Bulova 1927 Roberta

Submitted by plainsmen on June 17, 2021 - 11:30am
Manufacture Year
1927
Movement Model
5AP
Movement Date Code
Square
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
18018
Case Serial No.
7256773
Case shape
Other
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova & American Standard
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

I believe we have a Roberta.

1927 Roberta Ad 1

1927 Bulova Roberta 6-17-21 F
1927 Bulova Roberta 6-17-21 L
1927 Bulova Roberta 6-17-21 R
1927 Bulova Roberta 6-17-21 M
1927 Bulova Roberta 6-17-21 IC
1927 Bulova Roberta 6-17-21 Back
Alex
Posted June 17, 2021 - 10:32pm

This model changed name from Geraldine (advertised June 1927) to Roberta during 1927 (advertised December 1927). I need to do a double check in the newspapers to narrow it down and then correlate it with the serial number. 

mybulova_admin
Posted June 18, 2021 - 10:46pm

Here are my findings after studying the Saturday Evening Post adverts I have. (flat/round refers to the inner minute track flat top Vs round top).

Geraldine Jun 1926, flat $40

Geraldine Oct 1926, flat $40

Geraldine Dec 1926, flat $40

Geraldine Jun 1927, flat $40

Roberta Dec 1927, round $37.50

Roberta Feb 1928, round $37.50

Roberta Apr 1928, round $37.50

Based on this I'd say the watch is a 1927 Bulova Roberta, with a cut over date sometime in the second half on 1927, or at Dec 1927.

mybulova_admin
Posted June 18, 2021 - 10:57pm

Here is a nice 1928 advert with case and filigree bracelet version. Interesting that this version also sold for $37.50, which was the same advertised price with silk ribbon band.

1928 Bulova Roberta ladies watch

mybulova_admin
Posted June 18, 2021 - 11:06pm

Damn you BULOVA!!!!

Date December 17, 1926 and shows a Roberta (exactly the same as the Geraldine) with flat top inner minute track.

1926 December Bulova Roberta watch advert

Kathy L.
Posted June 19, 2021 - 10:16am

Unless Alex comes up with a different date based on the serial number Roberta it is!  Sweet little watch.

1927 Bulova Roberta

Alex
Posted June 19, 2021 - 11:45pm

Bulova never ceases to surprise. A clear inconsistency here: although this model is introduced in the Saturday Evening Post (SEP) in June 1926 as Geraldine, this model was never advertised as Geraldine in the newspapers! First ads appear in December 1926 as Roberta (the snippet above posted by mybulova_admin) while the SEP continues to advertise it as Geraldine. Then again I found one Roberta ad in June 1927 and then from November onwards many ads can be found into the next years. So, what do we take as leading here: the Bulova ads in the SEP or the jeweler ads in the newspapers? I would say we follow the SEP ads, meaning it is Geraldine until 6 June 1927, and then Roberta as from there. The 725 serial is from the last quarter of 1927, so I would go for Roberta.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted June 20, 2021 - 8:42am

Well done, Alex.

1927 Bulova Roberta

Geoff Baker
Posted June 20, 2021 - 9:20pm

Well done Panel. It's never ceases to amaze me the level of detail you can take us to on 95 year old watches and adverts!