You'll note that movement was made in USA. The military didn't care about serials on the movement, it's not in the manual, either. The manual is TM9-1575, by the way. https://archive.org/details/TM9-1575
Bulova was an American company selling Swiss made watches. As was Gruen.
Yes, but these movements were made in the US during the war.
Dial and hands are original, crown was normally chrome plated- I don’t have a issue with the brass crown personally- it’s the correct size as least.
These typically aren’t expensive watches (I paid about $150-250 for the ones I have had), they always need service but parts were abundant- even NOS in military packaging pop up occasionally!
My Ord watches say hello
Very very lovely pieces!
You guys are just incredible and I have learnt a lot about this little piece and the war background. It seems like it is a legit piece and possibly a Ord Dept surplus watch due to the lack of engraving.
I am going to see the watch on Monday and I hope things go well. It is priced at USD250 (reasonable??).
I like the “patina” on the dial, which spreads in a nice way imo. Some members refer it to radium burn. Could anyone explain a little bit more on that? Thanks!!
Btw, happy share my 1958 A-17A below. Hoping to get the older brother for him
That a lovey a17!
$250 is a little high, I would try to knock the seller down a bit.
If you look at the pic of my white dial above, you can see where the hands sat over the dial in the same place for decades (probably in a sock drawer) and the radium lume burned into the dial. You will also see dark marks on the dial around the numerals- that’s also burn.
This is common on older watches with radium lume (and these military dials had lots of radium to be very visible in the dark). Sometime you will even see the indices burn marks into the earlier acetate crystals.
Some people have issues with radium dials and won’t wear or own them do to the radioactivity- but there are many other threads on that.
I disagree with Mr Jw. For the condition your watch is in, the fact that it is a Type A-17, and it is on the exterior all correct, disregarding the caseback, puts it solidly at $250 or above. If you don't want it at that price, tell me where to get it, because I do.
The first non Ord watch he posted is $250. His A17 he already owns- that one I would pay $250 for no problem
Hey guys, I will be going to meet the seller tomorrow. If there is any final note, please let me know. After some thoughts on what you guys have been sharing, I think as long as the watch is legit (save the crown), I will pull the trigger as the pattern of the radium burn really grows on me 😀
Don't worry about the crown. As long as it screws in , it's ok. Just consider, if you are ok with that Mickey mouse size..... Good luck. Offer 210 because of a propably needed service and settle for 230.
Thanks for the advice!! And for the crown, isn’t it of the similar size? It looks like just a tad smaller than my A-17A shown above.
These crowns aren’t a screw-down crowns, they are just really fat, which makes for a nice smooth wind.
