Bulova 1936 -Unknown

Submitted by just_joe on December 7, 2012 - 11:54am
Manufacture Year
1936
Movement Model
5AB
Movement Date Code
Square
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
5436548
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

Hello, I am unsure of the date as the "square" is used for 3 different dates. There is also a "MXE" marked on the movement itself. X22887M is hand written inside the back case. 14K gold filled is also stamped inside and out. Any information on this piece would be appreciated. Thank You for your help in advance.

Joseph Lalk

1936 Bulova watch
1936 Bulova watch
1936 Bulova watch
OldTicker
Posted December 7, 2012 - 12:06pm

Its not 1927 Joe, the case style would be more like 1940's, the square on the movement 1946, and the case serial would be 1945. We should have a ad for this one.

William Smith
Posted December 7, 2012 - 1:16pm

The "MXE" is actually the Bulova Swiss to USA inport code BXW. This too could be used for an "earliest date", but style of watch and the "square" datecode work better for that- and case serial number first digit beginning w/ "5" suggests the case was made in 1935 or 1945.

When we check the Search Bulova Movements database on MyBulova, we see the first year of production for a 5AB is 1936, but that doesn't mean there wasn't one produced before this date.  Ranfft's movement database also indicates a start year of 1936 for the 5AB.

Here's a snippet from the 1937 newspaper ad Fifth links above.

I think we have other Medallion ads somewhere on site.

JP
Posted December 7, 2012 - 1:36pm

Looks like the Medallion. I will go for tentative Medallion

OldTicker
Posted December 7, 2012 - 9:41pm

The above ad shows what appears to be a minutes track inside the numbers, the lugs appear to be the same...I would call tenative Medallion.

Geoff Baker
Posted December 8, 2012 - 6:09am

This watch is not the Medallion. Minute track on subjet is outboard to the numerals, in the ad it's inboard. To my eye the lug is completely different.

William Smith
Posted December 9, 2012 - 1:18am

Unknown  
How about the year?  1936 works for me.  1935 case w/ square 1936 5AB movement.
 

bobbee
Posted December 9, 2012 - 4:33am

Unk.

Geoff Baker
Posted December 9, 2012 - 5:38am

Yes..... sorry, Unknown