Bulova 1930 Arline

Submitted by Rosieartist1 on December 19, 2012 - 1:23pm
Manufacture Year
1930
Movement Model
6P
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
111607
Case Serial No.
0084010
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
1 in. long x 1/2 wide oval
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

Unknown Date (1930?)  Arline?  Bulova Ladies Watch 14K white gold  inside back case = 0084010 - Bulova Quality Filled - Fifteen Jewels Swiss - Bulova Watch Co - 111607 - TWO 2  ADJ - Hinged Case - no movement symbol visible

Bulova 1930 Arline watch
1930 Bulova watch
1930 Bulova watch
1930 Bulova watch
Rosieartist1
Posted May 17, 2013 - 12:44pm

In reply to by William Smith

I would like to send it to a professional for evaluation and or repair.  Where do you recommend?

Alex
Posted June 21, 2015 - 10:29am

Hi Rosie, I hope you are still following the comments on your lovely watch. Your watch is the Priscilla and it is from 1925. By the pictures you posted, I derive following: the movement is a 6P. Serial number of 111607 corresponds with 1925. The date code of these 6P's was stamped next to the two screws as per your last picture. You will find a circle there in the corner. That means it is from 1925. Your dial is a special dial. It has the golden numbers that Bulova had only in 1925 and only occasionally, meaning it was probably an extra you had to pay for. Gruen watches for example indicated that for this feature you needed to pay US$ 2.50 extra. But Bulova never made any mention of it. The side engraving is also an indication for the year 1925. This triangular flower pattern was the standard engraving until 1925. in 1926 they changed it to a laurel leave pattern. The engraving of the bezel is slightly different from the advert because that was the engraving for the solid 14kt watch, while the gold filled watch had the engraving as per your watch. In this thread, I never saw the confirmation of what is written inside the case, but it must be the gold filled version and have a serial number starting with 5. Don't throw the watch away! It is very nice. And if you want, you can always sell it to me, haha! I live in Hong Kong, so can't advice you on any repair service, assuming you are in the USA.

William Smith
Posted June 21, 2015 - 1:27pm

Reusing DarHin's photo below, I think I see a circle, but also see a triangle  at top of movement.  

The Bulova Quality stamp on inside case back, as reported by owner, confirms fill, and I think this was wording used until sometime in mid/late 1920's to hallmark gold content before some law was passed on other nomenclature to describe gold content.  Anyone remember the year of the "law" I'm talking about- where they changed hallmarking for gold content?

Watch has a seven digit case serial number which may corresponds to year if its latter than 1924, with exceptions being contract solid gold cases.  

Alex- good point that the solid gold engraving pictured in some of the ads may be different then the fill engraving, usually not pictured.

Now I gotta look at the ads again...and see if I like Persilla or Arlene....LOL

Alex
Posted June 21, 2015 - 7:51pm

The case signature of 1925 was "Bulova Quality, filled". After that (1926). It changed to "Bulova, 14K, gold filled, American Standard". So if the first, another evidence the case is from 1925. 

William Smith
Posted June 22, 2015 - 11:30pm

In reply to by Alex

I'm seeing "Bulova Quality" case signatures in models from 1929.  For these , case SN's start with 9, movements in watches look original or as original, with shield date code stamps (1929), in models which are ID'ed as 1929 Point Of Sale model names.  I'm not sure above statement is true.
I will say the three that I've just checked say only "Bulova Quality" without the "filled" verbiage, but I'm checking out more examples.  We have several.  

This is another reason good pictures of all the complete watch are important in ID'ing process.  Subtle differences in wording, or even layout of same wording may make a difference.  

I'm pretty sure we have examples of "Bulova Quality, Filled" signatures in many post 1925 watches which I believe are complete and ID'ed correctly.

Geoff Baker
Posted June 22, 2015 - 9:10pm

Record reopened for further discussion at request of Panel. Previously published as "Arlene"

William Smith
Posted June 22, 2015 - 11:15pm

I see the owner has seven digit case serial number 0084010 in root record, but reports in another later comment box a six digit serial number 084010.  No pic of case markings/SN.  Wondering if it could be a mis-struck 6 for the leading case SN digit?

jabs
Posted June 23, 2015 - 5:28am

for me still Arline

Alex
Posted June 23, 2015 - 5:53am

And why is it still Arline for you Jabs?

jabs
Posted June 23, 2015 - 8:08am

In reply to by Alex

for substantial conformity case style and Arline advert from this period, movement may be swaped or not