Bulova 1948 -Non-Conforming

Submitted by JimDon5822 on November 1, 2018 - 2:15pm
Manufacture Year
1948
Movement Model
10BH
Movement Date Code
48 (A8)
Movement Jewels
21
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
-
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Crystal details
26.2 MM Plastic Replaced
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

OK folks this one has me stumped.  I just picked this up off of Ebay.  The first photos are the ebay ones.   I love bottlecaps and this one looked interesting so I bid and got it cheap.  The case is a 30MM yellow gold plated or filled and the case back is nothing like I have seen before.  While it has the general shape of the traditional Treasure/His Excellency JJ it is much thicker and is raised mount case back where the movement sits it the opening unlike the thin Bulova style.   The only marking on the case back is a logo with a Sphinx sitting in front of a Pyramid with a letter A in it .   The dial is an even number applied black markers with dots at the odd hours.    The movement is marked "48" and is a 21J Caliber 10 BH.   The watch was sold as running fast.   When I got it yesterday it was over oiled and the hairspring was soaking with oil and bunched together.  I cleaned and degreased the watch and slapped in a new crystal and it is keeping  excellent time.   Any ideas on this one?  I am thinking maybe a replacement case or possible a foreign cased Bulova.  

1948 Bulova watch
1948 Bulova watch
1948 Bulova watch
1948 Bulova watch
1948 Bulova watch
JimDon5822
Posted November 1, 2018 - 2:28pm

Here is a close up of the case logo.

 

neetstuf-4-u
Posted November 1, 2018 - 3:45pm

Face is really close,but doesn't appear to be be correct for a Treasurer or HE. Closer to a HE "JJ".  My guess is that the case and face were replaced with  non-Bulova 3rd party "replica" as part of a restoration. Case was likely worn out and this was the jeweler solution to bring the watch back to nice and satisfy the customer, without sourcing a new replacement Bulova case and face.

It's really well done; I have a weakness for these as well..

Geoff Baker
Posted November 3, 2018 - 7:21am

I'm also a fan of this case, I think I have two of them. Unfortunately with aftermarket case this one is Non-Conforming

Reverend Rob
Posted November 3, 2018 - 10:50am

I'm not able to ID the case stamp, definitely non-Bulova.

This style  Bulova Treasurer and HE cases suffered a bit by being very thin. I have several that are worn completely through in the back. 

Non Conforming due to case.

Kathy L.
Posted November 3, 2018 - 11:30am

Looks pretty close to the watch in this ad with a slightly different dial.

Non-Conforming due to non-Bulova case stamp.

jabs
Posted November 3, 2018 - 1:07pm

Non-Conforming for me