Bulova 1928 Leader

Submitted by NStefan on
Manufacture Year
1928
Movement Model
10AN
Movement Date Code
Shield
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
538652
Case Serial No.
8294316
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
Green
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Just obtained this watch and having a very hard time identifying it. Including a picture of it next to my Apollo of the same year for comparison. My first inscription watch and very clean dial. Also seems to have glass crystal not sure if it’s original or not. 

Dial
Dial without case
Movement
Back of case inscription
Side
Side by side with ‘29 Apollo
neetstuf-4-u
Posted February 6, 2021 - 5:17pm

Nice one! Thanks for sharing it with us. Your watch looks to be a match to this one. Green (yellow) gold watches from this time period are seen much less frequently than white. Although I have yet to find an ad calling out this model as available in green gold, I'm confident it's a

1928 Banker. by case s/n

20'sbanker

Ad is dated 1929.

mybulova_admin
Posted February 7, 2021 - 6:23am

Looks like I missed the ID'ing of the other referenced Banker.

I wasn't aware they have yellow gold versions. The lugs are a little different from other bankers, but the same as the above mentioned reference Banker. Typically Banker lugs are a little more squared off and seem to just stick out from the case at right angles. These lugs seem to be angled to follow the curve of the case.

Alas, for now though I have to agree with a Bulova Banker.

Does the case serial number not indicate 1928?

jabs
Posted February 7, 2021 - 8:14am

Agree with Baker ID

JimDon5822
Posted February 8, 2021 - 10:55am

Looks to be a Banker for sure.  As previously mentioned the only ads we have are for White and Green gold versions. This one does seem to have a greenish tint in some pictures but that might be just me.  The case serial number dates of 1928 but the movement dates to 1929.  With the engraving dating to a much later 1932 it would appear to be a possible transition year watch so I am thinking 1929 Bulova Banker but will let the pro's weigh in on dating this one.

JimDon5822
Posted January 5, 2026 - 7:55pm

I am wondering if we should revisit this watch. Banker is 15J movements in this one is green gold with 17J movement.  It matches this ad from 1924 called a Bulova Leader.  

1924 -  THE SAN FRANSICO EXAMINER, SAN FRANCISO, CA, DEC 14, 1924

Leader

mybulova_admin
Posted January 7, 2026 - 6:03am

In reply to by JimDon5822

Hmm I'm inclined to agree. With have seen this type of advert before with the name included at the time when Bulova was assign names rather than numbers (1924).

So any 17J version should be the Bulova Leader.

Nive find Jim.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted January 7, 2026 - 6:53am

Well found! I agree. 15J Banker and 17J is

1928 Leader

Geoff Baker
Posted January 7, 2026 - 9:31pm

I'll be the dissenting member. In the names list that Bulova legal dept provided us in 2018, which DOES have names and dates to 1925, "Leader" is not listed. I'll suggest that the font difference of the name indicates that the name could have been added during publication in the newspaper.