Bulova 1945 Lincoln

Submitted by Reverend Rob on February 18, 2014 - 3:12pm
Manufacture Year
1945
Movement Model
7AN
Movement Date Code
Triangle
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
-
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Rose
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

A Pink GF case, with case back marked 'Bulova Quality' but the serial number scratched away and unreadable. No interior marks to identify the casemaker, just a service mark. 17j 7AN in good condition, I will update this and others as the restoration is completed. It's not clear in the pics, but the dial is copper coloured and works well with the pink gold case. It was re-lumed at some point, and not very well. Crown appears original as it is exactly like the case. 

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Geoff Baker
Posted February 21, 2014 - 5:29am

Will - I think we should always ID by case first.

Tentative Lincoln for me.

Reverend Rob
Posted February 21, 2014 - 10:38am

As Mark pointed out, the dials really aren't the same shape or size, so my dial feet theory may not be valid. I agree on the case first ID. 

Geoff Baker
Posted February 24, 2014 - 5:55am

Panel Members? last call for Mr Lincoln?

OldTicker
Posted February 24, 2014 - 8:58am

The other 3 Lincolns we have in the database are of 1940-41 vintage, this one has a 1945 movement and a dial we have not seen before on this model, while no doubt it is a Lincoln case, the movement and dial would make this a Frankie.

Do we have a ad showing this model produced in 1945? I can't find one...Non-conforming

Reverend Rob
Posted February 24, 2014 - 9:44am

I've got nothing so far. The only dials I could find that resemble this with the angled numbers were the Spencer and Senator. Case is probably Lincoln, but no idea when it was made. I can tell you that everything fits together really well. 

bourg01
Posted February 24, 2014 - 10:02am

I'm on the fence as I don't believe Bulova was using this movement by then. I think the were only using the 7AK and 7AP for these model types. I'm still thinking it's 1935.

Reverend Rob
Posted February 24, 2014 - 4:08pm

The ebauche, which is ETA 735, dates back to 1935, but Bulova made four versions of this, the 7AP, 7AN, 7AK, and 7AH. I was hoping that the bridge layout might give some clues, as this one shows the earlier extra finger bridge for the escape wheel. However, this same feature is found until at least 1942 on the 7AH. The 1949 President with a 7AP had a similar dial with the same hands. The AP seems to have been the one with the higher jewel count option, and the most different bridge. 

The upshot? I have no idea. 

Impossible to date the case, so I'd agree with Non Con Lincoln. Would it help to measure the dial? Now I'm curious about what fits what. 

OldTicker
Posted February 24, 2014 - 7:12pm

In reply to by Reverend Rob

Rob,

Does the dial fit the bezel contour?

It appears to be narrower on the top & bottom verses the bezel...It could be the cylinder crystal making it look that way...

mybulova_admin
Posted February 25, 2014 - 6:25am

OK as the dial seems to match the case curvature it may be original. I'm back to Unknown for now as there are too many differences here in play that we are not sure about.