Bulova 1943 Air Warden

Submitted by BlackbirdM3 on April 9, 2018 - 8:32pm
Manufacture Year
1943
Movement Model
10BS
Movement Date Code
X
Movement Jewels
15
Case Serial No.
3214048
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

A nice little Ebay find. 10k rolled gold bezel, sterlng base, stainless steel back. The inside of the back reads Bulova New York. It has a 10BS movement, 15J, with an X for the date mark. There is another mark that reads either BXW or 8XW. The inside of the watch looks pretty clean. The outside was heavily tarnished, but a little silver polish took care of that in less than a minute. Looks like the dial could use a cleaning, I'd guess it should be a little more bright than it is, however all the numbers and minute marks are all there and look good. The hands may have been relumed, but could also be original, they glow pretty brightly at night. (I don't have a geiger counter handy to see if they are radium or not.) That said, they are brighter than the numbers on the dial. The watch likely needs a service, the latest date I can read on the back looks like 1974. That said, it winds smoothly, sets smoothly, and was only off by 1 minute after 4 days. (I have since let it run dead so as not to damage it) 

 

My vote is that its an Air Warden based on the location of the sub second hand between the 5 and 7, but very low. Its also a tiny watch. I could hapily wear it if I can find a band long enough. 

1943 Bulova watch 1943
1943 Bulova watch
1943 Bulova watch
1943 Bulova watch
BlackbirdM3
Posted April 10, 2018 - 11:30am

Who is the go to person for service on older Bulova watches these days? I'd like to send a couple of mine out to be serviced, and I'd have to guess a watchmaker who doesn't specialize in old Bulovas might not have any parts (assuming some are needed.) 

 

The Air Warden seems to be an uncommon watch. There are only a handful of them on the site. I dig the looks of it, but I wish it were a little bigger. 

 

Thanks. 

Andersok
Posted April 10, 2018 - 12:40pm

I'm still tentative on these being Air Wardens. I haven't found another match in our ads.

BlackbirdM3
Posted April 10, 2018 - 1:32pm

In reply to by Andersok

[quote=Andersok]

I'm still tentative on these being Air Wardens. I haven't found another match in our ads.

[/quote]
I listed 4 that are already listed as an Air Warden that look identical. Its clearly not a Nighthawk. 

Andersok
Posted April 10, 2018 - 6:22pm

In reply to by BlackbirdM3

The 1942 that you linked to is the only one that I feel is a match to the black dial Air Warden ads; the 1943 (and two 44s debated prior to my joining the panel) are identical to yours and not identical to the supporting ads. I'm seeing a different numeral style/font, and the seconds track is sitting above the outer minute track in the Air Warden black dial ads. These traits match the 1942 watch, but not the others, thus the tentative id for me. I also do not see the Nighthawk matching your watch.

When I look at this 1941 Sky Hawk ad I see the best resemblance to your watch, though it is not very clear and the bezel appears a bit thicker, I'm unable to see if the seconds track sits lower and has numerals, and there is no mention of jewel count; but there appear to be larger indicies in that outer track next to each numeral, and the shape of the numerals are a closer match to your watch:

Reverend Rob
Posted April 14, 2018 - 12:14am

Another Sterling with Gold fill, I don't see this that much in Bulova. Called Vermeil in the trade.