Hello, I picked up this watch to go with my nurse type watches. It is 10K rolled gold plate with a sterling base and stainless back. This seems to be a 1943 combo for the war effort. I didn't notice the damage on the dial in the listing but it isn't too horrible. I didn't want to open the watch with the radium so using a few of the sellers photos with permission. So what are your thoughts? A nurse watch or maybe a practitioner with the lumed military style dial? A ladies or mens watch? It has a 14mm lug width which I have seen on both. I didn't find an ad to match so it might be another unknown. Thanks.
I'm a bit jaded when I see one of these. After SO MANY seem to have been faked (I use that work broadly) I unfortunately assume every one is. So here's my two cents:
This is a war period case because of it's sterling base, perhaps 1944 by s/n. The movement is period correct to 1943. Air Wardens and Nighthawks have sub seconds, the Practitioner has sweep seconds but seems to have been white dialed only.
I think this is a 1944 watch but I wonder if it's been redialed. Having said that the dial looks so original that I don't think it was.
My jury is still out but I sure do like the watch!
In reply to I'm a bit jaded when I see by Geoff Baker
Have you seen this particular model watch faked a lot or just this era black face type?
That sweep second hand is not original, I'd wager.
EDIT: The sweep does match another watch in the db, so strike that.
It seems to be the same as this watch with a reverse black dial. http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1946-unknown-5678?page=2
we have the Air Warden with the same type of dial in the database, of course, these watches are the wrong second hand
watch would have dated to 1944 according to the case number
for me is 1944 Bulova Air Warden
In reply to we have the Air Warden with by jabs
Interesting! I wouldn't have even thought about it being an Air Warden. It does seem to match that watch. I will try and take a better photo of the dial. I don't want to take it apart because of the radium.
Here is a closer photo of the face. Having a hard time getting a good photo with glare on the crystal.
Here is a comparison of these two watches and I think the dial is the same
In reply to Here is a comparison of these by jabs
I think my crystal is more domed which is making it look a bit different. But yes they look the same to me, mine is not in as nice of a contition. Probably a replacement crown as well.
1944 Bulova Air Warden gets my vote. Good detective work Jabs!