Bulova 1922 Lady Maxim

Submitted by bsayles on
6713
Manufacture Year
1922
Movement Model
BBI
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
17237
Case Serial No.
1151348
Case shape
Octagonal
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
American Standard
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

Need help identifying model year. Crystal missing. I'm new to collecting,  just starting repair/ refurbishment. If this was your watch, would you take it to a local jeweler that you know and trust, or is this too valuable,  and should really be sent in for factory refurbishment? Thanks 

Make offer. Crystal missing. 

Face, crystal missing
Movement
Inside case
Face out of case
Alex
Posted June 16, 2025 - 2:58am

Dear bsayles, in this website we identify watches based on advertising. Your watch is the 6713 and is from 1922. It is a beautiful example of the art deco period. If you want to make her tic, best to find a local watch maker to  check the movement.

bsayles
Posted June 16, 2025 - 2:58pm

Thank you for this! Does 6713 apply to just the movement, or the watch model? 

mybulova_admin
Posted June 16, 2025 - 6:12am

Case serial number wise this could also be dated to 1921 and according to these adverts might be a 1921 Bulova Lady Maxim.

1921 Bulova watches1921 Bulova advert

 

bsayles
Posted June 16, 2025 - 3:01pm

Thank you! In your experience,  is there a major difference between a 6713 and a Lady Maxim?

mybulova_admin
Posted June 16, 2025 - 6:19am

This watch did become the 6713 in 1922-1923, so the ID would be based on the year of production for this watch.

We have in the past used the 2nd number in the case serial number as the year reference, but this is not neccessarily set in concrete.

bsayles
Posted June 16, 2025 - 3:03pm

Thank you! Is it possible that the case could be from 1921, while the movement and watch model as a whole be 1922? 

mybulova_admin
Posted June 16, 2025 - 9:52pm

With Bulova in these early days, anything is possible, although we often see the movement pre-date the case by a year. Bulova would produced the movements in Switzerland, ship them to the US and then case them in a variety of case styles to then sell to market. This production process might start one year, but the complete watch might not hit the market until the next.

So whilst the case serial number might suggest the case was made in 1921, the watch as a whole may not have been sold until 1922 or even 1923.

The movement in your watch I believe is an earlier version and as such feel that a Lady Maxim ID is better suited than a 6317 ID. Others may have their own take on this.

mybulova_admin
Posted June 16, 2025 - 6:22am

The Lady Maxim ID does extend into 1922 as per this advert.

1922 Bulova Lady Maxim advert

mybulova_admin
Posted June 16, 2025 - 6:26am

To confuse matters we also have the 1923 Bulova Lady Doline, although I have no idea where this name came from.

923 Bulova Doline