is yellow gold. Don't know if the dials were identical or not between white and yellow.
How does one date the watch by the case serial number? is there a table? does the first digit indicate the year? If so, how do I tell what decade the watch is from (in this case 1939 or 1949). If 1939 and movement from 1940 then it might make sense. If 1949 and movement is 1940 - then I, most likely, have a combincation of parts.
Does anyone know when Bulova started to use diamonds/stones on their dials? I have seen a number of examples from late 1940s and on, but what about before late 1940s?
Sorry for all the questions, but I'm still learning.
In reply to The 1947 example and another by srh11293
by the serial number of the case and similarities with the compared watch I would the production date of case estimated to 1949
diamonds and stone on dials starts use on late of forties
I feel that it will be a non-conforming watches combined from several Bulova parts
Solid gold cases are a special production, and I can' t remember if we had come to the conclusion that the serials on these were reliable?
1949 looks right but it may not be a BB, despite the case looking like one. It was very easy in these models to literally drop in a movt and dial, so this may have happened here, we may never know. In general, the more valuable the watch the more it was taken care of, understandably. I've known watchmakers from this period, and the customers would tell them to just do whatever it took to get their gem running and usable again. They were not sitting there thinking it would become a collectible. Competition was fierce in the late 40's, so your average watchmaker would just do whatever was most expedient to get the job done and make the customer happy.
Personally, I am not a fan of the stones on the dial that Bulova and many others did around this time, this watch is quietly classy.
Unknown for me.
Very curious as to why the assumption is that the case is from 1949. Here's a 1940 Engineer (http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1940-engineer-3008) with the same movement (even the same year symbol), and very similar case (case back is identical), same movement holder, etc. Since diamond dials became popular in the mid/late 40s, it would make sense that this watch did not have a diamond dial.
Beaus (around this time) usually had the stones on the dial, I can't find any confirmed examples of any that didn't in this period. If we are assuming the serial number points to 1949 case, the spread between the movt and case is too wide- a sign of a non-conforming watch due to movt/dial swap.
I suspect that the case is for a BB, but the model underwent a design change that included hooded lugs in this year, so maybe the serial is not as reliable as we think, or is the second digit the important one, making the case a '46?
Regardless, it does appear to me to be a non-conforming watch after much digging around.
I do like it, though.
1949 for the case makes sense. The dial on this watch is similar to late 40s/early 50s DUO WIND and flip case Bulova's. Though, all BB I have seen so far had diamond dials ... and all were whilte gold (this one is yellow gold). Thus, at least to me, the question is the date stamp on the movement - 1940 - which makes no sense. As such, to make it conforming, I will find a late 40s 8AE and make the watch correct again