Bulova 1925 Pocket Watch

Submitted by MikeAUT on May 19, 2015 - 7:47am
Manufacture Year
1925
Movement Model
17P
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
2809
Case Serial No.
1829
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Hello! I got this watch from my grandfather by his lifetime and as I was much younger that time we didn't talk about where he got it from or anything else.

Now I hope you can help me to date the watch, because also with the guide I'm not able to do it.

Case (Inside): BULOVA W.Co, 18K, 1829, (and something engraved like A.T.1973, but this is engraved by hand)

Movement: 2809, BULOVA WATCH Co, SEVENTEEN 17 JEWELS, 17P, (Swiss is writen very little on it), 2 TWO ADJ

Waiting for your Answers...

Thank you,

Mike

MikeAUT 1925 Bulova 52415
1925 Bulova watch
1925 Bulova watch
1925 Bulova watch
1925 Bulova watch
Geoff Baker
Posted May 19, 2015 - 2:21pm

Hi Mike, welcome to myBulova. You are most fortunate to have this wonderful watch as a memento of your grandfather. I think family heirloom watches are fabulous things. The 18K gold case puts this watch at the top of the line, no question this was an expensive watch in the day. The 17P movement dates it to the mid 1920's does this correspond to you grandfather age, or could HE have inherited it? Without a date code on the movement I would suggest a date of 1925. Look through the advents we have from the 1920's I didn't see an exact match but several are very close. My guess would be that it's a model 470-something, but I can't find anything specific. have it serviced if you intend to use it, be very careful not to over wind it, be gentle with it.

Unknown 

William Smith
Posted May 19, 2015 - 3:43pm

Beautiful!!! The Bulova W. Co. signature on inside of case suggests case was made earlier than the Bulova Watch Co signature on movement.  Thank goodness no one melted the case for gold content over the years... I think Geoff's right on a circa 1925 movement.
You have a great family heirloom.

mybulova_admin
Posted May 20, 2015 - 8:23am

Any chance of a better focused photo of the movement? This will give us a better idea of its age. Normally we can also date these using the case serial number, however solid gold cases play by a different set of rules when it comes to serial numbers.

Look for a date symbol on the movement, possibly either a circle (1925), a triangle (1926) or square (1927).

You are most fortunate to have such a wonderful family heirloom.

Have it serviced and buy yourself a nice old pocket watch stand and use it as a desk clock. That's what I've done with my 1920 Bulova pocket watch....looks great and that way you get to enjoy this great time piece.

MikeAUT
Posted May 21, 2015 - 2:36am

I couldn't find any of the three marks you wrote about, but I will make a better photo as soon as possible.

Thank you for your fast replies.

MikeAUT
Posted May 27, 2015 - 8:35am

I updated picture number 2...

Hope the quality is now good enough...

William Smith
Posted May 27, 2015 - 3:10pm

In reply to by MikeAUT

Excellent photo. Thanks.  We can see no date symbol on movement now, as you confirmed earlier.

Reverend Rob
Posted June 25, 2019 - 10:22am

From an ebauche by Le Phare, really nice condition by the look of it. Definitely get it fully serviced by a qualified watchmaker if you intend to run it. Great heirloom.

William Smith
Posted May 27, 2015 - 3:19pm

We have 8 watch records ID'ed as generic "Bulova Pocket Watch".  The dates range from 1920 through 1976.  These ID's are kind of a catch-all, and perhaps Unknown would be a better ID for these 8 watches....or would subject watch be better ID'ed in this "Pocket Watch" catch-all?  Just trying to be consistent.

Richard Callamaras
Posted May 28, 2015 - 9:45am

Hi Mike, welcome to my bulova! This is a beautiful piece. I have the dial and movement, also a 17p. I do not have a case...sadly. We can probably safely date it based on the 17p movement. The 18 kt cases didn't give us much to work on as far as dating with these old watches. Treasure that heirloom!