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.
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?
In reply to I tend to agree with the… by mybulova_admin
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.
In reply to This is a tough one. The… 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.
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.
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