The year is a guess. It does not have a date code indicating 1950 or later.
Welcome to myBulova and thank you for sharing your beautiful watch with us. I would date your lovely watch at 1947 but if you get a photo of the movement it will help verify the date. How many diamonds does it have?
In reply to Welcome to myBulova and… by Kathy L.
Thank you for the response. It has 12 diamonds. I can't get the back of the watch off easily (and I'm afraid of damaging it). I recently had it repaired/serviced and will contact the jeweler to see if they got any information from the movement when they repaired it.
In reply to Thank you for the response… by hbrookman
Thank you for the diamond info, that will help in the ad search. Yes don't try if you are uncomfortable doing so. It is so nice that you had it serviced and can enjoy running it and wearing it.
The closest I can come up with is the Anita. It seems they made several very similar models of these beauties. Here is what the Anita looks like and will give you some idea of what they sold for back then. https://mybulova.com/watches/1949-anita-9631 Yours with 12 diamonds would have been a bit more dear in price.
Unknown for now
Beauty. I've revisited this one several times and can't find a match. It's a higher end watch to be sure.
1948 Unknown for now.
Advert is a possibility. My reason, look at the dial, all number, stick hands and the 23 just below BULOVA.
It may not be the watch but I suspect it is from the La Petite series.
1952 Bulova La Petite is my call.
Advert is dated 1952.
Another advert with the same watch showing it is different from the subject, but the dial and hand combo, along with the 23 jewelled movement seems a close match.
I also looked at La Petite. Here is an ad I was looking at that looks like it could be a match as well but the sides of the case give me pause. The ad was not dated. Stephen you might be right. I wish there was a clearer ad photo.
In reply to I think you might be right… by Kathy L.
Backs up the 'La Petite' ID. Watch is very close to the subject, but oh so slightly different.
From the 1956 LineBook.
Would like to suggest we add the variant to this watch. Also not sure why we decided on 1948 but also might be good to go with the Linebook date of 1956.
Bulova La Petite "J"
In reply to From the 1956 LineBook. … by Kathy L.
I would agree Kathy..."J" is a match.
Also, per the Bulova 1956 Annual Report, the La Petite model line was introduced at that time, so not available in 1948. Perhaps the watch is a 1957, using the first char of s/n (if that is appropriate for solid gold cases w/o datestamp).