Inside case back: "Bulova, 10K Rolled Gold Plate Bezel, Stainless Back, New York"
Width: 25mm without crown, 27 including crown
Length (lug to lug): 35mm
Height (Steel back to top of crystal): 9mm
Inside lug width: 15 or 16mm
Crown is signed "Bulova"
Original dial and hands.
Case has sharp lines. I believe the case to be unpolished.
Movement: 10BC, 15 Jewel
Band has been replaced in the 1980s with an inexpense Speidel metal expansion band
Originally purchased in Paducah, Kentucky in 1954 (plus or minus a year).
Model name is unknown to me, but I would be interested to know it.
![[1954] Bulova watch](/sites/default/files/watches/img6-031217-8928.jpg)
Very interesting and great sleuthing to discover the model name and find this unexpected (to me) production year.
My grandfather gifted this watch when he died in the 80s. He also passed on to me the Illinois pocket watch that this Bulova replaced as his dress watch. My father told me his dad bought this Bulova Officer watch shortly after my father bought his watch (which was a different brand, but similar look of the dial) at the same store in Paducah, KY. That was the summer of 1954. Seems odd that the watch would be 9 years old at the time of purchase at the store. I assumed he purchased new, but now that's not so unless the watch had remained unsold for 9 years. Since I tied this watch to 1954, the most similar watch (but not perfect match) I could find was the Standish.
This will give me something interesting to share with Dad next time we talk.
Thanks very much for spending time and your efforts to help identify this watch!!!
In reply to Very interesting and great by kap
I would not be at all surprised that the watch was 9-10 years waiting in a display case to be purchased. I just bought a 'new' watch that's 6 years old. It sat in the display case all those years (well, of course it's a Bulova). The amazing thing thing about your watch is that it was so cherished by your grandfather that you still have it over 60 years later. Clearly your grandfather was very proud of it. You are most fortunate to have this wonderful keepsake from him, congratulations!
In reply to I would not be at all by Geoff Baker
It's been an almost daily wearer for me for a long time. Been thinking recently of replacing the metal band with a watch strap. Expandable straps seemed popular in the 1950's, but now that I know this is from the mid 1940's, maybe a leather strap would be more appropriate. I'm open to suggestions.
In reply to It's been an almost daily by kap
Hi Kap, Watch was sold by Bulova mounted on a thicker unpadded russet brown leather strap as seen in the ad I posted. If you want to go "stock" like Granddad purchased it, that's what you want. Scissor expansion bands (as opposed to "Twist-o-flex") were used in the 40's as well; just not on this particular watch when sold new. Basically it just comes down to what do you prefer for your "daily driver"? It's a nice one, and it's even better that it belonged to your grandfather.
In reply to Hi Kap, Watch was sold by by neetstuf-4-u
Thanks for the ideas on watch bands. I addition to the information you provided, I saw a reference to the straps being made of pigskin leather on one of the 1940s advertisements.
I found a 16mm Fluco tan smooth pigskin leather watch strap. This is a 2mm thick, unpadded and untappered strap. After adding leather conditioner to darken it slightly, I had the russet color. I also swapped the buckle for a flip lock deployant clasp.
