Bulova 1921 Lady Maxim

Submitted by Kathy L. on
Manufacture Year
1921
Movement Model
AI
Movement Jewels
15
Case Serial No.
1022295
Case shape
Octagonal
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
American Standard
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

I was happy to find this pretty little Lady Maxim early wristwatch.  Dating it at 1921 based on one in the DB with a serial # slightly later than this one.  It has a 15 jewel working movement and reads AI and has 10 in a trapezoid shape.  It says Bulova W Co on the movement.  The inside case is marked American Standard and has the globe icon, warranted 25 years, monogram quality, and the serial #.  The outside of the case is plain.  The dial is in fantastic shape for the age and reads Lady Maxim and it has lovely blue hands.  The crown is at the 12 o'clock position which is the style I was looking for.  The ad is from 1921.

1921 Bulova watch
1921 Bulova watch
1921 Bulova watch
1921 Bulova watch
1921 Bulova watch
Bulova Watch advert
mybulova_admin
Posted January 25, 2019 - 11:10pm

I'm glad this girl went to a good home.

I've been cataloging early case serial numbers (sample of 73 so far) and I'd say 1922 based on the number and inscriptions of other sample I have listed. It's something I want to publish here, but would like a bigger sample size before I do.

1922 Bulova Lady Maxim (could be 1921)

Kathy L.
Posted January 26, 2019 - 11:12am

Thanks Stephen.  It is great that you are cataloging these early beauties!  I look forward to your final analysis.

Reverend Rob
Posted January 26, 2019 - 12:48am

Stephen- I read what you wrote regarding these- Serial begins with '10', and casemark is a globe, not shield. We have one elsewhere where this makes it a 1921, unless we are mistaken. Shield puts it at 1921-23, Globe makes it 1920-21. Or am I missing something?

 

mybulova_admin
Posted January 26, 2019 - 6:43pm

Have sample cases with a globe and engraved with a 1923 date, so suggesting that globe was used up until 1922/23. Possible only to 1922 and the case I've recorded was bought and engraved later....very possible. Work in progress.

mybulova_admin
Posted January 26, 2019 - 4:23am

Hopefully well be able to update and confirm all these early models once we can establish a pattern or a grouping. 

mybulova_admin
Posted January 26, 2019 - 4:22am

Out of the 73 records I have 6 with the shield. One of those records has an engraved back for 1923, so I agree that shields are certainly later than the globe.

My obvservation is on a Hudson Maxim pocket watch with a case serial number of 1025261 that also has an engraved case with 1923.....this in itself doesn't mean the watch was manufactured in 1923, it could very well be 1922, or even 1921.

Placing the serial number of this watch in position with the 66 globe records, the position number is 36.

It is still somewhat of a guessing game which is why I'm building a list focused on case serial numbers.

My gut is saying 1922 based on when Bulova started to ramp up for their national advertising campaign of 1923.

BUT I certainly could be wrong and it could be 1921....I'm just seeing many more lower examples than this number that suggest it's later than 21, and it has Lady Maxim on the dial, others earlier examples do not.

mybulova_admin
Posted January 26, 2019 - 4:26am

Just to add that the globe examples run from 1000095 to 1087567 so far. 

mybulova_admin
Posted January 26, 2019 - 5:19am

Finding many December 1922 adverts showing a number of Lady Maxim models with the crown at the 3.

Here is a July 1922 advert showing one still at the 12 position, matching the subject.

July 1922 Bulova Lady Maxim

Geoff Baker
Posted January 26, 2019 - 8:04am

Kathy - well bought, it's a Lady Maxim and you are MOST fortunate to have her! I'll go with the date Rob and Stephen hammer out.

192X Bulova Lady Maxim - a real treasure