Bulova 1950 Seabee

Submitted by Reverend Rob on January 20, 2017 - 11:17am
Manufacture Year
1950
Movement Model
10BCC
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
42511
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
28.3 mm
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

This may be a SeaBee or possibly a Watertite. Case is marked 49 and movt is 1950. Two piece stem and compressor style crystal and bezel. The crystal fits over a flange and the bezel ring compresses it against this, making a seal. Decent seal at the crown, but would really be watertite if it was a screw down one, just saying... I was looking in a Flea market for parts watches and as usually happens, I find viable watches.

Most frustrating.... ;D

 

[1950watertite] Bulova watch
1950 Bulova watch
1950 Bulova watch
1950 Bulova watch
JP
Posted January 20, 2017 - 12:03pm

SeaBee for me and a nice one Rev.

mybulova_admin
Posted January 20, 2017 - 7:21pm

That's a nice little find. Any objections to changing the year to 1949, based on the stamp on the inside case.

Bulova Seabee watch

Went looking for the meaning of 'Seabee'. "Construction Battalion" i.e. CB = Seabee, from the United States Naval Construction Forces (NCF).

Reverend Rob
Posted January 21, 2017 - 12:50am

The movt is stamped 'L0', it is hard to see, but it is there. 

Reverend Rob
Posted January 21, 2017 - 1:14am

Lisa has made some important distinctions between Watertite and Seabee. The Seabee has a noticeably larger crystal, at 28.3 mm while the Watertites, as far as has been so far observed, are smaller at just under 26mm.  

Also, she notes that the Seabee has the numbered outer chapter ring. This was also seen in some older Watertites, but the size was smaller. 

This leads me to suspect that the 1950 Watertite in the DB is actually a Seabee and not a Watertite. 

 

shelton243
Posted July 5, 2019 - 6:33am

It seems I have this same watch, it needs a crystal and don't know what kind.
The size of the area it goes *over is-
is 24.8 (24.85)
Could use some advice.

Reverend Rob
Posted July 5, 2019 - 11:09am

I would recommend taking it to a watchmaker, I don't remember if this was indented on the inside or not.