1942 Officer
This one is in fantastic shape with the original band.There are quite a few of these in the database but this is the only one from 1942 which I think is the last year for this case style.
Certainly a match for the other 2 1941 examples we have. Your case indicates 1941 but the movement 1942 ifit ha the T date stamp as you've indicated.
We typically go via the case date when there is a difference.
I think we can also ID this as a 1941 Bulova Officer.
Panel?
In reply to I debated with the date,so… by denupnorth
In reply to You are correct. The case is… by FifthAvenueRes…
Not necessarily. The case vs movement date debate was put to bed years ago to provide consistency in identification/dating. Date of watch is based on case, as movements can be transient. The case is the permanent, so case date takes precedence. If a case dated say 1930 contains a 1950 dated movement, The watch is not a 1950 production, it is a 1930 with a 1950 movement. If a watch case produced in one year is assembled in December with a movement produced in December dated for the next year's production run and dated as such, the watch was assembled in the year of the case. By the same token, a watch case dated a year later than movement is dated by the case, as it is more likely the watch is using a leftover movement from the prior year and assembled in Jan. of case year.
In reply to Not necessarily. The case vs… by neetstuf-4-u
"If a watch case produced in one year is assembled in December with a movement produced in December dated for the next year's production run and dated as such, the watch was assembled in the year of the case."
Nonsense, a movement manufactured in December would be dated the Year it was manufactured in, not one Year ahead.
You're making things up.
The subject watch was manufactured in 1942, period.
In reply to "If a watch case produced in… by FifthAvenueRes…
As Neetstuf says, we determined a while ago to go by the case date as the movement could have been replaced. It may be original, but we can never know for sure. As we ID a model primarily by the case, the case date takes priority.
Could the case have been made in 1941, then assembled and sold with a 1942 movement....absolutely.
Could the case have been made in 1941, then replaced with a period 1942 movement in 1980 (or any year)...absolutely.
I'm not say this happened, but the point is we have to go by what is certain, and we can say for certain that this case was manufactured (and advertised) in 1941 as the Bulova Officer.
We cannot say that the watch was 'manufactured' in 1942, assembled maybe, but not manufactured; the 1941 case date proves that.
I certainly take your point that it could have been assembled and sold in 1942, but for the sake of consistency when IDing, we try and stick to the case year rule.