Bulova 1957 -Unknown

Submitted by JimDon5822 on February 16, 2021 - 12:08am
Manufacture Year
1957
Movement Model
11AC
Movement Jewels
17
Case Serial No.
B979498
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
Domed Plastic
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Here is an attractive one.   The yellow gold plate case is a smaller 30MM size. It has a black dial with yellow gold applied hour markers and yellow gold hands.    The back is Stainless steel with an L7 date code.   The movement is a 17J 11AC with a L7 date code.  I found a match to the case with a sub second called a Senator K with a white dial but no listing for a black dial.   My guess it is a 1957 Bulova Senator variant unknown.

57 Senator
57 Senator 2
57 Senator 3
57 Senator 4
1957 Line Book Senator
mybulova_admin
Posted February 16, 2021 - 2:57am

I tend to agree with the Senator ID, whilst I cannot yet find a match for the dial combination, everything else points to it being part of the Bulova Senator model group as as we can see from above, there were a few variations.

Interesting case back. Is it pop or screw?

JimDon5822
Posted February 16, 2021 - 9:35am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

It is a snap back and this is a thin one at 5MM not including the crystal.  It has a B crown but I don't think that is an original.  

mybulova_admin
Posted February 16, 2021 - 3:24am

Also a close match for this SVP (bottom row, white dial version)

Note the font of the '2'

1960 Bulova watch advert

neetstuf-4-u
Posted February 16, 2021 - 7:19am

This is a tough one. The back being a snap is probably a contributing factor in name. Watch looks a lot like it could be a yellow gold version of the SVP "II" that turned into a Surf King. Face appears identical. However, both the round bezel SVP and Surf King were waterproof case design which leads back to the Senator line (with snap back).

Question; it possible this is a Senator casing with an SVP movement and face? It has matching dates, but the combination of a black face with a yellow gold case seems a little out of character for this time period, but not impossible. Not that it  necessarily means anything, but do I see a possible date stamp on the movement spacer ring of "A8"?

I'm currently at unknown and still looking.

JimDon5822
Posted February 16, 2021 - 9:54am

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

Interesting observation and you do have an eagle eye.  There is an A8 on the spacer ring.   Not sure what that means but not likely a date.  The dial is a dead on match to the black dial SVP II according to the ones in the DB.   I originally thought the hour markers were yellow gold but they look silver at times too.     I think we have two options.   Unknown Senator variant. or Senator case with a SVP II black dial.   I am leaning towards a 1957 Senator with a replaced SVPII dial until at least a Senator ad shows up showing this configuration.  

Andersok
Posted February 16, 2021 - 2:14pm

I believe the SVP models that used a similar dial were press-fit cases (top-loading, split-stem) in stainless steel.

Case does look like a good match to that Senator model (yellow case with SS back), but the dial looks to be non-matching. If the numerals are luminous, the the hands should be also; plus the hands look a bit too long, focusing on the minute hand extending past the outer track.

I'm at unknown for this one.

Geoff Baker
Posted February 17, 2021 - 9:53pm

I agree with Ken and am on the edge of Unknown as well. I have to take the third option Jim and that is Unknown. I just don't see enough to classify as Senator and if I accept the premise of a combiniation of SVP and Senator I'd have to classify as Non-Conforming.

1957 Bulova Unknown

mybulova_admin
Posted February 19, 2021 - 3:32am

Yeah I'm also tossing up between unknown and non-conforming.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted February 19, 2021 - 6:52am

Matching case and movement dates say it could be an unknown variant or possibly a face swap.

I'll go with unknown because I can't verify either choice with certainty

 

Kathy L.
Posted February 19, 2021 - 11:58am

I will go with unknown as well.