I posted this watch a couple of years ago and thought I would give you another look at it.
I bought this watch about 10 years ago from a vintage watch dealer and the story goes (for what it's worth) that he bought it at an estate sale from the Daughter (who was elderly) of a man that worked for Bulova in R&D back in the early days. She believed that her father designed this watch and Bulova never put it in to production.
The case measurements are 37.35mmx26.80mm, it's a good size watch. The 9AN movement has a triangle on it that would date it to 1926, the movement also has a serial #300371.
The back of the dial is stamped 301321ZJ, I wonder if these are the correct hands to go with this dial?
My jeweler tested the Case back and Bezel and it is 14K white and 14K yellow Gold.
Ah yes I do reall this watch...very cool. A number of points to note:
- Case marked with the early Bulova W Co.
- Movement marked with the standard Bulova Watch Co.
- 9 serial number would suggest a 1929 manufacture date for the case
- Recessed crown normaly not seen in that period of Bullys (prototype?)
- Does the back case fit well into the front?
- The hands should be lumed hands, spade or cathederal style would be my guess.
- Are there any hand etched roman numerals on the inside of the front piece.
Interesting piece.
In reply to Ah yes I do reall this by mybulova_admin
Hi Admin, The case back has a nice snap sound when placed in the Bezel and fit's tight.
I was sure that these were probably not the correct hands.
Also I used my most powerful loop on the Bezel and found a 9 engraved (not stamped) on the side opposite the crown. Oddly enough after looking in the case back there is the same 9 engraved below the seriel #, which can be seen in the picture I posted.
Great piece. The 9 engraved on the bezel opposite the crown...is it visible in the photos above? Could you provide a pic? Not sure what the stamped number on the back of the dial may mean...
I was just thinking about visiting an American Standard Case post on Watch Talk Forum...as we try to get more information on these early cases from any other sources ....but now I'm really distracted :)
Interesting watch....thanks for reposting it. I missed it the first time around....
And the Bulova W Co case marking is a surprise to me....unless the case is older and the first digit of case serial number doesn't necessarily correspond to the year of production....
Do we have a good handle on the inception date of the 9AN movement? Our database currently indicates 1927. Lisa's has an 1927 example for her earliest. Ranfft doesn't have a 9AN in his database. The one in the subject watch is obviously date stamped to 1926.
In reply to WOW, that is a cool watch. I by Geoff Baker
In reply to Hi Geoff, You gave me a by DennisVA
So Dennis, perhaps we should be making our sale offers to your wife LOL. I know my wife would sell most of the watches I have for much less than I think they are worth..... Heck, if ya came by when I was out she would probably give you a couple of them to make more room - like a single watch really takes up a lot of storage/display case space :)
Thanks for posting the pic of the 9 inside bezel. Very interesting these 9's on caseback and inside bezel.
In reply to Hi Geoff, You gave me a by DennisVA
In reply to Well Dennis, there's be ONE by Geoff Baker