Bulova 30 Jewel micro-Rotor 12EBA GEP SN415518 N2/M8 reference R/7285
Case Dimensions and features: Width w/o Crown: 36.35 mm. - Length: 40.15 mm. - Depth: 7.40 mm wo/crystal, 9.15 mm w/crystal. - Lug Width: 20.25 mm. - Crystal: 28.15 mm x 26.40 mm, in watch. Domed squared ellipse, acrylic. - Crown: 4.90Dia mm, unsigned. - Case Back: 33.40 mm. - Case Back thread O.D.: 33.40 mm - Inside case back inscriptions: R/; 7285; Swiss. - Engraving on outside case back: BULOVA; 415518; N2; Gold Electroplate Bezel; Stainless Steel Back. - Movement: 12EBA Automatic Micro-Rotor 30 Jewel. - Engraving on Movement: BULOVA WATCH CO; 12EBA; 30 Jewels; Swiss; M4; no observable engravings under Balance Wheel
Notes: This is my first example of this model, though I have recently acquired a second, which has not arrived yet. This one is a departure from my previous Bulova 30 examples, in that it has a M4 movement date code. Since every example of the “30” I have acquired has a case date code of 1972, I expect that they were all produced that year. The 1968 movement code made sense, because that was the year Hamilton completed their acquisition of Buren. Logic would suggest that Bulova was Hamilton’s most direct competitor, and therefore would not wish to supply them their most prized movement. The 1964 movement may have been a final push by use up no longer available works. The main departure from the other Bulova 30 models is that this one is a “no date”. Gold electroplate is quite thick, almost to the extent of gold filled.
In reply to That is a beauty! Based on… by neetstuf-4-u
Hi NeetStuf
I got a kick out of reading all the consternation surrounding these Bulova 30 models back in 2019. I have made it sort of a mission to track down as many as I could over the last 4-5 years. I have found at least 2 examples of each of the 3 distinct case styles. I have another of these on the way that I stumbled on a couple of nights ago. I picked this one up last November. So I own 8 Bulova 30s now, and not a single one has an import code, and all have very distinct "Swiss" inside caseback engravings. And all are case coded 1972, and the serial numbers and reference numbers are all logical if these were a one-year Swiss run to close-out pre-1969 movements from the Swiss production, before Hamilton acquired Buren. Another possible factor is that perhaps Hamilton ceased supplying these to Bulova because in 1969 the Buren factory was knee deep in producing the cal. 1322 as the base movement for the Heuer, Breitling, and Hamilton cal. 11 automatic chronographs. It is interesting that a few years later the cal. 11 became available in the Bulova "Parking Meter". Anyhow, you can call them whatever you want, they are some of the most interesting Bulovas of the era. Thanks for the feedback.
Jimmy
It was staring me right in the face..."T-Swiss-T" right below 6 o'clock on all 8 of these I have owned. Only a watch made in Switzerland may have that on the dial. Except for some much later "Accu-Swiss" or alternately "Accutron Automatic" models, I don't think I have another Bulova with that inscription, even if they have Swiss movements. Will have to check.
