So... a really interesting piece. Double date stamp on the movement X =1943 & O = 1944 (handstamped). Case has a 1943 date number.
This is the exact case of another unknown from 1943 I have here:
https://mybulova.com/watches/1943-unknown-6162
Case is the same... hands are close but one is variant and both are lumed.... movement I believe would be the same.
I have no ad supporting or refuting either dial variant.
Unknown for me.... I somewhat question the two tone dial... but I think it could be legitimate as we have another dial variant black/white in the same year with the Blackhawk.
Either way... the model is pretty rare as I think I've only seen 3 in the years I've been collecting...
Very unusual. Is there a precedent for ANTI MAGNETIC on the dial of Bulova watches? This makes me suspect the dial is original. Stumped!
This is a gorgeous watch and dial. I looked on newspapers and anti-magnetic watches were advertised as service watches quite a bit but I didn't find a Bulova in the 1940s. Doesn't mean they didn't make them though. And this doesn't look like a service watch so I am stumped as well. Great buy though.
That is a beauty and I have no idea what it is. I would have bought it myself... I'm going to play devil's advocate and make some observations. Seeing "anti-magnetic" on the dial is odd, I don't believe I've ever seen that before on a 1940's Bully. Looking at the inside of the case back, it appears there are 4 rough areas like spot welds that seem to correspond with the lug attachment points that don't seem to me to be up to Bulova quality finishing standards.
When did Bulova address and halt third party marking of watch cases and faces as Bulova, without "re-built" or "Movement" on the face?
It's also possible this watch and your other in identical case were short runs for a specific buyer (short lived/unadvertised), ie. company award watches, or maybe war drive awards?. I will agree it's a very uncommon watch, whatever it is.
With nothing to compare to, and the existence of at least 2 others in this casing (yours and Lisa's) that are marked "Bulova"
1943 Unknown for now, and a very cool one indeed.
Oh how I LOVE this watch. I doubt that dial is original but OH HOW I LOVE THAT DIAL! Just send it to me Jerin, just do it man.
1943 Bulova "who cares what you call it, I still want it" Unknown
I have to go with Unknown. Seems to be an original case and movement with a suspect dial.
Note the hands combination too, All over the place. Nothing matches, which makes me suspect that this is a 'cobblers' watch.
A watch put together from spare parts a jeweller had, with the addition of a 3rd party dial producer that made replacement dials bfanded with well known companies. I'm sure I've seen another similar, but suspect that it was more common than not to make such a thing to sell at a lower price point than an original, whilst using up spare parts.
Just my thinking.
Unknown all the same,
In reply to Note the hands combination… by mybulova_admin
This could absolutely be true, but with such a scarce model we really don't know that it's a frank or not.
Interesting ro find a other like dial, though this one in a silver.