This was my father's watch that has been packed away for decades in an old Pan Am bag. I am interested in restoring the watch and have just relocated to Brussels for a couple years. I believe from what I can tell the watch is a 1958 "His Excellency." Any assistance in providing additional details about the watch would be greatly appreciated. My father was the epitome of the "Greatest Generation." A child of the depression, a WW II veteran, who fought his way across Europe and went on to work for NASA among other things. I would like to honor his memory by having this watch restored. It most likely was on the launch pads during the first space launches.
Welcome to mybulova. Great watch and an even better heirloom. Thanks for sharing the backstory.
According to Bulova linebook 136 from 1958/1959, Your Dad's watch is a His Excellency "B". It was originally sold on a black leather strap. I suspect the band is a later replacement. An original expansion band would be a perfect fit on the lugs, yours is spring loaded to auto-adjust to lug width. These bands tend to wear into the lugs and damage them. If it was my Dad's watch, I would replace the band with a nice fine grain leather strap like the ad.
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1958 Bulova His Excellency "B".
Wow that is an amazing story about an amazing man. Please do tell us more especially the NASA connection! The watch you have is definitely 1 1958 His Excellency "B" which I believe is the first one in the metal for our database. We found the watch in the 1958-1959 Linebook BAWD0136 Page 39. The watch would be very easy to repair for most watch makers. A good cleaning and either a new crystal or crystal polish and she will be a beauty. I look forward to seeing it restored.
1958 Bulova His Excellency "B"
I agree with the ID of 1958 Bulova His Excellency B. Congratulations! Glad to hear you want to honor your fathers memory by having it restored. Restoration for this watch could really be as simple as a professional service and a good cleaning and perhaps a new crystal (or a good polish). I'm not sure we have any watchmaker references for Brussels but you could ask local jewelers for recommendations. In the states you could expect to pay around $100-150 for the work.
Thanks for sharing it..
Thanks to all who replied. I look forward to getting the watch restored and will post a picture once the work is done. My guess is that my father purchased the watch in Marietta, GA when he worked on the C 130 program for Lockheed. From the early 1960s until 1972, he worked at NASA, contracted in from Pan Am. So the watch has been around for some pretty unique events. Look forward to showing everyone what it looks like when restored. Again, thank you to everyone for the comments.
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