Bulova 1957 Ambassador

Submitted by FifthAvenueRes… on
Manufacture Year
1957
Movement Model
8BBA
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
C481907
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Case measures 37mm lug to lug x 32mm non inclusive of the Crown using Calipers. Butler finish Dial shows applied Gilt Hour markers, Bulova signature with 'Selfwinding' insignia below are printed in Black. Hour and Minute Hands are Gilt Index style and a Gilt Index Seconds Hand shows on a Cross-Hair sub Dial above the 6. 17 Jewel Swiss Automatic Movement is encompassed by a shock absorbing ring. The Glass is retained by a press fit bezel, Caseback is stamped as shown. Vintage dispaly ad is Dated 1957.

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
bobbee
Posted April 21, 2013 - 8:50pm

Never saw a waterproof Ambassador before the mid 1960's.
OP says waterproof case, ad does not.
No inner minutes ring on ad.
Big hands on ad, little hands on subject.
narrow bezel on ad, wide on subject.
Obviously this needs scrutinizing a little more.

OldTicker
Posted April 22, 2013 - 10:20am

While the watch looks similar, there are quite a few differences as bobbee pointed out and the lack of important information is not enough for me to call it a Ambassador...

Unknown from me.

bourg01
Posted April 22, 2013 - 3:31pm

In reply to by OldTicker

Same here, too many questions yet to be answered, Unknown for now.

mybulova_admin
Posted April 22, 2013 - 5:11pm

So far we have 3 for tentative Ambassador and 2 for unknown. Did I miss anyone?

Reverend Rob
Posted April 22, 2013 - 5:34pm

Not sure what to make of this, I have a waterproof Ambassador, (66) with the one piece bezel and back, front loading, but it is more than a couple years newer, so this may not be of any relevance. I'm trying to find out when the first of these cases was produced.

bobbee
Posted April 22, 2013 - 6:14pm

I looked through the entire DB for waterproof Ambassadors, Rob, and the earliest I could find is the 1965 models with the micro-rotor, eight years after the subject watch.

The earliest ad for a Waterproof Ambassador is from 1968.

Reverend Rob
Posted April 22, 2013 - 8:38pm

No idea on this one, my gut says some kind of clipper. 

Geoff Baker
Posted April 23, 2013 - 5:21am

Unknown

mybulova_admin
Posted April 23, 2013 - 5:37am

3 v 3.

Better to have a tentative ID that closely matches the advert than have it as yet another unknown.

I think we forget the waterproof statement as 5th has indicated that was a belief from the case design and not actually noted on the watch....so lets drop that aspect. The remining differences really come down to the artist drawing of the watch which may not have been a 100% accurate representation.

As usual we can change when and if further evidence is presented.

 

bobbee
Posted April 23, 2013 - 5:48am

Four,if you include Rev Rob.
He states that he does not have a clue, but thinks it could be some kind of Clipper, that means he does not know,
=unknown.
OT- Unknown.
Shawn- Unknown.
Geoff- Unknown.
Rev Rob- Unknown.

Will- Tentative Ambassador.
Admin- Tentative Ambassador.
fifthavenue- Ambassador.