Bulova 1943 Watertite

Member for

12 years 5 months
Submitted by wgcinder on April 30, 2011 - 10:31pm
Manufacture Year
1943
Movement Model
10BA
Movement Date Code
X
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
273
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
25.6 mm
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Dial is in poor shape. Good leather strap. Runs. Stainless steel case.

wga-watertite-04302011
1943 Bulova watch
1943 Bulova watch
1943 Bulova watch
Bulova Watch

Member for

12 years 9 months
OldTicker
Posted April 30, 2011 - 10:41pm

2 piece stem, back doesn't come off, movement comes out through the crystal opening.

Try pulling out the stem like you are setting the time and turn the case over so the movement can come out through the crystal opening, slowly turn the stem while holding on to and gently wiggling the movement, it should seperate.

Once out you will see that the stem on the movement is slotted with a blunt  or round end and the stem left part in the case is slotted to fit it.

Member for

12 years 11 months
FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 30, 2011 - 10:47pm

Nice!

finally an original example of a 'WATER TITE'.

a Sawzall may get the back off.

lol

Member for

12 years 7 months
NOVA
Posted April 30, 2011 - 10:50pm

What do you mean by original?  The watch apparently dates to 1951 (per the information provided), but the first Watertite ad is dated 1930.

Perhaps 1951 is not quite right?

Member for

12 years 11 months
FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 30, 2011 - 10:51pm

unmolested.

and I highly doubt this Watch was avail in 1930.

Member for

12 years 7 months
NOVA
Posted April 30, 2011 - 10:57pm

So you think the ad is dated incorrectly?  I actually looked into that a bit the other day, and 1930 makes sense for Johnny Weissmuller (the swimmer in the ad) being at the top of his game.  Not definitive proof, for sure, but it's something to consider.

Member for

12 years 9 months
OldTicker
Posted April 30, 2011 - 10:57pm

1930 was the first year the watertite was advertised, we have it in the ad database Mark,

Member for

12 years 7 months
NOVA
Posted April 30, 2011 - 11:01pm

There's no date symbol on the back of the case, so that would tend to argue against 1950+.  It will be very interesting to see what we have for a symbol on the movement.

I also have a very similar watch that reads "Watertite" on the dial, but it has the center sweep hand.  So, I suspect it is later than this one.  However, I also can't get the movement out to see for sure.  The crown/stem just won't separate.

Member for

12 years 9 months
OldTicker
Posted April 30, 2011 - 11:09pm

That was my next question, as I could not make a date code out on the caseback photo.

The other way to seperate them is to pull hard on the stem, sometimes they will seperate and sometimes the female part of the stem will break, 50/50 chance...

Member for

12 years 11 months
FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 30, 2011 - 11:24pm

ads can be dated wrong, or forged.....and, $50 seems a little high for a 1930 Watch.

Where did the 1930 Date for the ad originate from? 'WATER TITE' shows zero characteristics of being 1930.

The earliest sensible ad for this Watch I have seen dates to the early 40's.

 

 2 piece stem: Pull Crown to set position, turn back slightly and pull.

Member for

12 years 9 months
OldTicker
Posted April 30, 2011 - 11:28pm

Take a look at the case design and look at the others like the "Piping Rock/Unk" that Timemachines posted or the Gruen's & Hammys of the late 20's early 30's, very similar open case designs, the ad even screams that time period.

There are ad's for $1000 watches in the early 20's for Christ's sake

Why would Admin post this ad if he was not sure of the date and authenticity??

You got to take the binders off and look at things with an open mind, First its crystal ID's that won't work, and now its ad's that won't work, even documentation from Bulova won't work? What the hell does for you? Joseph Bulova himself giving it his blessing?