Bulova 1952 Academy Award

Submitted by Stinky_Sullivan on
ZZ
Manufacture Year
1952
Movement Model
7AA
Movement Date Code
L1
Movement Jewels
21
Case Serial No.
6413273
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
21.6mm x 17.6mm G-S 326-35F
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

1952 Bulova Academy Award “ZZ”

10k filled filled case back

SN 6413273

7AA movement

21 jewels

L1 date code

I’ve only seen this Speidel bracelet once before. I don’t think Bulova used it that I’ve seen but it goes well with this watch.

1952 Bulova Academy Award “ZZ” dial
1952 Bulova Academy Award “ZZ” case back
1952 Bulova Academy Award “ZZ” movement
1952 Bulova Academy Award “ZZ” bracelet front
1952 Bulova Academy Award “ZZ” bracelet back
1952 Bulova Academy Award “ZZ” ad
JimDon5822
Posted June 25, 2023 - 9:01pm

I believe we need to use the line books to confirm the model name.  The 195"7" line book BAWD 0132 which we believe actually is for an older model year around the early 1950's ID's this case and dial configuration as the Craftsman.   So based on this I believe this to be a 1952 Bulova Craftsman.

 

CraftsmanCraftsman

mybulova_admin
Posted June 26, 2023 - 5:58am

So wondering what the cutover is. 1952 = Academy Award, 1953 = Craftsman.

1953 Bulova Price Guide

The same price guide also has a complete mens and womens line listing which includes the Academy Award series. The way I read the price guide is that the yellow pages are the new/updated models and the white pages form the complete sales line, suggesting that the Crafstman was introduced at the beginning of 1953. A watch stamped L2 could very well fall into that batch sold in 1953.

Geoff Baker
Posted June 26, 2023 - 6:03pm

I submit that any 1952 watch matching Academy Award adverts be labelled as such.

Stinky_Sullivan
Posted June 26, 2023 - 6:20pm

In reply to by Geoff Baker

With the presumption that the date code refers to the actual date of manufacture and not the production year, any model with the 1952 date code would have to be a 1952 model. As there is no way to distinguish between one made in January1952 and December1952, I think they should all be labeled according to the information that applies to that year. With the line book information on the 1953 Craftsman and the price list, I believe the 4 watches currently identified as 1953 AA ZZ might warrant re-evaluation.

Kathy L.
Posted June 26, 2023 - 6:13pm

My vote is 1952 = AA and 1953 is the transition to other names. 

mybulova_admin
Posted June 26, 2023 - 9:05pm

Agreed, for the sake of consistancy, let's keep the 1952 stamped watches as Academy Award "ZZ".

neetstuf-4-u
Posted July 1, 2023 - 7:24am

1952 =  AA "ZZ"

JEV1A
Posted July 14, 2023 - 9:12pm

I'm going with "Craftsman" per the ad. The Oscar watch was done by 52' per the lawsuits. I know the arguments. JV

Geoff Baker
Posted July 15, 2023 - 11:13pm

In reply to by JEV1A

John - in that you are not a panel member, your comment is inconsequential. Additionally there was no lawsuit, it's time for you to stop referencing it. There are no arguments, only facts, it never happened.