1963 Bulova 23 or Regatta 23 Serial# G354933 M3
In reply to Hard to say for certain if… by mybulova_admin
Re-opening watch ID.
It seems the ID is going to be year based? It seems the original ID was based on a 1964 Line Book?
The odd thing is the 1964 Bulova Price Guide lists both models. I believe Bulova 23 "CC" is the best ID on this one based on the year. I assume 1964 is Regatta N after that point.
In reply to The odd thing is the 1964… by JimDon5822
I'm leaning towards this as well.
The Regatta has the model number 01338W, the Bulova 23 has a model number 01326W, so we can say they were distinctly different.
I'm suggesting that the Bulova 23 has a recessed crown and the Regatta does not (I'm not 100% from the linebook photo).
If the Regatta doesn't have a recessed crown then this watch would be a 23, If both have the recessed crown then it would probably come down to the year.
I need to find a better linebook image for the Regatta "N".
Do you know with absolute certainty that Bulova did not make or never made particular models for an upcoming year in the previous year? Somewhat like car manufacturers do. A 2026 model car, manufactured in late 2025? It seems odd that Bulova would not have had models for their upcoming model year already made in say Oct-Dec of the previous year. There is also no proof, they never made the watch for the 1963 model year. The watch currently has the exact bracelet for the Regatta N on it. The original assessment is the most accurate.
In reply to Do you know with absolute… by RAYBAN-USA
Bulova produced watches and movements in factories. For much of it's history, at least in the era we study, the parts came together in the "assembly" office. Parts were date coded at the time of production, not assembly, which is why we regularly find a year difference between case date code and movement. One year could be the difference of two or three days of manufacturing. Bulova did not operate on a "model year" basis. They made various models of watches in batches. In the spring and fall they updated their dealer line books (catalogs of a sort) and in them we often find hand written annotations stating prices changes or discontinuation of certain models and variants.
To your point we don't know when exactly your watch was assembled but we find a movement and a case that WERE manufactured in 1963 which is the basis for our dating your watch to 1963. What we do know is that the band on your watch now was not added at the time of assembly but recently by you and that may or may not cause us to change the ID we have or will.
Sorry this maybe also my confusion. Is the watch shown in the actual submission the same as this watch?
I agree that whilst built in 63 the same watch could have been marketed and sold in 64 as the Regatta "N" and the bracelet if original to the watch would confirm that.
The watch was purchased from a jeweler in Sun City Arizona and was part of an estate sale. The watch came with two bracelets, a Spiedel and the original bracelet as shown in the picture above which was put on the watch purchase. The watch has very little if any wear.