I submit this watch as a 1928 Bulova Templar. Very light wear to the case, crown and crystal appear original. Pigskin strap is not period to this beauty but seems to finish it off perfectly. Double date code with crescent moon stamp very lightly applied next to square date code on movement. As hard as I tried, I could not get good photo.
Added 12/27/2014 = Photos Updated 12/16/2020
In reply to Another beauty queen Mr. by 1955mercury
Thanks merc. I've thought a lot about 'correct' hands. Obviously Bulova modeled this watch for the advert with the spade type hands. I bought this watch with these hands and imagine they've been on it for decades. Question is - "why would they have been changed?" I know there dozens of reasons they could have been damaged but it just seems so unlikely. I wonder if the factory didn't just use what they have available. It's a thought.
I use a light box for my photos but it doesn't make a difference for the 'glowing photos' but you will need a solid mount for your camera - I use a tripod. Charge the lume so it glows brightly and work fast. Push the shutter button half way so the camera focuses then turn off the lights and finish depressing the shutter release. Voila! The trick is that automatic cameras need enough light to focus. If you use an SLR you could do it all in manual mode. I experiment by leaving a small amount of ambient light in the room or the photos will be very dark and all I see are the glowing numbers. You do understand that the dial and hands on most of my watches have been relumed. I'm anxious to see your results.
In reply to 28 Templar. Cluck Cluck on by JP
I bought some of those spade adn cath hands from you a couple years ago. They were the actual old hands you found from this time period, and you had meticulously relumed them with the safe radium which was dyed to match the 1920's period-correct radium color. They were/are perfect. I'm gonna get a few more sets of both from you, cause they will may be gone soon :) Never say never (or impossible). ...but you may hear "sold out"....and you were practically giving them away. LOL If I remember correctly, we discussed the time you spent on each set doing the relume, what you had to pay for them, and we decided you were loosing money, and "working" for about negative $25 per hour. I then realized you did this as a labor of love, and as a service to fellow Bulova collectors.
Not a good business model, but a fantastic model for a collector/enthusiast sharing his work and love of Bulova with others.
In reply to 28 Templar. Cluck Cluck on by JP