Bulova 1949 Barbara

Submitted by Patty Standridge on November 10, 2021 - 2:43am
Manufacture Year
1949
Movement Jewels
Unknown
Case Serial No.
2678162
Case shape
Cushion
Case color
Two-tone
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

I am not sure about the first number listed for the case number or shape or how many rubies are in the movement. It appears to have accent diamonds around the watch face but I’m not sure. 
It does say 10k gold filled Bulova A9. 
I hope the photos will give you more information to share with me.

1940’s Bulova gold tone flex band brilliant accent white diamonds surrounding gold tone  dial mechanical wind watch with ruby movements. 

FOR SALE
Ladies A9 1949 flex band gold tone
Back of case first number not sure about
A9 = 1949
Full view
neetstuf-4-u
Posted November 10, 2021 - 1:30pm

Hi Patty, welcome to mybulova. Nice watch, thanks for sharing it with us. I believe your watch is a

1949 Barbara

Like this one. Period ads call out "diamond effect" top, as opposed to actual stones set in the bezel.

Patty Standridge
Posted November 10, 2021 - 6:14pm

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

Thank you for all the wonderful information about my watch!!! 

Kathy L.
Posted November 10, 2021 - 6:59pm

A lovely Barbara model.  This model also came in a two tone version.  I think your watch has a different movement/dial from another decade.  If it is possible to take a photo of the movement that would help us know if it is just the dial or the dial/movement that was replaced.  Lovely just the same and I hope you enjoy wearing it.

1949 Bulova Barbara (per unique case)

Patty Standridge
Posted November 11, 2021 - 9:38pm

In reply to by Kathy L.

Thank you Kathy. My husband’s friend he’s known since high school. We are 47, moved out west and then the fla panhandle and did a master certification diploma program or something in watch/clock work. For my 42 birthday he gave it to me. I never imagined it would be a Bulova but I do remember he explained the ruby measurements (the number I don’t recall). I wore it for several years until winding it didn’t make it keep time. He’s moved to North Carolina now. I checked Columbus Ga, Auburn and Opelika AL and there are not any master certified watch makers. I went to one in downtown opelika he has a clock museum but he said his hands were not steady enough to take the back case off and see about fixing it. He said more damage than good can come from that or an untrained person taking a look at it. He gave me the organizations website said I would have to mail it for that repair but it could be $200-$300 watch running bc it’s in great condition but that repair could cost more. Do you have any advice. Thank you so much ! Patty 

Kathy L.
Posted November 12, 2021 - 10:42am

In reply to by Patty Standridge

You are welcome Patty.  I would suggest looking on ebay for a replacement movement/dial that says it works.  I saw a Barbara on ebay yesterday.  At least you would have the correct movement and dial then.  You can also pick up a black cord band on ebay that will be like the original.  I am sure you can find much more reasonable servicing than that.  You can email me for a couple of ideas for you [email protected].

JimDon5822
Posted November 11, 2021 - 7:55pm

1949 Bulova Barbara case is a good match but it does look to be a dial swap at some point.  

Patty Standridge
Posted November 11, 2021 - 9:48pm

In reply to by JimDon5822

Thank you Jim, I’ve yet to find one doing 1949 Bulova Barbara ladies watch. They all have different bands. This one is a two tone gold flex band (I think). Any info on it I can get about it, I really appreciate. I would like to get it back to keeping the time with the winding. I wore it for several years after it was given to me for my 42 birthday from a friend who studied watch/clock repair, master certification program for vintage watches. There isn’t any one in Columbus Ga or Opelika/Auburn AL, any suggestions. I have the organizations website but then I’d have to dig through and mail it off. Thanks Patty

mybulova_admin
Posted November 11, 2021 - 11:02pm

It would appear that the dial is from a tear drop style case, with the '6' being lower down on the dial than normal. The dial indicies are also aplied for a roundish bazel rsther than a cushion.

Patty, does the watch wind and run at all? If so, it probably just needs a good clean and service. Finding someone these days has become hard, they either are few in numbers or extremely busy with a backlog of work.

You could do a few things:

  1. Find a cirrect dial and have the watch serviced
  2. Leave the dial as is and have it serviced

Either way a service is certainly recommended. 

Hopefully someone here can point you in the right direct to a competent person who can help with a service. I'd love to offer, but I'm in Australia :-)

ID wise it would be safe to ID as a 1949 Bulova Barbara, noting the dial replacement. The status of the movement is unknown obviously for now.

Patty Standridge
Posted November 12, 2021 - 5:04am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Thank you so much. Yes,  can set the time and turn the mechanical wind. It just doesn’t keep the time. My friend gave it to me 5 years ago, when I turned 42. Because 42 is The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. 
“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams. My friend went through a master watch maker repair program and sold vintage watches for a few years. He told me some information about the watch that day, like how many rubies etc,.  I can’t remember anything though that he said. I was surprised to see it is a Bulova. I wore it for several years, until I noticed it wasn’t keeping time and I put it in my jewelry box. Patty