Bulova 1969 Commander

Submitted by Sguy on February 9, 2019 - 1:28am
Manufacture Year
1969
Movement Model
-
Movement Jewels
30
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
F999985
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
Domed
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Found this beauty at a local thrift store for $3. My first Bulova, bringing me here. It needed a polishing, but I don't understand how they missed that it was a vintage gold Bulova in working condition. Face says Bulova 30 Jewels below the 12 and Automatic above the 6. The back says Bulova, water resistant, stainless steel back, anti magnetic, shock resistant, .0015 gold electroplate bezel, M9. Serial number is F999985. Band says Kreisler 1/20 10KT G.F. T01 Stainless bottom. When I dated it at 1969, (M9 code) I googled Bulova 30 Jewels Automatic 1969 and an ad on Etsy came up with an identical watch. This one claimed to be a Surf King, but there was no information as to how they had come to that conclusion. I have not been able to find any matches in the ads or pictures on this site, so any additional information would be great. I feel very lucky to have found a vintage watch for so cheap, we found a 1963 women's at the same @thrift shop the same week that I know even less about, but that's for another post. My jeweler friend tried to open the case to look at the movement, but he said the post was fixed in place and he didn't want to damage anything so we left it alone and closed it back up. He says the crystal is domed but I'm not sure what the significance is there. It is in good condition and seems to be original. I am curious if this is the original band, as it seems era appropriate. Pictures turned out horrible after compression, used imresizer like suggested but it didn't turn out well

1969 Bulova Commander watch
1969 Bulova watch
1969 Bulova watch
1969 Bulova watch
Sguy
Posted February 9, 2019 - 1:30am

Can maybe email better pictures in private message? Have better pictures, compression didn't work well at all as you can see by the weird colored pictures above

neetstuf-4-u
Posted February 9, 2019 - 8:28am

Hi sguy, welcome to mybulova. Based on original photos showing gold ring on face, I suspect this is a Commander, in which case band may be original. Better photos are needed before I can commit to an ID.

PM sent regarding photos.

Sguy
Posted February 9, 2019 - 12:37pm

Thanks a bunch neetstuf! Curious what the verdict will be now that the photos are viewable

neetstuf-4-u
Posted February 9, 2019 - 12:47pm

No problem, glad to help. Here is where I am at on ID. It appears to me to be a Commander variant. This one

https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1969-commander-9163

Has a slightly different face, but the referenced ad appears to show your band and casing.

Luminous dial, basket weave adjustable band. 30 jewel.

1969 Commander (no variant) is my vote.

Reverend Rob
Posted February 9, 2019 - 1:12pm

This is of course, the made in USA in-house 30 jewel Bulova 10COAC, and an outstanding good quality watch. 

1969 Commander works for me. 

Andersok
Posted February 9, 2019 - 3:27pm

I don't find this one in the Commander ads, but most likely in 1969 it was either the Commander or Sea King. Around '69 is where I see the last Commander ad and the first of the 30 jewel Sea Kings that are identical to the earlier Commanders. I don't find this watch in the Sea King ads, but as has already been mentioned, the case and band are similar to the Commander D.

Commander works for me too.

jabs
Posted February 9, 2019 - 4:48pm

Commander is good vote

mybulova_admin
Posted February 10, 2019 - 3:35am

No Commander adverts found for 1969, but do see a number of 30 jeweled Sea Kings with and without the name and whale on the dial.

I'm on the fence....Tentative Bulova Commander