Bulova 1950 Academy Award

Submitted by redbarn1850 on September 18, 2010 - 11:08pm
S
Manufacture Year
1950
Movement Model
Unknown
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
4029616
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Bulova Academy Award
Bulova watch
redbarn1850
Posted September 18, 2010 - 11:16pm

I don't think the band is original ( Kriesler Qulity ), but looks natural and matches the watch perfectly.It is 21 Jewel movement and works perfectly.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted January 18, 2011 - 5:35pm

In reply to by redbarn1850

Band is original, made by Kriesler for Bulova for the Acadamy Award Watch.

I've seen an identical configuration.

GVP
Posted September 19, 2010 - 4:47pm

This is NOT an Academy Watch. The box and Watch case are but the DIAL is cerrtainly not. The band is too i believe. Basically some bright spark has stuck a movement and dial in the case.

redbarn1850
Posted September 20, 2010 - 5:00pm

In reply to by GVP

when I have  a chance I will take this to a jeweler and have them open the case to get the movement number,the dial itself, as best I can describe it is an X with the center lower than the edges.I wasn't trying to mislead anybody, I just like the watch.

mybulova_admin
Posted September 20, 2010 - 7:18am

Gary, upon further investigation I found a low-res ad showing what looks to be the watch above and as such am happy for it to be marked as an Academy Award 'N'. Only difference I can see is the vertical case lines instead of horizontal. Does anyone read the watch label as different?

Bulova ad showing Academy Award 'N'

GVP
Posted September 20, 2010 - 9:30am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

I think this has to be open to debate as I have never seen this model named as an Academy. I have seen the case in the advert with a ribbed dial as an Academy but not a two tone dial.  The original watch, shown above, is not an original watch. This dial was never put in the case. It can not be labelled as an academy N because, even if the advert shown is an Academy 'N' the watch case is clearly not the same.

bourg01
Posted November 14, 2010 - 9:34am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Hi All,

Can anyone tell me who is the source of this ad. I'd love to get my hands on a copy that I could actually read for myself and perhaps see if it's dated between 1948-1950. I happen to own two of the  AA models with the curtain dials and also the same 2 cases with the 2 tone dial. The issue I have is that the 2 tones are both dated 1951 on  the case and movement so how can it be an AA model?

As we all know, Academy Award Models have only been identified with the "Curtain" Dials and "Tuxedo Cases".we alsoknow that  Academy Award Watch as manufactured by Bulova and endorsed by A.M.P.A.S. as contracted in 1948. After losing the lawsuit in 1950, Bulova was ordered to discontinue the Academy Models but did not discard the cases and movements and were sold . They were allowed to do this as to recover the costs of all the Academy Award Models in distribution post the negative outcome of the lawsuit.
 
The watch in question has long been known as a Excellency Series Model without the word Excellency on the 2-tone dial though the case and movement were also used for late Academy Models.
 
So the debate continues, is this ad legit? And is it dated within the timeframe Bulova was allowed to manufacture the AA models?
 
Regards Shawn
Stephen Ollman
Posted September 20, 2010 - 6:51pm

Gary it may be helpful if you were able to post any relevant information you have in the form of ads or sales books that describe the exact details of the Academy Award series. From my experience Bulova often mixed and matched dials and cases to release new versions of particular models. This practice has made it difficult to keep track of what is what.

I think for now the jury is out on this particular watch, but it's good to see that is has sparked further interest in this watch series. I like you Gary want to make sure that this series is correctly documented, similar to the work I've done on the Lone Eagle series.

Bob Bruno
Posted September 21, 2010 - 3:59pm

Just my opnion, but the case on the watch in question looks more like my 49 Director than the case in the ad marked as Academy Award 'N' . Although the lugs on the Director do look a little different.  I'm no expert but I thought I'd mention it.

Bob

Stephen Ollman
Posted September 27, 2010 - 12:29am

Here is an interesting spin on this topic. See ebay listing for a watch that has the typical ribbed dial and also the vertical ribbed case as show above in the low-res advert.

The movement is 1949 and certainly could be another type of 'Academy Award'......thoughts.

1949-1950 Bulova watch, maybe an Academy Award model