Bulova 1961 Craftsman

Submitted by blankenau on February 16, 2024 - 8:51am
Manufacture Year
1961
Movement Model
8AE
Movement Jewels
17
Case Serial No.
F299454
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

10k White Gold Filled Case. Silver/gray two tone Crosshair? Quadrant? Dial. Facetted Crystal.

Bulova 1961 Craftsman Face
Bulova 1961 Craftsman Front
Bulova 1961 Craftsman Dial
Bulova 1961 Craftsman Movement
Bulova 1961 Craftsman Back
neetstuf-4-u
Posted February 16, 2024 - 10:14am

Your watch appears to be a 1961 Craftsman with a replaced dial and movement, as movement (17J) is dated "A9" indicating the movement is 1949.

The Craftsman "F" was white gold plate, but had a black dial and a 21 Jewel movement. It's possible this dial came from a Craftsman "D" (matching font), or was refinished from black to white with the addition of the crosshair "X". It's Anybody's guess.

Generally, a watch with a mismatched movement and dial with a 12 year discrepancy in dates would be classified as "non-conforming", but Based on the case only being used for Craftsman, I would be inclined to ID your watch as 

Craftsman (no variant) noting replaced movement and dial.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted February 16, 2024 - 11:55am

UPDATE

I just found reference to another white gold case Craftsman in the 1961 Linebook. It doesn't change my ID of no variant, but reveals another variant - Craftsman "G". White dial (no cross hair either), white case 21 jewel movement.

whitecraftsman

Kathy L.
Posted February 16, 2024 - 11:33am

Great research Bob.  I am good with IDing this as a Craftsman with it being the only model using this case.

1961 Bulova Craftsman (noting replacement dial/movement)

blankenau
Posted February 16, 2024 - 12:34pm

Thank you all for reviewing.

I don't think it would matters for assessment, but the dial is actually 2 tone gray/silver? and white, but not a bright white.  The camera could not capture it. Left and right segments are the gray/silver.  Do you know of a model that might have had this dial?   Also I am curious about the A9 on the movement.  For my own future research on Bulova movements and interpreting the data correctly, I read the references available in the date code section on this site as a 1949 movement would have 49 or J9... An A9 would be 2009, which is not possible for this movement?  Is there a different set of ref material I should be looking for when dating Bulova watches... I have more than a few at this point.

Thank you again for assessing my Craftsman watch... There will be more to come. I look forward to being part of a great watch community. 

neetstuf-4-u
Posted February 16, 2024 - 12:41pm

For reasons unknown (to me at least); A9, J9 and 49 all represent 1949.

Welcome to our world :o)

blankenau
Posted February 16, 2024 - 12:53pm

Understood... I am very appreciative that there is this much information and experts available for this brand. I have always had an attraction to Bulova.  Many other brands I run across have little to none available. :(  

mybulova_admin
Posted February 16, 2024 - 6:16pm

As Neetsuf indicates A9 is indeed 1949, the period when Bulova introduced their new dating system, and I don't mean speed dating :-)

Seems it took then a few goes in 49 to finally decide on a system. Not sure why we they didn't go with a K9.....ohhh

I'm also comfortable with a general 1961 Bulova Craftsman ID, with the note of a movement (and possible dial) replacement.

Geoff Baker
Posted February 16, 2024 - 9:09pm

1961 Bulova Craftsman is a good ID

JimDon5822
Posted February 16, 2024 - 11:11pm

1961 Bulova Craftsman is a good match noting replaced dial and movement.