Bulova 1964 Diamond Empress

Submitted by DebK424 on
C
Manufacture Year
1964
Movement Jewels
23
Case Serial No.
408883
Case shape
Oval
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

Diamond, 14k white gold Bulova watch, wind up style.  #408883 is engraved on the back.  I am trying to identify what year this watch was made.  This watch was purchased through a local jeweler.  A customer sold the watch without giving any details of its history. I have looked through all the diamond watches but cannot find an exact match.  I was unable to find another watch with the same number.

The watch is 14k white gold, which is indicated on the back.  I do not want to take the chance of opening up the watch for further information.

I arbitrarily entered a manufacture year, because I could not submit this without doing so.  So I chose my birth year :).

Thank you.

Entire watch front view
Watch front closeup
Watch back closeup
Geoff Baker
Posted July 18, 2026 - 9:53pm

Hi Deb - thanks for sharing this wonderful ladies watch. Is it possible to count the diamonds, including the tiny ones either side of the dial? That might help us determine the model. Do not include the diamonds on the bracelet. Thank you.

DebK424
Posted July 19, 2026 - 7:34am

Good morning.  Wow, I had to bring out the big magnifying glasses for this one!  Above and below the dial, there are a row of 3 diamonds and a single, slightly larger diamond.  On both sides of the dial, there are six tiny diamonds.  So that makes a total of 20 diamonds surrounding the dial.  Thank you so much for your help.  Deb

mybulova_admin
Posted July 19, 2026 - 7:55am

Found a 1964 linebook entry for a Bulova Diamond Empress "C", indicating 22 diamonds.

1964 Bulova Diamond Empress "C"

Geoff Baker
Posted July 19, 2026 - 9:31pm

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Spot on Stephen - I had a couple Diamond Empress variants picked out, and this is one of them!

DebK424
Posted July 19, 2026 - 8:03am

Yes, that certainly is the watch itself.  Great work and much appreciated!  I can see now where I missed two tiny diamonds in my count...at each point (top and bottom) right below the 3 diamond row.  Sorry about that.  

Do you have any suggestions about the band that came with my watch?  Did Bulova provide band choices? Thank you for your help!

mybulova_admin
Posted July 19, 2026 - 8:20am

In reply to by DebK424

Whilst I'm not sure if Bulova actually produced them, they certainly did offer customers a variety of bracelets which would fit most of their watches.

Here is an example of a few diamond bracelets listed in a 1965 linebook.

1965 Bulova diamond bracelets

DebK424
Posted July 19, 2026 - 11:05am

Thank you so much for all the help!  I love my watch and look forward to sharing it with my daughter and granddaughter in the future!

 

Geoff Baker
Posted July 19, 2026 - 9:32pm

1964 Bulova Diamond Empress C

neetstuf-4-u
Posted July 21, 2026 - 8:24pm

That is a real beauty. You are fortunate to have  it! 

1964 Bulova Diamond Empress "C"