Just found my mother's 14k white gold ladies Bulova watch in original case from jeweler.  Inside case is maroon velvet that state's "Bulova Fifth Avenue New York."   The watch's only numerical inscriptions are on backside of watch, numbers "915537" at the bottom and "Bulova 14k" at the top.  There is a diamond on top and bottom of the crystal and two smaller diamonds on either side of the two larger diamonds just mentioned.

Pictures are here.

Steve, Did you see the Bulova artical in the August 2010 NAWCC Watch and Clock Bulletin? Bruce Shawkey wrote a great article about Bulova 23 jewel automatics and provided an extensive reference table detailing all the Model and ref #'s. He also notes as you have about the quality of Bulova and how it is under rated. check it out.

Mike

I have been told that the high end Bulova movements 21jewels or more were made in the USA that is why they don't have "Swiss" on the dial or the movement. Does anyone know this for sure and if so is this true for all the 21 jewel or starting after a certain date.

love this watch, it's a gorgeous art deco style in rose gold and keeps perfect time, but i'm having trouble identifying it... marked bulova on face and back.... also has a 7 digit serial number, and marked bretton on expansion band.... haven't yet had a jeweler open it up to identify a year mark, so until then i was hoping someone might recognize it and educate me.... thank you so much....

http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1948-cadet-622