Received this one yesterday. From "The History of Bulova Through 10 Milestone Bulova Watches: The 1960s saw Bulova’s most famous and influential contribution to the science of watchmaking — the Bulova Accutron, the world’s first fully electronic watch. Rolled out under worldwide scrutiny at the World’s Watchmaking Fair in Basel, Switzerland (now called Baselworld) in 1960, the watch incorporated a revolutionary new technology that utilized a 360-Herz tuning fork, powered by a one-transistor electronic oscillator, to drive the timekeeping functions rather than a traditional balance wheel. The brainchild of Bulova engineer (and Basel native) Max Hetzel, this technology ensured an oscillation rate of 360 times per second — nearly 150 times faster than that of a mechanical, balance-wheel-driven timepiece — and guaranteed an accuracy to just one minute per month. The Accutron was distinguished by its telltale humming instead of ticking, a sound generated by the vibrating tuning fork. The first Accutron model, called Spaceview 214 and featuring its now-famous open dial showing off the high-tech movement, also deviated from traditional wristwatch design with its lack of setting stem and crown on the side of the watch; these elements were instead placed on the back of the case. The Accutron has been the cornerstone of Bulova’s portfolio ever since. In 2010, its 50th anniversary year, Bulova released a special, limited-edition replica of the Spaceview with a modern movement. https://www.watchtime.com/featured/the-history-of-bulova-through-10-milestone-bulova-watches/
Thanks for providing photo. I am on the road at the moment, but will try to do some research when I get back home to solve the mystery. My recollection is that in the 1930s Bulova used the first digit of the serial number on the case back exterior to identify the production Year — e.g., a “6” as the first digit would denote a 1936 production year. I believe Bulova changed this numbering scheme sometime in the early 1940s. If your case was from the 1930s, the first digit being a “2” would suggest a 1932 production date. That said, I am unfamiliar with any Bulova case design from the early 1930s having a rectangular “curved” case without “stepped” side contours or chased embellishments. If the case numbering scheme noted above was still in use in 1942 it would make more sense that the case of your watch was produced in that year — i.e., the overall unembellished “streamlined” case is more consistent with Bulova’s design language from the late 1930s and early 1940s than the early 1930s. I’ll try to do some additional research a bit later today. Best
1942 case, 1949 movement. Replacement movement, not unusual. This model President was produced from 1936 until the early 1940's. A new model was released in 1940, but it was not unusual for an older model to be produced until later, especially in the forties with production concentrating on wartime items. Examples here: https://www.mybulova.com/search-bul...s=&watch_add_info=&field_watch_variant_value=
While I agree that replacement movements are not unusual, none of the Presidents referenced in the above My Bulova link you provided have the same case as the "mystery watch" in question. All save one, the 1935 ref. #5493053, have stepped and/or engraved cases -- not smooth sided unadorned cases like the watch in question. Further, if you look closely, I don't believe any of them have the same dial design -- e.g., the abbreviated "6" hour marker below the seconds sub-dial of the "mystery watch" The shape of the above noted 1935 "President" ref. #5493053 comes closest to that of the "mystery watch", however, if you read the accompanying discussion/comments, the model has likely a "Minute Man" model that has been misidentified as being a "President". Owning both models from this period myself, I would agree that the watch pictured is, in fact, a Minute Man. As an aside, the Minute Man is smaller lug-to-lug than the President. At 52mm, the "mystery watch" is a full 7mm longer than the largest President. Below are a couple links to watches that appear to be identical to the "mystery watch". The Hollandladdco site identifies the watch as a Bulova "Imperial". The eBay auction does not provide a model name. Both reference the case size as 52-53mm. I have yet to find other references to a Bulova "Imperial" from the period in question. Whatever the actual model name of the "mystery" Bulova, it would appear to be an attempt to compete with the case design and scale of the Gruen Curvex "Majesty". https://www.hallandladdco.com/produ...-curvex-tank-53-mm-long-1?variant=31065314116 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-52...h=item2150abeb84:g:VycAAOSw0xtcCn6b:rk:6:pf:0Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
I agree, this one is longer and more curved with more 'pointed' lugs than the usual President model. Would love to see an advert/catalogue pic.
To add some more to the pot, I also have this one with a 1938 movement, which seems to be more correct, however the case is marked differently (no markings on the inside) and the dial has a slightly six.
Looks to be original case and movement....both 1938....and dial looks unrestored. Nice! I will have to investigate the "Imperial" model. I know the name was used for models years later, but have yet to find anything definitive from the '30s or '40s.
Wish it was bigger... but it is really pretty. Tropical dial with blued minute and hour hands + a red second hand.
1973 Bulova Oceanographer Snorkel 666 Day and Date Case Ref# - 7095-1 friction [no click] mounted bi-directional " Coke " Bezel note: case ref# 7095 assigned to orange dial Snorkel with black and white bezel