Bulova 1958 American Girl

Submitted by Kathy L. on
K
Manufacture Year
1958
Movement Model
6BD
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
T632710
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
Tonneau
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

My second American Girl, decided I would like to get a couple models in this line.  I thought this one was the "Z" in white gold filled but when it arrived it is actually yellow gold filled.  I think it is the "Y" but the dial is different than the ad so I am not 100% sure.

The case is 10k gold filled and is dated stamped L8.  The movement is a 6BD 17 jewel working movement dated stamped L8.  The dial is white with gold numbers and dashes and is in nice condition (replacement?).  Look forward to your thoughts.

Edit:  The box was a pick up on it's own that I got for the first AG I bought.  I thought it was a good match for this watch as well but now know the price point is wrong so I will change that photo.  I am changing the ad to what appears to be the correct variant "K".

1958 Bulova watch
1958 Bulova watch
1958 Bulova watch
1958 Bulova watch
1958 Bulova watch
Bulova Watch advert
Reverend Rob
Posted February 7, 2019 - 10:08pm

According to the ad, the model has 21 jewels. The reason your dial might look a bit different is there may have been a complete movt and dial swap. American Girl models did use 17 jewel movts also, and the size was the same, so it would not be a stretch to solve a problem this way back in the day. It looks to be in good condition, the bangles I see often have dings that are near impossible to remove. 

Back in the day, dropping one of these watches on a hard surface could mean total destruction. The heavier the watch, the more likely it would be damaged by being dropped due to the increased mass. This is why pocket watches get wrecked so easily and why we see so many with broken staffs. These ladies watches were small, buut had very fine and fragile pivots in their movts. 

Kathy L.
Posted February 7, 2019 - 10:54pm

In reply to by Reverend Rob

Oh yes, I didn't even catch the jewel difference I was focused on the case.  You are probably right on a total movement/dial swap.  Thanks Reverend Rob, I will have to do a little more research next time. 

mybulova_admin
Posted February 8, 2019 - 3:54am

Findng a few other 17 jewelled models in the database....question is....are these also movement replacements or were there 17J variants?

Looking at adverts now for hints or references to 17J models.

mybulova_admin
Posted February 8, 2019 - 4:01am

Couple if advert showing both 17J and 21J variants.

http://www.mybulova.com/sites/default/files/vintage_ads/1952-Bulova-advert-120817.jpg

http://www.mybulova.com/sites/default/files/vintage_ads/53-bulova-ad-1953-9.jpg

http://www.mybulova.com/sites/default/files/vintage_ads/Journal_and_Courier_Thu__Dec_9__1954_left.jpg

http://www.mybulova.com/sites/default/files/vintage_ads/1955AnnualReport2.jpg

What you'll notice though is that the dial variants have a 'dot' rather than the 'dash'. This could also be a telling factor in a possible replacement. Either way at least we can say a 17J movement is correct for the American Girl line. The variant shown above is listed as 21J, so for now I'd say we just stick with the model and skip the variant.

1958 Bulova American Girl

Kathy L.
Posted February 8, 2019 - 11:36am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Stephen,  Thank you for doing all that research!!  I am trying to catalog variants of this line and should have caught the jewel count and dial being different to the ad duh!  I wasn't on my game yesterday lol

Ken found an ad that looks like a match "K" : ) You guys are the best!!

jabs
Posted February 8, 2019 - 4:02am

Adree with 1958 Bulova American Girl, nice watch

Kathy L.
Posted February 8, 2019 - 11:25am

In reply to by jabs

Thank you jabs : ) like Reverend Rob said I have seen many of these with dents in the cuff so it is nice there are still some out there in nice condition.

Andersok
Posted February 8, 2019 - 7:50am

At that $71.50 pricepoint, you would have the 21 jewel movement in that case. A 17 jewel at that price would maybe have a couple of diamonds. I did find some examples of your watch with 17 jewels at the $59.50 price. Variants K (Yellow) and M (White). This 1962 ad shows the model numbers as well. I found other ads for both variants that match this, as well as the same variants for the Canadian Girl.

I think this is a match to your watch.

63272 replaced 6765 in 1961, as did 63273 replace 6767. Varant letters did not change, so in '58 it would have been the 6765 model number for yellow, still the K variant.

American Girl 'K' (w/ wrong price tag in case)

 

Kathy L.
Posted February 8, 2019 - 11:00am

In reply to by Andersok

Well now that does look like a match!  Well done on the ad match Ken!  I rushed putting this one up and should have said the box was a pick up on it's own.  I got it to go with the first AG I got.  So the price tag is not for this watch.  The paper box actually says AG "G".

Reverend Rob
Posted February 8, 2019 - 9:54am

Good catch Ken, American Girl 'K' is a match.