Bulova 1951 Academy Award

Submitted by PastyDuchy on
Manufacture Year
1951
Movement Model
7AA
Movement Date Code
49 (A9)
Movement Jewels
21
Case Serial No.
3464182
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Academy Award model but I'm assuming it has a different assignment than "Q" as the T & V have different designations depending on case colour. Couldn't see any wgf ones so thought I'd add it. I note the A9 L1 discrepancy but figure it's legit 

You make this
far harder
Than it needs to be
JimDon5822
Posted March 6, 2026 - 7:47pm

This is one we have seen before and have been unable to confirm a variant. This is a 1951 Bulova Academy Award, no variant.  Like this one. https://mybulova.com/watches/1951-academy-award-12650.  Now that we have several in the DB it feels safe to say this is a factory model.   Not sure the 49 movement is original but two years is not that big a gap.  

Geoff Baker
Posted March 8, 2026 - 5:30am

Hey Luke - I hope all is well over there. I too am surprised that we haven't found the variant for this beauty but we will not stop looking I'm sure. Totally comfortable with the case movement dates, it's all original. 1951 Bulova Academy Award (I wonder where I'll see it next?)

PastyDuchy
Posted March 9, 2026 - 7:36am

In reply to by Geoff Baker

Hi Geoff, hope you're enjoying Oz. You will surely see it elsewhere but you'll see something else first, got lucky yesterday at the vintage fair I was selling at (& I didn't even have to step away from the stall)

neetstuf-4-u
Posted March 8, 2026 - 8:35am

As the owner of the matching watch linked above, I am thrilled to see another! Thanks for adding it. No doubt it's a legitimate factory model now. Still no ad verification though. Hopefully we will one day find an ad.

1951 Academy Award  (likely variant "II"  but yet to be verified)

Geoff Baker
Posted March 10, 2026 - 4:26am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

I don't think we ever had a basis for the (II) variant - I think this beauty need to be just AA (sorry Luke)

PastyDuchy
Posted March 11, 2026 - 5:37am

In reply to by Geoff Baker

No worries Geoff, just adding to the database for reference purposes. The ll variant is irrelevant to this anyway and while there does seem to be some still unidentified variants in that list, we might never know what's what. 

PastyDuchy
Posted March 9, 2026 - 7:48am

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

No worries, spotted yours after posting mine, likewise glad to see another. Tbh I don't post many of my finds as I've found the process a bit of a faff, just been doing the ones I can't see already up. I noticed it's a bit easier now so I'll be adding a few more when I get a chance.

mybulova_admin
Posted March 9, 2026 - 4:17am

This from the price guide showing a few other variants:

1950s Academy Award Price Guide