I purchased this watch from Timemachines (Mike) recently and am updating the record. It's the same "Unknown" watch we had before with a couple new photos and some new specs. I've changed the year due to the updated serial number (mis-stamped "0" leading) and because there is a second hand stamped Omega date code on the movement above the cresent moon original date code.
There are two known examples of this amazing watch, the1930 Bulova cover of the iconic Piping Rock.
Ownership and Model Year updated 5/12/2013 - previous year was recorded as 1928. Photos Update 5/10/23
Following is Mike's original description: "I have had this watch 20 years and just decided to fix her up, I have no idea of the model name, nor can I find any old ads, or pictures of it. This watch may have been for a different world market, or one of a few prototypes ever made. The watch looks like a Hamilton Piping Rock with hinged lugs, black porcelain bezal, Rodium plated case, marked "Bulova Quality pat. Jan. 11, 1927" Comments , and research welcome. Thanks Mike"
Hi Wayne, Here is the discussion link, http://www.mybulova.com/node/1383
As for the watchmakers remake, maybe you can look at the link posted by Jay at the bottom of the discussion and see the other unknowen bulova on ebay at this time. It will probably change your mind about a individual making this watch.
It would not have all the Bulova 1927 pant. date, and proper period markings on the movement if it were a made up model.
Also this mistory person would have to have a fortune in dies to stamp out this case as it is stamped out.
Still alot of fun! Thanks for looking. Mike..
On another forum, someone posted a picture of a Gruen from about 1926 with much the same design as this and the Hamilton Piping Rock. I've also seen enameled-bezel Elgins similar to Hamilton's Coronado. I think enamel bezels were popular, but not necessarily common. IIRC, the Hamiltons were both solid gold, whereas the Gruen and the Elgin were gold filled.
At any rate, that's a beauty!!
An AWESOME find :-) And almost certainly a circa 1930- 32 release, with the acquisition of Westfield and the sales success of the Westfield Air King and the various Hamilton's, Illinois, Gruens, etc. and likely NOT the (ahead of it's time, earlier '20s) forerunning round bezel Elgin enameled model, released several years prior? I would also suspect that whichever case manufacturer/s that were producing these stylizations, were either asked by the above watch companies+ to create more similar designs... Or perhaps the case cos. simply did so on their own accord? But clearly Hamilton "commisioned" the design of the Piping Rock case... So that was likely the RULE, once a say a competitor's similar offering, became a "good seller!" I had a listing posted here as the BULOVA "AIR KING," only to later find that it was rather an illustration of the 1929 WESTFIELD "Air King!" By as with say Hamilton's acquisition of Illinois in about 1928 (?) I suspect the same holds TRUE with Bulova, etc. i.e. That they either repackaged and/or added a higher price tier model/s with a superior movement, new dial config/s, etc... And likely marketed on the coattails thereafter, with a similar name? (Air, Sky, ... King, perhaps???)
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1930 ELGIN Watch Models
And the 1927 Hamilton Legends (The: Coronado, Piping Rock & Spur...)
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The 1929 WESTFIELD "Air King..."
And another similarly encased GRUEN timepiece... So several top American watch companies (and probably also SWISS watch manufacturers like GRUEN, for instance... whom was also a dual citizenship, American - Germany company, about that time...) were utilizing rather similar inlaid enamel bezel designs, from about 1927 through at least the mids 1930s!
In reply to Pretty striking how much by NOVA
Lisa, Yah, and the equivalent HAMMYS sell for $1000.- $5k. USD... The Spur is quite RARE. And the Coronado is fairly SCARCE... However the Piping Rock was so popular, it was sold for DECADES! (20s- 50s...) And therefore how many BULLYS or GRUENS are out there, in this cool case? Or (like say the Arabaic vs. Roman Numeral Coronado bezel) were done with this or similar case and/or dial configurations? Let alone, SURVIVE today?? My guess is that MOST opted for the lower priced models, like say the 7 Jewel WESTIE, or equivalent, vs. this Bully, the mid priced Elgins, Gruens, etc. Or say the 14 karat HAMMIES, or high end Illinois or Walthams.... :-) Scott