Bulova 1955 Bulova 23 Calendar

Submitted by rockin ray on July 9, 2016 - 3:53am
Manufacture Year
1955
Movement Model
10BPAD
Movement Jewels
23
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
A471101
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
30mm
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Hi I know it's the 23 jewel calander model but I believe there were different case types and names. This is a L5 movement & L5 Rolled gold front and back case. Just hoping to find if it had a model name. Thanks Ray. Dial looks great but don't know if it's orginal or refinished? Thanks Ray

1955 Bulova watch
1955 Bulova watch
1955 Bulova watch
Geoff Baker
Posted July 9, 2016 - 6:33am

This is one of my all time favorite Bulova watches. I'm reminded to dig mine out and wear it to work next week. It's also a bugger to set the hands so they don't catch when they're all pointing down.

That I know of we've always tagged this model as the 'Bulova 23 Calendar' based on this advert from 1960:

http://www.mybulova.com/sites/default/files/vintage_ads/Bulova_AD_1960_…

Andersok
Posted July 9, 2016 - 7:59am

I agree with Geoff. There was only one 'Bulova 23 Calendar' model in the 1955 pricelists and I would say that your dial is not original, as it does not match the original examples in the database.

rockin ray
Posted July 9, 2016 - 9:41am

Thanks guys for your help but it's not a franken because of redial is it?

Geoff Baker
Posted July 10, 2016 - 7:01am

In reply to by rockin ray

Ray - I would not consider a re-dial inappropriate unless perhaps it was done completely different that original, like the guy on the bay that does them in flashy colors, truth is even those look kinda nice sometime. I live by the "if ya like it, wear it" motto.

Quite often the dial will be notched when it is refinished, this one is a pain to get in and out of the case but you might be able to tell by taking it apart.

Reverend Rob
Posted July 9, 2016 - 10:10am

Geoff, do you have the movt model of your example handy? 

Ray, I personally do not think that would make it a Franken, re-dials can be very close to original depending on the configuration. I would say this one is not common, so less likely to be re-dialled close to the original, but this will all depend on who is doing the re-dial and how they are doing it. (scans or original dies, etc)

These watches are some of the best Bulova ever made, not only because of quality but the complications make them very collectible. Last year I saw a collection of really rare Bulovas, mostly solid gold, but models I have never seen boefore, and they all had a lot of bells and whistles. Triple date, pointers, power reserve,  moon phase, chronos with moon, etc. My theory is that these higher priced models did not have large production runs and fell mostly into the 1950's era. 

23 Calendar.

Geoff Baker
Posted July 10, 2016 - 6:55am

In reply to by Reverend Rob

Rob - I just uploaded a photo of my movement to the origianl record (linked above), it's a 10 BPAD.

rockin ray
Posted July 9, 2016 - 5:22pm

Hi Geoff,sorry don't have it handy away from home at moment , what do you need to know?

JP
Posted July 9, 2016 - 7:22pm

23 Calendar