Art Deco-ish Bulova needs an ID

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DaveK

·Dec 27, 2020

Hello all

I happened upon this at a happy little antique shop today. It winds buttery-smooth and runs nicely, but will be going on for a service sometime this week.

I would like to ID the model so I can hunt down some vintage ads or catalogues for it. Of course, any other info on it would be most appreciated! Here’s what I know:
- Case # 8680395
- Movement is an adjusted 21 jewel 10AE, with a crescent moon stamp, which I understand would make it either 1928 or 1938
- gold fill or gold plate (no markings)

Edit: Thank you to @agee for the advance help 😀 agee’s Thinking was that this is a ‘30’s Lone Eagle model

Many thanks in advance for your guidance 👍

Edited: Dec 27, 2020

 

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Syrte

·Dec 27, 2020

No idea / ID but very pretty. 👍

 

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wagudc

·Dec 27, 2020

The moon is 1928 or 1938. I would say it is a '38

https://mybulova.com/bulova-date-codes

Then you do a quick advert search on 1938 to get:

https://mybulova.com/vintage-bulova-watch-ads?year=1938

Look in the adverts for your watch.

 

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wagudc

·Dec 27, 2020

Bada bing, it looks like a Ben Hur to me. What do you think? Although the example is white dialed it is the only one with 21 jewels I could find.

Edited: Dec 27, 2020

 

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wagudc

·Dec 27, 2020

I did a search of the site and they only have poor examples of this model. You should submit it for the rest to benefit, and get confirmation.

https://mybulova.com/add-your-watch

 

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wagudc

·Dec 27, 2020

It is a very nice watch by the way!

 

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Larry S

·Dec 27, 2020·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

Great piece.. amazing design and condition!

 

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DaveK

·Dec 27, 2020

Thank you all. @wagudc, great research, much appreciated 👍 I’ve a busy few days ahead, but look forward to diving into what you’ve dug up, and sharing it with the the mybulova.com as well

A great place, these OmegaForums 🙄

 

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kip595

·Dec 27, 2020

Great find, @DaveK - every now and then an art deco piece will pop up at estate sales here, but they're always either trashed or the owner thinks it must be the last one on earth with the prices I see - congrats on this one, should be a fun research!

 

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allwoundup

·Jan 1, 2021

@DaveK you might find this info about the Ben Hur from Watchophilia helpful. Cheers
https://www.watchophilia.com/photogallery/bulovas-1930-1939/a1938-ben-hur/#!

 

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DaveK

·Jan 1, 2021

allwoundup

@DaveK you might find this info about the Ben Hur from Watchophilia helpful. Cheers
https://www.watchophilia.com/photogallery/bulovas-1930-1939/a1938-ben-hur/#!

Thank you @allwoundup 👍

I’ve found the post you shared in the time since this thread was started. I put a membership application in for the mybulova.com forum where I plan to post this for some confirmation, but I think their mods are on a well-deserved break.

I’m pretty sure it’s a Ben Hur model. Although I thought that the Lone Eagle model was a cooler name, at least it’s not from Bulova’s Soylent Green line - Charleton Heston joke .

What might be interesting is that this one has a Swiss-marked dial and movement, when all other 10AE movements I’ve seen from ‘38 are made in the USA.

This would have been sold on a now-lost bracelet as shown in the ad below. Assuming that this ad tells the whole story, I was pleased to see that this was their 2nd from the top tier line of men’s dress watches, after their President collection.

Edited: Jan 1, 2021

 

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amcclell

·Jan 1, 2021

That is a beautiful find. Thanks for sharing.

 

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wagudc

·Jan 1, 2021

DaveK

This would have been sold on a now-lost bracelet as shown in the ad below. Assuming that this ad tells the whole story, I was pleased to see that this was their 2nd from the top tier line of men’s dress watches, after their President collection.

Looks better on a strap, like my 1949 His Excellency, which also has a long lost strap.

 

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wagudc

·Jan 1, 2021

The strap really ties together the whole watch - dog ensemble.

 

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Foo2rama

·Jan 1, 2021·Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...

WE NEED A WRIST SHOT!!!!!!!

 

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allwoundup

·Jan 1, 2021

@DaveK I much preferred Heston in another of his late career sci-fi flicks, The Omega Man.

I agree with you, finding original bracelets for 1930s watches is tough, but not impossible. Thanks for sharing the vintage Bulova ad. Note the "American Clipper" model in the lower right hand corner of the ad, and the photo of my "American Clipper" below....even a blind squirrel finds a nut from time to time.

 

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DaveK

·Jan 1, 2021

Foo2rama

WE NEED A WRIST SHOT!!!!!!!

It was actually my wife was that spotted this in an antique store otherwise filled with furniture and decor items. It is a great day when your spouse tumbles down the rabbit hole of vintage watches. I have to say, she has great taste 👍

Here it is on her wrist, before we dropped it off at the watchmaker for a service.

I’m very lucky, we have a 30 minute walk, mostly through the forest, to get to our watchmaker. Charming.

 

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DaveK

·Jan 1, 2021

allwoundup

@DaveK I much preferred Heston in another of his late career sci-fi flicks, The Omega Man.

I agree with you, finding original bracelets for 1930s watches is tough, but not impossible. Thanks for sharing the vintage Bulova ad. Note the "American Clipper" model in the lower right hand corner of the ad, and the photo of my "American Clipper" below....even a blind squirrel finds a nut from time to time.

That’s really nice!

A blind squirrel, I love that saying

 

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DaveK

·Feb 13, 2021

Update: The good folks at myBulova.com concluded that this is a 1939 Bulova Ben Hur, though this black-dialed variant had not been seen in advertising. What is interesting to me is that it has two year marks on in, the ‘38 moon, and the ‘39 shield - I thought the shield was a weird scratch.

Also odd (to me) is that this one is Swiss made, when all others I’ve seen are made in the USA. But maybe that’s the deal with the black dial.

anywho, here it is on the wrist...

I’ll post a WTB for a new crystal (chip at 1:00), but if you have one, please PM me 👍


26.6mm x 17.2mm

(G-S MT361-45) I can't verify this number, but believe it's good. G-S is the brand of crystal and number is their their stock number.

 

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gatorcpa

·Feb 13, 2021·ΩF InvestiGator

Some Bulova movements were assembled in the USA and some were made in Switzerland during that time.

I think all the movement parts were Swiss made, but the USA assembled movements did not have "Swiss" on the dial.
gatorcpa