Bulova 1944 Military Non-Issue

Submitted by Sierra_Hotel on October 5, 2022 - 4:47am
Manufacture Year
1944
Case Serial No.
016383
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

I bought this Bulova watch on my trip trough Normandy, France. It should be a genuine WWII US wristwatch manufactured by Bulova Watch Co. Supplied with the original khaki cloth strap. Markings on the back: 016383. Unfortunately I am unable to open the watch; because it is an old watch I want to be very carefull. 

I hope it is possible to identify the watch bases on this photo's. 

Photo front
Photo back
Geoff Baker
Posted October 5, 2022 - 9:40pm

Hello SH, welcome to myBulova. I've always want to go to Normandy, perhaps one day.....

Bulova and several other watch companies made wrist watches for the US Armed Service. They were manufactured under contract and always bear either the contract number or the ORD specifications on the back of the watch. You can see the various types we have in the database by clicking HERE. While it is possible a US serviceman wore this watch it doesn't not seem likely that it was military issued. To further our research it's necessary to get photos of the inside case back and movement. Perhaps there is a local jeweler who can open it for you. I would also note that WWI issued watches were not supplied with this style strap but had leather straps. This canvas style is later in the mid-late 1950's I think. 

My guess (pending further research) is that the watch was made for the US consumer market. Sorry to disappoint. I wonder how you determined 1944?

JimDon5822
Posted October 5, 2022 - 10:51pm

It is my opinion this is a WWII government surplus watch.  After WWII the watches were purchased by companies and resold with the casebacks replaced.   Still a great looking watch that for all practical purposes is probably at one time came from WWII.

mybulova_admin
Posted October 6, 2022 - 4:43am

The notion of it being surplus stock is very likely and it makes sense that they would have swapped out the official military ordinance case back for a plain civilian type.

I'm also wondering could it have still been a watch that saw action as a military issue, but then when it was handed back converted to a civilian piece. 

Did military personnel need to hand their issued watch back when they left the service? I recall I did when I left the Royal Australian Air Force, but that was back in the 1990s.

Geoff Baker
Posted October 6, 2022 - 9:30pm

From the number of "Issued" watches from the US Armed Services is seems they did not. I'll grant the the surplus theory may be a slight possibility, it's still is speculation,of which I am not a fan. This watch is still Unknown to me.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted October 7, 2022 - 9:57am

I'm stuck on this one. Photos of the movement (date code) and inside of the case back would be helpful.

Not enough info to make a determination at this point.

Unknown for now

Kathy L.
Posted October 7, 2022 - 4:08pm

It could be a surplus watch, I remember seeing an ad for them.  But without seeing the inside of the caseback or movement I am at Unknown.

mybulova_admin
Posted October 9, 2022 - 6:51am

I found that we have another example of this watch that we previously ID'd as a Military Issue (note the caseback)

Bulova 1944 Military Issue | myBulova.com

As both these watches do not have a military issues cased back I believe we should ID both as 'Military Non-Issue' which is a category we have.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted October 12, 2022 - 4:13pm

I agree for both subject watch and similar called out by Stephen

Military Non-Issue

JimDon5822
Posted October 10, 2022 - 11:42pm

Here is a 1947 ad showing the surplus watches for sale.

Surplus Ad

mybulova_admin
Posted October 13, 2022 - 4:47am

Panel, final thought?