I received this watch as my high school graduation gift. It was purchased at Redmon Jewelers which was located in a strip shopping center on General Meyer Ave, New Orleans, Louisiana, in the West Bank area. It would have been purchased either late May or early June 1968. It's self winding. As I recall the purchase price was less than $100. It's hard to see in the photo, but the face has sort of a fabric texture appearance. The watch has been in the back of a drawer for many years, but when I wound it it started running. It appears to be losing about 15 to 20 seconds a day. Stainless steel case, waterproof, self winding, anti-magnetic, and shock resistant. I have no idea of the watch model. I don't have either the box it came in or any papers that came with it. Added information on Oct 27, 2013: The stainless steel mesh band is original to the watch and was always in use. It has a folding clasp on the back.
Correction on Oct 28, 2013: Date code M5. Manufacture year corrected to 1965.
'COMMANDER'
ad is '65 http://www.mybulova.com/sites/default/files/vintage_ads/Bulova_AD_1965_1.jpg
Hi Steven - welcome to myBulova. Looks like you've treasured this beauty over the years. My graduation watch was a Caravelle at half the cost of this one! (My dad did make up for it by giving me my first Bulova a couple years later though).
If you're planning on wearing it, I strongly suggest a thorough service to make sure it's ready to go ahead.
I'm tentative on the Commander ID - it seems a bit of a stretch from the advert date.
In reply to Date code on the back of the by mybulova_admin
I was taking another look at the date code and got out a 10x magnifier. The date code is M5. Obviously I made the error of assuming it was M8 because the watch was purchased in 1968. I'll correct it in the listing. I'm guessing the watch was "old" stock when it was purchased.
In reply to I was taking another look at by steven_s
Servicing these is a challange due to the offset center wheel. There is a friction-pressed drive gear on the pinion that is ALWAYS the source of problems with the 30J COAC. Just be careful who you take it too....and find someone who has enough experience with this particular movement so as not to damage it. Rob