1963 Bluebonnet Bowl Watch

GTBuzz · May 23, 2022

Complete newbie here. Thanks for the add.
I've had my eye on this watch on eBay for a few weeks now and have some questions with which I'm hoping this group can assist.

This is listed as being presented to a Georgia Tech player, but Georgia Tech played in the 1962 Bluebonnet Bowl. Not 1963. The player indeed was a team member of the 1962 team. And the date is the correct date for the 1962 Bluebonnet Bowl.

1. Could the back of the watch come from a 1962 version?
2. Or was it common for the year to be off?
3. Is there anything on the inside that gives a clue to its proper date?

Thanks everyone.View attachment 1419348 View attachment 1419348

View attachment 1419348

gatorcpa · May 23, 2022

I think I would be a bit wary of the one above.

In fact, there was another 1963 Bluebonnet Bowl Omega featured on this forum:

x253355-6070f8015a16def5f0277be68756540e.jpg.pagespeed.ic.T045vDEiff.webp

https://omegaforums.net/threads/blue-bonnet-bowl-1963.41813/

This one was given to an LSU player (correct for the 1963 game). It has the same dial. It also has a totally different case and movement.

The cal. 550 with a 20M serial number in this watch would seem to be more appropriate for a 1963 watch than a cal. 470, which was discontinued in 1959. Although some US models used the 470 until the early 1960's - see 2nd generation Globemasters.

I would say that the eBay watch could possibly be a frankenwatch. There are too many questions here for me.
gatorcpa

GTBuzz · May 23, 2022

Thanks for the valuable info gatorcpa. In fact, I found this forum via the info about the LSU watch above. I'm shying away from the apparent frankenwatch.

gatorcpa · May 23, 2022

I took a look for a 1962 Bluebonnet Bowl Omega and came up empty.

My gut feeling is that the eBay watch may be all OK except for the dial. Since I do not believe that the dials for the cal. 470 and 550 were compatible, I would be afraid to find out how it was made to fit.
gatorcpa

cvalue13 · May 23, 2022

Strange it has a caseback with correct date and player for the 1962 game, but that 1963 dial. On one hand, what are the chances a correct caseback would find an correct but miss-matched bluebonnet dial; on the other hand, if someone was fabricating then caseback to meet the dial, what are the chances they’d put the incorrect year and player for the ‘63 game?

Truly bizarre.

Still, found this news real about the the game interesting to see!

cvalue13 · May 23, 2022

cvalue13
on the other hand, if someone was fabricating then caseback to meet the dial, what are the chances they’d put the incorrect year and player for the ‘63 game?

out of curiosity looking around, I notice that several of these commemorative watches on the market over the years don’t have anything on the case back, while others have variable approaches to what’s on the caseback. The takeaway, to me, is that it’s possible these watches were ‘awarded’ with blank casebacks and individuals were left to do their own inscriptions. That would leave room for any number of funny outcomes.

that said, regardless of approach to inscription, still doesn’t explain how a player obtained a watch from a later year.

does bring to mind the Tokyo 2020 casebacks, though 😗

gatorcpa · May 23, 2022

cvalue13
that said, regardless of approach to inscription, still doesn’t explain how a player obtained a watch from a later year.

gatorcpa
Since I do not believe that the dials for the cal. 470 and 550 were compatible, I would be afraid to find out how it was made to fit.

That's why I said what I said above. I don't think the dial and the rest of the watch belong together.
gatorcpa

riceman · May 25, 2022

A few days late getting into the conversation but here is a pic of my late father’s “swag” watch from the 1963 Cotton Bowl, which followed the 1962 college football season. It’s running a 470 in a C6296 case. Replacement crown, but supposedly correct (or close to) for the case reference. Dad was an LSU defensive lineman and the 1963 Cotton Bowl (vs. Texas) was his last game as he graduated that spring.

Foo2rama · May 25, 2022

Engraving and extra dial customization is post factory and done locally.

bowl watches from this era are not exactly uncommon.

statsman · Nov 7, 2022

GTBuzz, PM sent

Scorp777 · Nov 19, 2022

G GTBuzz
Complete newbie here. Thanks for the add.
I've had my eye on this watch on eBay for a few weeks now and have some questions with which I'm hoping this group can assist.

This is listed as being presented to a Georgia Tech player, but Georgia Tech played in the 1962 Bluebonnet Bowl. Not 1963. The player indeed was a team member of the 1962 team. And the date is the correct date for the 1962 Bluebonnet Bowl.

1. Could the back of the watch come from a 1962 version?
2. Or was it common for the year to be off?
3. Is there anything on the inside that gives a clue to its

View attachment 1419348

Scorp777 · Nov 19, 2022

I got this 1966 sugar bowl to the quarterback cary lane on a ol auction with a Jagers issued in ww11 this guy won 3 superbowl rings as a coach and was a hell of a player I don't understand how it got into that auction barely visible this is the closet watch I've found if anyone has info it's a shame I feel for his grandkids

Scorp777 · Nov 19, 2022

S Scorp777
I got this 1966 sugar bowl to the quarterback cary lane on a ol auction with a Jagers issued in ww11 this guy won 3 superbowl rings as a coach and was a hell of a player I don't understand how it got into that auction barely visible this is the closet watch I've found if anyone has info it's a shame I feel for his grandkids

Scorp777 · Nov 19, 2022

S Scorp777

I hope the pics can help authenticity Thank You Guy's I appreciate the help and the Jagers is also from ww2 and thinking well maybe this was his or a family members I seen something saying that most soldiers sent them back in the 50s because of wear on the lugs and visibility I thought really after surviving ww2 most guy's wanted a new case crystal dial with the only part original left is the movement it wouldn't be my lucky watch after

gatorcpa · Nov 20, 2022

S Scorp777
I got this 1966 sugar bowl to the quarterback cary lane on a ol auction with a Jagers issued in ww11 this guy won 3 superbowl rings as a coach and was a hell of a player

A little punctuation would made this easier to read.
😉

Anyway, here is Gary Lane’s biography:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Lane_(gridiron_football)

He never played in a Super Bowl, but after retirement as an active player, he became a referee and officiated in two of them.

If you would like to see Mr. Lane in action, you can watch this video:

Interesting watch. Thanks for sharing. I wonder if these were also given to Florida players?

The Jaeger-LeCoultre is of a military style, but was never issued to any soldiers. I suspect many soldiers purchased such watches in the travels through Europe, as this was a very common model.

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa

1963 Bluebonnet Bowl Watch

GTBuzz

gatorcpa

GTBuzz

gatorcpa

cvalue13

cvalue13

gatorcpa

riceman

Foo2rama

statsman

Scorp777

Scorp777

Scorp777

Scorp777

gatorcpa

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