Bulova 1923 -Unknown

Submitted by plainsmen on August 26, 2021 - 10:12pm
Manufacture Year
1923
Movement Model
5PPI
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
2415
Case Serial No.
-
Case shape
Oval
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Other
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

I'm guessing on the age here.  This movement is early early.  I picked up this watch because of the enamel.  Bad news and good news... The case may not be Bulova as it's stamped 18K APEX.  Good thing... 18K.

1924 Unk Ladies

1925 Unk Ladies 08-26-21 Front
1925 Unk Ladies 08-26-21 R
1925 Unk Ladies 08-26-21 L
1925 Unk Ladies 08-26-21 M
1925 Unk Ladies 08-26-21 IC
1925 Unk Ladies 08-26-21 B
JimDon5822
Posted August 26, 2021 - 11:42pm

Beautiful watch.  Glad you were able to pick this one up.  

Alex
Posted August 27, 2021 - 1:57am

A very interesting watch. Given the signature on the movement, and the serial number, I would place it very early 1923. This was a time that American Standard did not produce enamel cases yet, so Bulova had to go somewhere else. Based on my research, I am almost certain that APEX was the one. It really must have been a try-out by Bulova. On Watchophilia is another one: https://www.watchophilia.com/photogallery/bulovas-1920-1929/a1924-unkno…. The try-out was probably not successful since so few are found. Only in 1928, Bulova  would come with a wide range of enamel watches. Still not successful since most of them silently disappeared again in 1929.So for me, definitively a Bulova, albeit Unknown and from 1923.

mybulova_admin
Posted August 27, 2021 - 2:50am

So no date stamp on the movement? I imagine the earliest stamp would be an astrix (24), but would agree that it's more likely to be pre 24.

Regards the case, I wouldn't neccessarily discount it not being original, as we know Bulova used other 3rd party case companies to supply many of their solid gold and platinum cases. 

Unknown for now.

Kathy L.
Posted August 27, 2021 - 11:41am

Wow beautiful pick up and great that it is 18K and such an early model!

Unknown for now.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted August 28, 2021 - 5:35pm

Sweet, but unknown...

Geoff Baker
Posted August 28, 2021 - 9:30pm

1923 Bulova Unknown