18k white gold, no patent date. cartouche of a ladies head in an oval just under the 18k. luminous numbers and hands
In reply to Beautiful as it is, I agree by Geoff Baker
With the case signature "Bulova W Co" I'm wondering if the case is more likely from 1924 (or 1923?) and was fitted with a 1925 movement for sale in 1925. Movement does have the circle date symbol listed in the root record, although I can't really make it out in the picture.
Variations in the solid gold cases have been noted elsewhere, possibly pointing to different suppliers/casemakers. Solid cases go through a different process when being assembled, as each case must be assayed. (This may have been law at one time, and may have changed)
I'm not finding much useful in the way of hard manufacturing data regarding precious metal cases. It would have been incredibly time consuming to have each case assayed, and depending on the case design, they would have been stamped out or possibly cast for the bulkier cases. Perhaps the gold sheet or the gold is assayed before the pour or stamping?
An additional note: White Gold is more trouble to assay than any other colour, and the touchstone method in the early days would not have sufficed.
Anyway, I agree with the 1923 or earlier date. A difference of two years is not unusual as far as the dedication especially is concerned.
This case has a figure stamped inside the case back, and this is probably the "Lady of Bern" Swiss export mark for gold watch cases.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Watch_cases_hallmarks.jpg
In reply to This case has a figure by bobbee
In reply to You have far better eye by mybulova_admin
I didn't change the ID on this one. I seem to remember this one was listed as a 1925 Conqueror for a while, but not sure on that. When I do change a model name, I note what it was changed from, and that change only occurs after panel consensus or after running through the "red zone" again for voting. This way we know the progression of the ID over time.