Bulova 1960 Sea King

Submitted by Bart on August 17, 2014 - 8:27am
CW
Manufacture Year
1960
Movement Model
?
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
E813067
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

I purchased this watch together with the original shop display. It was offered on a Dutch auction website (like Craigslist) as a package deal. In fact the display was advertised and the watch came with it.....The watch has never been worn and was always part of the display. The previous owner used to import jukeboxes back in the eighties and while searching for jukeboxes in the US he found this  display and though it was nice. The original box and case are present as well as the guarantee card and tag. There is also a small piece of paper which shows a date (manufacture date?). On the back there is an engraving: Century Milles 10 year club 1960. The display is made of metal frame with 2 wooden panels. Behind the left panel (frame) there is a box with inside a light bulb and cylinder which turns around and together with the light it sort of projects text above and under the Sea King watch silhouette. 

Bart 1960 Sea King 08 18 2014.jpg
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Andersok
Posted August 17, 2014 - 9:35am

Very cool watch and display! Can you tell us if there are any numbers or prices or other information on the blue outer box or any of the paperwork?

Bart
Posted August 17, 2014 - 9:42am

In reply to by Andersok

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately there is nothing on the blue box itself. Inside there is the Sea King case, tag, guarantee paper and 2 pieces of paper with hand written, the date 22-12-1960 and the case serial number and watch model.

jabs
Posted August 17, 2014 - 10:27am

1960 Sea King (item 4 in advert)

Andersok
Posted August 17, 2014 - 10:56am

I'd say you have a 1960 Sea King; hard to confirm the variant for this. I found one 1960 ad that appears to match this watch, at a cost of $49.50, but with no variant mentioned:

Using the possible price of $49.50 and referencing the pricelist from 1961; there were five Sea Kings at this price (two of which were black dials); possible matches could then be either the 'D' 'E' or 'GW':

Link to 1961 'D' ad

Link to 1961 'E' ad

Your watch does not match the D or E, so it may be the 'GW'; but without a positive ID to an ad or a tag on your watch showing the 13260 or 'GW' or other, we can't match it to any of the possible variants. We'll see if any other members find something more concrete...

It's also very cool to see what would have been displayed in the store back in 1960; certainly gets your attention.

JP
Posted August 17, 2014 - 11:03am

Very nice Sea King Bart.

bourg01
Posted August 17, 2014 - 11:41am

Very sweet addition to anyones collection. Doesn't get any better than that.  Sea King, variant Unknown.

William Smith
Posted August 17, 2014 - 1:06pm

Great Watch and Display. Good use of the pricelists and cross reference to existing ads for some variants-process of elimination using existing ads.  By Spring 1964 we see several other variants, however it seems that the variant letters don't necessarily correspond alphabetically to date of first release.  Below is snippet of Spring '64 price list for Sea King.

I'm not even sure if the introduction of the single letter variants proceeds the double-letter variants in some instances.  I've been assuming that in the "cumulative price list" section, the date of introduction can be derived from the pricelist dates we see the various variants appear in the lists we do have.

1960 Sea King variant unknown.  Great display!!!

bobbee
Posted August 17, 2014 - 2:48pm

Very sweet combo.

SK.

Geoff Baker
Posted August 18, 2014 - 5:32am

Hi Bart - welcome to myBulova. What a wonderful package you have here, the display puts it over the top, I like it a lot.

I also agree with my colleagues, It's a 1960 Bulova Sea King

Bart
Posted August 18, 2014 - 1:51pm

Thanks everubody for the useful input. Its a nice find  and I didnt hesitate too long when I found it for sale.