Hello everyone! I have found this watch in a collection my grandpa had who had passed. He was a jeweler and had quite a collection of old watches. Not all of them worked but this one seems to run. It is odd since it does not have any markings on the face but the band, crown, back of the case and movement all have Bulova on them. Wondering if this is a rare item with some value or maybe just a watch I could clean up to enjoy. Please excuse the dirt! I will have a couple more to post within the next few days. Specific markings on back of the case: BULOVA, water proof, self winding, shock resistant, 10kt R.G.P. bezel - ss back, anti magnetic, L9, E106099 Inside back - BULVOA FIFTH AVE NEW YORK Movement: BULOVA U.S.A. 23 JEWELS 10BZAC Crown has BULOVA written on the end Band is stamped Kreisler Stelux Stainless PAT NO 1095305, PAT NO 848015
-plurr
Hi, I would say that this watch is from the Bulova 23 line. I cannot tell if the color is yellow or white - could you confirm. Also, does the dial appear to be a grey/black color?
I've found three variants that used this case design; so depending on your answers, we may be able to narrow down a variant.
Linebook 139
I believe that the band is not original. It was a later band that belonged to one of the Accutron models.
In reply to Hi, I would say that this… by Andersok
In person the watch looks yellow gold for all case, dial, hands and everything except for the back of the case. It seems that the hands are the only part that has not tarnished as badly on the watch. I was going through the bands that I had and could not find the original for it.
In reply to In person the watch looks… by Plurr
Nice one, thanks for sharing. It appears it is one of the 2 white case watches in the page below from the 1960_LineBook_BAWD0139, page 37. and very similar to this one
Band is a later period replacement as the tuning fork wasn't around in 1959.
It appears the face was cleaned and text markings were lost in the process. Is the face silver/white or more charcoal?
The case appears to be textured around crystal? Is that a uniform pattern or random scratches and contact marks?
Variant letters are based on face color, so at this point, it's a 1959 Bulova 23.
This is a little less common style, wear it and enjoy it, I wear mine.
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Looks like I have found a twin with the text on the face. My text is gone but still a beautiful watch.
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In reply to Looks like I have found a… by Plurr
If that is a match to yours (case color and face color), it's a "CAW". The watch you link to is mis-identified. "DAW" variant has a charcoal dial like this one.
1959 Bulova 23 "CAW"
In reply to If that is a match to yours,… by neetstuf-4-u
Glad to get some information on this watch....especially since some of the info had been worn away. The piece still runs but the movement is a bit loose in the case so I will have to get it some service and cleaning. Happy to see this run and it is great to know the history of it!