Hi,
I bought this from a well know internet auction site for £36 in May - every so often I have to buy my wife a watch so I can buy a few for myself! It wasn't running but was complete and didn't need any parts to get it going. I've cleaned, oiled (& demagnetized!) the movement and lightly polished the case and crystal.
Clearly the crown is not original, and I will need to find something more appropriate. I'm pretty certain the crystal is also not original as it is curved inside and out, whereas the rebate in the case is flat. Any offers of help on those items might be welcome :-)
The case is 14K white gold, and has been inexpertly repaired at some point resulting in some of the inlay melting slightly although this is not really obvious unless you look closely. It will need an 11mm strap which I'm sure will be a doddle to find (I've found a black one but my wife said a green one would be nice!)
The 5AP movement (based on an Aurore-Villeret 9) has 15 jewels and an overcoiled hairspring with a bimetallic balance. The train bridge is a single piece, although cut to look like seperate bridges for each jewel. The movement cover retains its original acetate sheet.
There are two patent dates inside the case back - but no patent numbers, so I don't know what these refer to.
There are a couple of similar watches in the database in the "Miss America" group from 1928, although these have integral lugs and don't have the mitre effect in the case corners.
Regards
Stuart
Hi stuartbaker, welcome back. What a wonderful watch you have here. I'm not sure sure this is a custom watch, I think it's all Bulova but I'm not sure what to make of it. We've used case serial numbers recently, along with movement date codes to nail down year of production. That doesn't seem to work as well for solid gold cases however. The serial here would indicate a 1932 watch. I think you're close if not exact with the date of 1926. I cannot find an ad that matches, so for now....
Unknown.
The patent is for the case. This case logo/mark is for the L. Lewitt company, registered in 1922.
This is yet another name to add to the many known case suppliers Bulova used.T
he enamel design/dial matches exactly the Vassar, only the lugs differ.
A very beautiful and rare watch, these enamelled girls are hard to find for lowish prices now.
Unlucky about the damage. :-(
But great find! :-)
Acknowledgement: Mikrolisk.
I saw it was very close to The Vassar design. Great we get another case manufacturer who contracted with Bulova for this time period!!!
Wonder if those (non-ad-matching) lugs were added by a jeweler? Perhaps that's what caused the damage to the enamel.
It sure is close to Vassar.....but Unknown (unless Stuart can spot a lug repair/replacement job). No ideas on the earlier 1921 patent date.
If it looks like the lugs were replaced, I'd probably call it a Vassar.
EDIT: Now I can't find the Vassar ad. Maybe it was on Lisa's site? Still looking though...
Found one Vassar ad, and subject watch case is different than both Vassar and Miss America cases. Ignore my lug repair comments.
Still at Unknown.
Bulova Miss America. Classified as a ladies sports watch and was mounted on a leather band.
http://www.mybulova.com/sites/default/files/vintage_ads/1927-Bulova-Ad-…
