This was my grandfather's watch. He immigrated to the US from Italy in 1921. I doubt he would have had money to buy a gold watch until the 40s, so I'm thinking this watch is from the 40s or 50s. The serial # is only 5 digits which doesn't make sense from what I am seeing about Bulova serial #s, so I am wondering if this is a fake? Seems like a lot of effort to fake a watch. My grandfather died in 1978, I have had the watch since then. It works. I never saw him wear it, so maybe it was only for very special occasions? I'm curious to what model and year it is. And of course if it's actually a Bulova watch. I took it to a jeweller and he said it was not the original band and recommended that I change it to a non-metal band. That was about all he knew. I don't know how to open it so I don't want to take any chances with damaging it. Sorry I don't have a pic of the inside. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you!
Solid gold watches didn't seem to get a lot of ad space. Serial number is of no help in dating watch, as it's likely the first number is the one missing that should have been stamped prior to assembly. That said, watch needs to be dated by movement.
Date of 1940 is at this point a guess, therefore it may very well be a 1946 , 1947 or 1948 watch; falling into the s/n or 2 digit date stamp on case transition area. Any year date past the ad date could also explain the dial difference from ad. Seeing the movement date stamp and jewel count would be of great help.
At this point with available info, my vote is
Golden Eagle (date to be determined)
If seeing the movement is not an option, my opinion is to date the watch to the ad (1946) which is a better logical guess than 1940.
