Question About Case Markings

How to add images to myBulova.com forums & comments

Submitted by DarHin on February 24, 2012 - 10:20pm

I just received a rose gold version of the "Patriot" that is identical to my yellow gold version except that the inside of the case back has no engravings whatsoever. It is an earlier version though with an 8AE double stamped with a delta over a circle. The outside has "14K GOLD BULOVA" and # 4535936 which is consistent with the yellow one. Also, the rose case back is a perfect fit on the yellow bezel with a good positive snap.

Is it normal for the mid 40's to have no markings inside the case?

 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted February 24, 2012 - 11:22pm

Darren,

This is one of the Bulova phenoms commonly referred to in these parts as a humdinger.

I'd prefer mine to be stamped inside the Caseback, but in 14K who minds.

: )

OldTicker
Posted February 24, 2012 - 11:36pm

It seems that some cases were not stamped inside on some models, but what is more interesting is that your tentative "Patriot" is 17J and this one is 21J...If you can, set them side by side and post some pictures with the info on each...another mystery to solve...

I don't think we have any models that were made in both 17J & 21J with the same name...so as with case color/composition, this would be another name.

If I remember right Darrin, quite a few of your watches that you have entered were solid 14K, I wonder if that may have something to do with the absence of inside stamping?? Solid Gold = no inside markings...GF/RGP = stamped inside back??

DarHin
Posted February 25, 2012 - 12:29am

I'm going to add the 2 new ones to the db tomorrow. I'll also post some comparison pics of all three in this thread. I'm not 100% sure but I think this one is the only one of the solid gold with no engraving inside the back.

 

OldTicker
Posted February 25, 2012 - 10:02am

It will be interesting to see them all together!

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted February 25, 2012 - 2:49pm

Gave this some thought last night and here is what I came up with.

The majority of inner Casebacks of this era are stamped Bulova 'New York'.

What if the Cases not stamped inside are from out of town, say Canada?  I have 3 so far received from North of the Border, non of which are stamped inside....

William Smith
Posted February 25, 2012 - 3:40pm

So in this senario, did Bulova buy the cases from Canada and stick the movements in them here in US?  I don't know if Bulova had a Canada "factory" so to speak. I didn't think so?  ...and here it comes again..... If Bulova had a place in Canada where they purchased/ had cases made AND also a place where they "assembled" watches (cased and timed), if the movements cased and timed in Canada were of swiss origin.... We may not see the BXW siwss to USA import code on these movements during the time period when this import code was a requirement.

DarHin
Posted February 25, 2012 - 5:19pm

Mark,

I noticed that the subject case has a serial #4535936 which may indicate 1944 as the year of manufacture. What years are your blank inside cases from? If they are from the early forties could it be that case production was move to Canada during the war?

 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted February 25, 2012 - 3:45pm

Sterling Tower Canada. 

...it's just a theory.

William Smith
Posted February 25, 2012 - 3:49pm

Thanks Mark.  I like a new theory.  I'll go off on that tangent for a while now and see what I can find.

William Smith
Posted February 25, 2012 - 4:06pm

for others so motivated....or w/ poor time management skills....here is the link to a discussion on Sterling Tower Canada... http://www.mybulova.com/node/2223?page=1  It appears to be mentioned in another forum found by doing a search of the entire site using key words.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted February 25, 2012 - 4:25pm

William,

There are Bulova display boxes that have been seen using the wording:

'Cased and timed at Sterling Tower, Toronto. Canada'

...and I have yet to see a Caseback stamped 'Bulova Toronto'.

William Smith
Posted February 25, 2012 - 4:26pm

Thanks Fifth.  I saw you mentioned one in the link above.

shooter144
Posted February 25, 2012 - 4:27pm

Canada probably had import restrictions quite like we had in the US, thus the need for Sterling Tower...shouldnt devalue the 'real Bulova' tag any, lest we do the same for swiss mvmnts cased and timed here in the US, and what a mess that would be.

DarHin
Posted February 25, 2012 - 5:25pm

Ok, here are the comparison pics.

Left: 1945 RG, Center: 1949 YG, Right: 1952 YG

Left: 8AE Delta, Center: 8AH 48, Right: 8BA L1

 

DarHin
Posted February 25, 2012 - 5:22pm

I thought the only difference with the rose gold one was the inside of the case back but there are slight diffeences in the contour of the case back that can be seen in the last pic.

*EDIT* The backs will fit any of the other bezels.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted February 25, 2012 - 5:37pm

Darren,

Is it optical confusion or does the Center Case Bezel  have an extra bit around the Crown and sharper Lug tips?

DarHin
Posted February 25, 2012 - 5:49pm

The lugs appear to be the same but the case back following the contour of the crown was one of the differences in the outside case backs I was referring to. Also, notice that the case backs, not including the bezel, are slightly different in height.

shooter144
Posted February 25, 2012 - 5:44pm

Lugs look much smaller at the end plus the crown surround....

yes, I just named the 'extra bit' around the crown lol

OldTicker
Posted February 25, 2012 - 6:15pm

It looks like the crown is much smaller on the center watch exposing the bump on the back, the lugs look the same in the photo of the backside....

DarHin
Posted February 25, 2012 - 7:06pm

Pics showing (hopefully) differences in case backs.

1 - '45 rose with well defined crown contour

2 - '49 yellow with less defined crown contour

3 - '52 yellow with no crown contour but has sharp line running length of case

DarHin
Posted February 25, 2012 - 7:08pm

Mark,

Scroll up to see my reply to your first mention of Canada, eh.

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