1965 (M5) Bulova Chronograph. Valjoux 92 movement marked Bulova Watch Co M5 Swiss 13EB. 35.1mm , 41.88mm lug to lug , 12.06mm thick(crystal dependent), case is gold plated 40 micron. My suspicion is the the dial has been redone with a little artistic license taken on the Bulova logo. This one has applied raised letters, the few others I have seen have had printed lettering.
Interesting note for this watch is that the case number is only 58 away in sequence from another 65 chrono documented here. Either a happy coincidence, which happens, or a possibly a very short run of these. Also, in looking at mine, and the other example documented here, the case serial number and the Bulova 2 character date code appear to be hand etched or engraved. Another indicator that there may have only been a short run of these watches.
Would like to know more about this "Bulova International LTD". The case for these watches are full of markings that I have not seen on Bulova watches before. The serials appear to be hand engraved, there is no obvious manufacturer label. Also, I can find no adverts that describe this series of chronograph. I wonder if that has something to do with the Bulova International Ltd...maybe an offshoot or an overseas branch of Bulova USA? Maybe these watches were for distribution in other countries specifically and not made available in the US?? idk..lots of questions.
In reply to (No subject) by catangen
A beautiful watch, congrats. Yes your watch might have had the dial refinished. Like this one https://mybulova.com/watches/1965-chronograph-5004.
1965 Bulova International Chronograph
In reply to A beautiful watch, congrats… by Kathy L.
Yes, my suspicion of a dial refin is based on the example watch you point to. Mainly in the "Bulova" lettering on the example watch is printed on the dial and on my watch they are raised applied lettering. That may or may not be a tell tale sign, it is possible they just had a couple options.
Also, This is the watch I was referring to that is only 58 away in serial number. This watch also appears to have hand engraved serial and date code as well, and is also located in a different orientation related to the position of the other lettering further indicating it may have been done by hand.
Based on case markings,and apparent lack of a 3 letter import code on movement; your watch was produced outside the US for distribution outside the US. Face may have been refurbished, but it's likely the International face differed from the US model. The seemingly hand engraved date and s/n is curious and something I personally have never seen.
Nice one!
1965 Bulova Chronograph, variant (if applicable) unknown for now.
In reply to Based on case markings,and… by neetstuf-4-u
If you look at this example currently in the database https://mybulova.com/watches/1965-chronograph-5004 , you will notice that this one too has the Bulova International Ltd case back, and it too has serial number and date code lettering that appears hand done. Its also in a different orientation in relation to the other lettering on the dial than it is on my watch, further indicating that it may have been hand numbered.
Also you will notice difference in the dial, mainly the "Bulova" lettering being applied raised on mine and printed on the example given. This is the only reason I suggest a dial refin. This could also just be an example of a different model, an added option maybe. The lume is dead, so if it was refinished it was done some time ago. It just seems to be in excellent shape with the exception of the gouge under the O in Bulova.
I'd agree with the dial being a re-fin, it almost looks like they had a raised logo from something else and applied it rather than print it. Do we know the earliest year for raised logos? I would say 70's, but just a guess. I see a Golden Clipper with raised logo from 1970. Still looking.
These are getting harder to find and were not produced in the same numbers as other Bulova models, mainly because they were more expensive and didn't sell as well.
In reply to I'd agree with the dial… by Reverend Rob
Rob - we seen the raised logo as early as 1929..........
I think you're right about the numbers produced, we don't seen many at all. I think these guys used the Valjoux 92. By the 1970's Bulova was into the 7733's