Bulova 1918 Rubaiyat

Submitted by william488 on
Manufacture Year
1918
Movement Jewels
7
Case Serial No.
2
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Rubaiyat W.Co.
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

From what I have gathered, 1917 Ladies Trench watch. No band, but has a ribbon tassel connected to it. Found in a old box of mementoes from my father. Watch works fine after winding.

Front of Watch and ribbon attached
Back of watch no writing
Inside of watch with writing
inside back cover with number 2
Inside of watch with writing
Internal image
FifthAvenueRes…
Posted July 8, 2026 - 4:30am

For Histories sake:

World War I was fought between the Central Powers—mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria—and the Allies, including France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, and the United States

Alex
Posted July 8, 2026 - 5:39am

And why would European governments place orders with American Bulova and not purchase the watches directly from the original manufacturers (OEM) like Beguelin?

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted July 8, 2026 - 6:13am

Who says at this point in time Bulova was strictly American? 

Under the brands of MAXIM and RUBAIYAT I do not think they were.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted July 8, 2026 - 6:17am

many, if not all of the patents found for these brands are European. 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted July 8, 2026 - 6:25am

the U.S. patent for 'RUBAIYAT' has an 'in use since' date of Nov 1916. 

william488
Posted July 8, 2026 - 8:42am

Sir,

Appreciate all the comments on the watch, my grandfather did fight in WWI with the 334th Inf. and was in Europe from Oct 1917 to July 1919. I have his service record. Just FYI

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted July 8, 2026 - 10:44am

*the watch could very easily have been purchased, found or taken as a souvenir during His time in service during WWI. 

To think these watches were strictly American is naive at best. 

william488
Posted July 8, 2026 - 12:11pm

He was a Pvt. 1st class and his job title was an erecting engineer