Bulova 1921 -Non-Conforming

Submitted by Tessa on December 4, 2018 - 7:13pm
Manufacture Year
1921
Movement Model
10AI
Movement Date Code
Arrow
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
75659
Case Serial No.
-
Case shape
Octagonal
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Other
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

OK, so I might have a problem lol. To justify my addiction, this one is my favorite so far! I'm guessing early 20s. Band may be original. Very dainty leather. Blue hands with a jewel on the crown. The crystal is cracked. I have a feeling it's been replaced before, as it barely has a scratch on it (other than that crack). The case isn't Bulova. S&S is printed on inside of back cover. Movement says Bulova W Co. Works but has stopped on me once. So much personality is this little watch! I'm amazed the band is still functional!

1921 Bulova watch
1921 Bulova watch
1921 Bulova watch
1921 Bulova watch
1921 Bulova watch
Kathy L.
Posted December 5, 2018 - 6:21pm

That is the only reference to the case company I could find as well.  I think your watch will end up being a Non-Conforming or Unknown.  A Non-Conforming is when part of the watch is not Bulova and an Unknown is all Bulova (or case Bulova used) but an ID is not possible because an ad is not yet available.  With the age of this watch I could go either way but I am leaning toward Non-Conforming.

Tessa
Posted December 5, 2018 - 6:31pm

In reply to by Kathy L.

Oh wow. Thank you for trying to find it too! I'm so frustrated, that I can't find any info on the case company. So this could be a Bulova movement, with an S&S case, and a home made band. Who knows! If I ever do find info on the case, I'll immediately post it here =)

mybulova_admin
Posted December 7, 2018 - 9:49pm

Hmm, what an interesting piece. Certainly early 1920s based on the 10AI movement, but also suspect the case may not be original.

During this period (1913-1923) ladies watches, or wristlets as they were known, usually came in one of three shapes, round, octaginal or cushioned. They had others but these three were by far the most popular in shape, both plain and engraved case versions, as well as different gold quality levels.

It would be a fairly easy to transfer the movement into a case like this as they were all pretty much standard in size.

This is not to say it's not origional, as anything is possible with Bulova, but my gut tells me it's a marry of case and moevement at somepoint in the last 90 years.

My advise, wear it and enjoy the feeling of something nearly 100 years old ticking on your wrist.

This era is by far my favourate in ladies watches.

1922 Bulova Non-conforming (for now).

Tessa
Posted December 10, 2018 - 10:46am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Thank you for all the info! Definitely wearing it and love hearing it tick. I'm amazed at how well it's running, given its age! I wonder how it ended up in a different case. Maybe the original was smashed but the movement survived.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted December 7, 2018 - 11:45pm

I'll agree to non-conforming. The case is close to Bulova engraving but not identical.

Geoff Baker
Posted December 8, 2018 - 9:13am

It difficult not to be excited by a watch of this age - it's amazing regardless of how we tag it. I'm slightly opposed to giving it a Non-Con ID because it kind of buries it into some obscurity. Based on what appears to be a non Bulova case it seems we don't really have another option.

Non-Conforming

Tessa
Posted December 9, 2018 - 9:56pm

In reply to by Geoff Baker

I agree! I'm still amazed it is running, even well after its maker has passed. Sorry if that sounded grim. I wish I knew its story and how it possibly ended up in a different case. All I know is it was from an estate sale. Thank you all for helping me. I'll continue to hunt for info on this case. Who knows, I might come across something one day!