Bulova 1970 Candlelight

Submitted by hollycgate on October 13, 2016 - 11:37am
C
Manufacture Year
1970
Movement Model
5AT
Movement Jewels
23
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
117427
Case shape
Other
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Other
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

I'm not familiar with watches so please forgive my lack of details if they are incorrect. I've had this watch for 25 years. It was my Step-Great, Great-Grandfather's. He had given it to his first wife for their 25th anniversary. I have kept it put up and safe and just now thought to get it out and find out about it.  It says 14k Gold on the inside of the case. It also has the letters L&W under the words 14K Gold. I opened it up and saw that it is the 5AT movement. It says Bulova and 23 jewel on it. On the back of it says 14K Bulova with the serial number. He had it engraved and it reads her initials and 1947-1972. The band is gold on the outside and silver on the inside. Its almost like double links. One on top of the other. Not sure if it's real gold or plated. I do know there are no color fades on the band. They are still the same color as the case that says 14K. But I dont know how to tell if the band is actual gold. Each link on the inside of the band has Speidel with a number.  The watch keeps perfect time and has no flaws. The glass looks to me to be flawless but then again, I'm no expert. 

 

1968 Bulova Candlelight C watch
1970 Bulova watch
1970 Bulova watch
1970 Bulova watch
hollycgate
Posted October 13, 2016 - 11:40am

I would be willing to sale it

Andersok
Posted October 13, 2016 - 8:02pm

It appears that there are two possible model names for this watch. It is either from the La Petite line or from the Candlelight line. There are adverts showing both:

My search for Candlelight ads only has them from 1965 thru 1967. This doesn't mean that they were not available after 1967, but that is a small possibility to consider. The one matching La Petite ad states White gold, and does not list a Yellow gold option (like your's), like it does for the other model M in this advert.

I am leaning towards the Candlelight model name; the variant 'C' in the 1965 ad does not state gold color, so tentative with that variant.

There also appears to be a datestamp of N0 on the backside, making this a 1970 model. Do you see an M# or N# on the movement?

One other note: the Candlelight ads do not appear to show the '23' on the dial, perhaps due to poor image quality. Other Candlelight ads do show the '23' on the dial.

hollycgate
Posted October 13, 2016 - 8:54pm

Yes, I see an "M". Thanks so much for the info! 

Geoff Baker
Posted October 16, 2016 - 7:08am

In view of the two adverts, I would ID either way depending on verification of the year.

Holly - On the back of the case is the lowest marking "N0" or "M0"? Is there a code on the movement that starts with M? If so what is the number following it?

hollycgate
Posted October 17, 2016 - 9:05am

Inside the case it has 14 K gold then L&W under that. Then under the L&W it has M2 then what looks to be a "G".

On the back of the case, it has 14K Bulova and then 117427 NO

There are no marking on the movement itself other than Bulova 23 jewels and 5AT

 

 

William Smith
Posted October 18, 2016 - 8:59pm

Based on "NO" being on back of case, that's 1970.  

Andersok's ads and logic lead me to a tentative Candlelight variant "C" ID.  While the add is from 1965, they could have continued production through 1970.

I think I see facetted crystal on the watch?  

hollycgate
Posted October 19, 2016 - 8:30am

In reply to by William Smith

Yes, it has facetted crystal. It has six small diamonds in the little leaves also. 

 

Thanks for the info!!!!

Geoff Baker
Posted October 19, 2016 - 5:20am

I think I leaning toward Candlelight for the same reason.

mybulova_admin
Posted October 22, 2016 - 12:28am

Holly, could you please check the movement again and see if there is a "M9" or "N0" stamp. The "N0' stamp on the back case indicates that the watch is from 1970, but we just need to check the movement to see if it dates to the same period.

I'm leaning the other way to it being a La Petite, based on the 1970 case and Ken's observation on little or no adverts post 1967 for the Candlelight and the '1968' date stamp on the advert.

Looking for additional adverts.

Geoff Baker
Posted October 28, 2016 - 5:25am

Panel, any more thoughts?