Bulova 1942 Carrel

Submitted by Bombaciquena on March 20, 2012 - 3:14pm
Manufacture Year
1942
Movement Model
10AX
Movement Date Code
T
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
2034490
Case shape
Square
Case color
Yellow
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Dear friends, this is the first time I write to this forum. Some weeks ago I bought this watch and I wonder what model it is. From the pictures in the pages of the catalogues shown in this site I would dare to say that it seems to be a Carrel but being green about watches I kindly ask all you experts to give me your idea of it. I like it very much and it runs well. It runs one minute late per day... Is it acceptable?

Actually I was looking for a Bulova watch I have been in love with for years but it seems to be hard to find: the Black hawk. The black one with all the twelve numerals and with the center of clear colour.

But, actually, in the internet  I have never seen a watch similar to the one I am posting.

Would somebody help me? Thank you from Italia

Bulova watch
1942 Bulova watch
1942 Bulova watch
1942 Bulova watch
Bombaciquena
Posted March 20, 2012 - 4:48pm

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

Thank you, sir. I was not sure it was a Carrel. Is it possible to find that beautiful bracelet watchband displayed in the ad you attached? The picture shows the Carrel provided with a peculiar band. Has anybody got one of those?

About the fact it loses one minute per day, I reckon that it is not difficult to open the watch. I already did it. I have seen it is easy to reach that Slow/Fast lever. Could I myself try to operate on it? Can I gently move it? Which side should I push the lever towards? It goes slightly slow. Must I push it towards the S or else the F? Sorry for these silly questions but I have never operated on watches and I am scared to do a mess...

Thank you all.

mybulova_admin
Posted March 22, 2012 - 3:58am

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

Nice ID and a first for the site. I have now added the model to the model list and updated your watch accordingly.

William Smith
Posted March 22, 2012 - 4:07pm

In reply to by FifthAvenueRes…

1942 ad Carrel

stoddrob
Posted March 20, 2012 - 4:53pm

One minute a day? Seems like pretty good performance for a 70 year old watch! That movement looks pristine too! I would mess with it too much....but you could move the regulator towards "F" a little and see if that corrects it.

plainsmen
Posted March 20, 2012 - 6:49pm

As for your question about the bracelet.  Those are somewhat harder to find but if you watch ebay you'll see a watch with them now and again.  At times they match the watch... other times maybe not.  Your best bet would be to look there.  It will be very very hard to find one on it's own.... and you will PAY out the nose.

It may take awhile but it can be done.  Look at elgin and gruen as well as other vintage watches as well... they also used these types of bands.

Bombaciquena
Posted March 21, 2012 - 4:47am

In reply to by plainsmen

Hmm... I must confess that I sometimes have a look on those vintage watches on ebay. Actually I bought all my twenty vintage watches (nothing too rare or expensive) through that site. I think I have never seen those bracelets but in these ads and catalogues you have among the pictures in this amazing site of yours but never on ebay. I will try to be more attentive. Thank you.

By the way, sir, what about the black hawk with all the twelve arabic numerals and the two tones dial? Will I ever find it?

Reverend Rob
Posted March 21, 2012 - 12:03am

The best thing to do would be get it serviced properly. You can try and change the rate, but without a timing machine, it would be hit and miss, and wouldn't take into consideration any positional variations. In order to adjust the rate and beat error, the watch must be freshly serviced, that is, properly disassembled, cleaned, and properly lubricated. Then adjustments can be made to bring the watch into an acceptable rate, as long as it hasn't been run too long without a service. Many vintage watches have spotty service records, and I still have people who proudly tell me as I take their watch in for overhaul, that: "My grandfather's watch! It still runs, and has never needed a service!"

All mechanical watches need to be regularly serviced, depending on use, every 5-8 years. If they dry out or get dirty, they can and will damage themselves as they run. What you want to find is a reputable watchmaker, as this watch looks to be in very nice condition, and should be cared for. 

Bombaciquena
Posted March 21, 2012 - 2:08pm

In reply to by Reverend Rob

Thank you for your suggestion. I will wait for some days and see what happens with that little correction I made. Even if it works I will get my watch serviced but, you know, it will be a high cost even if I know that this watch deserves some attention. Picture to yourself that I bought it (like every vintage watch I bought) for an everyday use...

By the way, thank you for your use of the "hit-and-miss" adjectival form. I hope I can use it as soon as possible in english. I am Italian and I am trying to take advantage to improve my english through every chance I got and this is a new entry in my poor dictionary.