Bulova 1961 -Unknown

Submitted by lightmagician3 on
Manufacture Year
1961
Movement Jewels
Unknown
Case Serial No.
F651127
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Crystal details
33.5mm
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

I’ve tried to place this watch in a 1961 Bulova line based on the dial and the best I can come up with is Sea King line A but he numeral font is not an exact match. The crown and bracelet are not original. 

Bulova Front Selfwinding Military Style 06/21/20
Bulova Back case number 06/21/20
lightmagician3
Posted June 22, 2020 - 12:03am

I’m really excited to know more about this watch and it’s provenance. Any help or advert showing this model would be helpful! Thank you!

Andersok
Posted June 22, 2020 - 6:54am

I cannot find this combination of case and full numeral luminous dial. The case looks to be similar to the Sea Clipper; the dial is similar to the Jet Clipper A.  Could be an Unknown model that we have yet to identify, or could be a marriage of dial and case.

lightmagician3
Posted June 22, 2020 - 9:34pm

Ah I see, this could be a “franken-watch” potentially. Also on the topic of luminous numerals, the lume in this would likely not be made of radium correct? Thank you!

Geoff Baker
Posted June 22, 2020 - 10:04pm

This dial would have been lumed originally with radium. It was used until the late 1960's.

lightmagician3
Posted June 22, 2020 - 10:16pm

Oh, does that mean that it is still potentially dangerous to wear the watch due to radiation?

Kathy L.
Posted June 23, 2020 - 9:25am

The radium is still radioactive but should be safe to wear.  Just take extra care if you open it up to wear gloves and not breathe in any dust.  I personally don't handle them anymore but I know some of the guys do.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted June 22, 2020 - 3:59pm

Ken, I see your issue with case as case back is different from a Clipper.. I agree it appears to be the movement and face from a Clipper "A" and the casing of a Sea Clipper. It's entirely possible this is an unknown Sea Clipper variant, however I don't find this combination in any of the line books, so without seeing the movement and it's date code,I'm inclined to go with

1961 Unknown

for now; citing the possibility it may be a marriage.

Geoff Baker
Posted June 22, 2020 - 10:04pm

I think I'm sticking with Unknown for now.

JimDon5822
Posted June 22, 2020 - 11:52pm

This definitely looks like a marriage watch to me.  The back piece is intended for a thicker bezel.  The bezel is intended for a thinner manual wind movement and this is a thicker self winding one. I am leaning towards non-conforming.  

mybulova_admin
Posted June 23, 2020 - 1:19am

I'm also at Unknown after finding this for the 1960_LineBook_BAWD0143 link book Pg35

Show some good similarities with the subject watch, but is not the same. So a potential Sea King.

1960 Bulova Sea King "BW" & "BX"