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
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_…
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.
In reply to Thanks guys for your help but 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.
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.
In reply to Geoff, do you have the movt by Reverend Rob
In reply to Hi Geoff,sorry don't have it by rockin ray