Welcome to myBulova and thank you for sharing your F-I-L's watch. I think it looks like a Navigator with you confirming it has the engraving on the sides. Does it look like the engraving on this one? https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1944-navigator-9768
Yes, that's what it looks like...but that one is much cleaner than the one we have.
1944 Bulova Navigator
I know you can't tell me how much it's worth, but can you tell me if it would be more valuable if cleaned or left as it is? Also, I don't think it originally came with the existing leather band...or is it possible it did come with that originally?
Neal
In reply to Yes, that's what it looks by Ozarkneal2003
It is a bit of personal preference. Personally I like to clean all the watches I get. Some collectors like the patina left alone. I don't touch the dials. I would suggest looking on ebay and such and look at price points and the conditions. If your intention is to sell the watch, see what seems to be selling best. Some models did come on both a leather strap and a band. Like the Senator model from the same period. You can still find NOS bands like the one that came on this model.
With you confirming that it looks like the other Navigator in the DB I will agree on that for the ID.
1944 Bulova Navigator
Found three ads from 1946 with three different names for this model. Not sure if the sizes are identical, but they look the same. Navigator | Allen | Allan
Navigator ads appear in different years, but I could only find these Allen/Allan ads in 1946 New York.
I'm still fine with Navigator for this watch; just thought I would present the other models that look to be similar.