Bulova 1972 Ambassador

Submitted by Paul Meek on
Manufacture Year
1972
Movement Model
11AOACB
Movement Date Code
N2
Movement Jewels
23
Movement Serial No.
3-425500
Case Serial No.
7315
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
31mm
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Ambassador Automatic, with a silver dial, 38mm polished silver case, on an aftermarket black leather strap.

Watch Front
Watch Back
Movement
Movement & Case Back
JimDon5822
Posted September 13, 2024 - 5:43pm

I have not been able to find a case match to this one but the dial generally is good for an ID.   The question is if the movement, case and dial are factory.     I believe this to be a factory 1972 Bulova Ambassador but the date code on the movement appears to be N4 indicating a possible movement swap.  Can you confirm the date code on the rotor?  

Paul Meek
Posted September 13, 2024 - 6:08pm

Hi, yes I can confirm the date code on the rotor is N4. So, would this suggest that the movement has been swapped at some point for a 1974 movement?

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted September 14, 2024 - 3:54am

The case serial number is stamped on the outer caseback. Yours appears to be 8 digits beginning with a 3. 

Inside the caseback is the case reference number (not a serial number) and is used for replacement parts identification.

My book does not contain a case #7315 but does show a #7313, #7314 and then jumps (oddly) to #7317.

All of these cases use the 11AOACB movement. 

IMO, with the movement dating to 1974 plus the lack of any case reference in the U.S. book the watch is a 1974 'AMBASSADOR', an import or international model.  

Paul Meek
Posted September 14, 2024 - 5:17am

Thanks for the clarification, I'm in the UK and I acquired the watch from a British collector\dealer, however there was no history available for the watch.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted September 14, 2024 - 1:02pm

Makes perfect sense.

The lack of any matching case # in the parts reference book indicates the Watch was not manufactured in the U.S.

mybulova_admin
Posted September 15, 2024 - 5:12am

If we cannot determine an exact match, I feel ok with a base ID of a 1972 Bulova Ambassador.

Geoff Baker
Posted September 15, 2024 - 9:27pm

1972 Bulova Ambassador