Bulova 1918 Rubaiyat

Submitted by william488 on
Manufacture Year
1918
Movement Jewels
7
Case Serial No.
2
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Rubaiyat W.Co.
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

From what I have gathered, 1917 Ladies Trench watch. No band, but has a ribbon tassel connected to it. Found in a old box of mementoes from my father. Watch works fine after winding.

Front of Watch and ribbon attached
Back of watch no writing
Inside of watch with writing
inside back cover with number 2
Inside of watch with writing
Internal image
Alex
Posted June 30, 2026 - 2:16am

Dear William488, thank you for posting this interesting watch. A clear study object! Could you give me the diameter of the movement in mm? Thank you!

mybulova_admin
Posted July 1, 2026 - 5:28am

I would also suggest that this is an early men's watch.

Interesting case number "2".

Would love to see some more photos of the movement in full.

Dating is a little tricky, but I would certainly be comfortable dating to either 1916 or 1917.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted July 1, 2026 - 8:32pm

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Given the current information at hand 1916 - 1917 seems to be a fair estimate. 

The subject watch is identical to the Gents Rubaiyat dated 1916 in the database.   

william488
Posted July 1, 2026 - 11:37pm

Sir,

Thank you for evaluating my watch and telling me more information about it. I am learning a lot about it. The size of the watch is just like the one that is on here already: 38.5mm lug to lug and 33.5mm around non-inclusive of the crown using calipers

I added a close up of the internal workings, I have more if needed.

Alex
Posted July 2, 2026 - 12:11am

Thank you for sharing the diameter of the watch. I was actually looking for the diameter of the movement. Given your watch diameter is 33.5, I estimate the movement diameter is around 28mm? Thank you. 

Alex
Posted July 4, 2026 - 12:53am

I did some research to track and trace the movement. The 28-30mm diameter corresponds to 13 ligne which greatly narrowed the search. The movement is a Beguelin. Watch and movement are confirmed in above 1918 ad. Beguelin produced just one ebauche, a 13 ligne movement that is shown at the top. It is identical to the movement used in the Rubaiyat. Also the case seems the be identical. It seems we are looking at the first attempt of Bulova to market a wrist watch. It didn't stick. Only in 1924, would they do their second attempt, this time successfully.

mybulova_admin
Posted July 5, 2026 - 4:58am

In reply to by Alex

That's a pretty cool find and as far as I am concerned a near perfect match to the subject watch (except for the hour hand). Dial, movement, case and crown all are a perfect match.

1918 is an indicative date. The above advert doesn't necessarily say it's the manufacture date, and our 1916-17 dates are a best guess for these men's models.

I'd be ok with 1918 as well as updating the other 2 examples we have.

Considering World War 1 ended in 1918, these commercial versions would probably be postwar.

1918 Rubaiyat.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted July 5, 2026 - 5:59am

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

I am not sold on the 'commercial' availability part.

The print shows 2 watch models, no advertising text, no price.