Bulova 1929 -Unknown

Submitted by inked59 on January 26, 2011 - 3:41pm
Manufacture Year
1929
Movement Model
5AP
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
4691
Case Serial No.
9606278
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova & American Standard
Crystal details
Beveled Rectangle 1/2" x 5/8"
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

Belonged to my grandmother. Outside case on face of watch has 4 triangular emeralds. Watch is in working condition. No idea what model or if the Movement # is correct.

Bulova watch
1929 Bulova watch
1929 Bulova watch
Wayne Hanley
Posted January 26, 2011 - 6:08pm

The case has a Patent Date of Jun.10.1924. How did you determine the 1922 date?

Beautiful watch! Case indicates 14K solid gold. A picture of the movement with the dust cover off may reveal some important information. Bulova initiated date code symbols on the movements beginning in 1924. With the dust cover off check for a symbol. At the top of this page click on the Information tab & select Bulova Date Codes on the drop down menu. The first symbol is an asterisk=1924 etc. 

This ought to get you started! Let us know what you find.

Wayne

mybulova_admin
Posted January 26, 2011 - 6:19pm

Nice early serial number.

William Smith
Posted October 23, 2012 - 5:03am

Case serial number suggest 1929. No date symbol on movement?

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted October 23, 2012 - 6:10am

Something by the stem and then again near seriel number, nothing legible.

1929.

William Smith
Posted July 14, 2015 - 5:42am

Still thinking 1929 date for this one.

Reverend Rob
Posted July 14, 2015 - 11:14am

 

I think this may well be 14K. I've never seen a GF without some marked indication of fill, plaque, or plate. I'd also agree with 1929, but as to model, still unknown for me.

William Smith
Posted July 14, 2015 - 3:00pm

In reply to by Reverend Rob

I thought "Bulova Quality" was wording for fill before the legal change to some other method of hallmarking gold vs fill.  I seem to remember several period-close watch cases w/ Bulova Quality, and then some K for purity of fill or plate.  Seems some of these have noticable brassing, to confirm the fill idea.
I'll double check, but for now defer to Rev Rob as he does this for a living.
I know there are those with "guaranteed 25 years" etc, but also thought there were some with only Bulova Quality.

jabs
Posted July 15, 2015 - 5:41am

Agree with 1929, all the matches

Reverend Rob
Posted July 16, 2015 - 12:21am

Will, I think 'Monogram Quality' is the reference for Gold Fill, it means that you can engrave the case properly without cutting into the base metal, and appeared on Bulova cases very early on, possibly 1917.