Bulova 1929 Penelope

Submitted by Kathy L. on November 27, 2018 - 10:39pm
Manufacture Year
1929
Movement Model
6AP
Movement Date Code
Triangle
Movement Jewels
15
Movement Serial No.
149845
Case Serial No.
9613036
Case shape
Oval
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova & American Standard
Crystal details
Rectangular
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

Hello,  This is Penelope.  I have been watching this watch for some time and finally decided to get it.  This watch is gorgeous in person and is now my favorite early watch in my collection.  The photographs don't do it justice.  

It is the 14K solid white gold model.  It has 4 lovely sapphires and 2 sparkling diamonds set in platinum.  The sapphires on the watch look genuine but I will get them tested sometime soon.  The filigree band has 4 synthetic sapphires.  The band is complete and working and really compliments the watch.

The inside of the case reads BULOVA QUALITY 14K AMERICAN STANDARD PAT. JUN 10, 1924 and the serial #9613036.  The outside of the case is elegantly carved. It has a 6AP, 15 jewel movement that was serviced.  It has what looks like a triangle date stamp but there is also what looks like a square so I am not sure what the movement date is.  Thanks for looking : ) 

Update:  I had the diamonds and sapphires tested today and they are all genuine on the watch.  The sapphires on the band are synthetic.  

1929 Bulova Penelope watch
1929 Bulova watch
1929 Bulova watch
1929 Bulova watch
1929 Bulova watch
Bulova Watch advert
Kathy L.
Posted November 27, 2018 - 10:41pm

Alex
Posted November 28, 2018 - 1:36am

Very nice watch Kathy! The 961 series of serial numbers stamped with American Standard is from 1927, so your movement is fully in line with that. Enjoy and let me know once you tested the sapphires if they are natural or synthetic. 

Kathy L.
Posted November 29, 2018 - 5:50pm

Hi Alex,  I had the diamonds and sapphires tested today.  All of them on the watch are natural.  The sapphires on the band are synthetic.

jabs
Posted November 28, 2018 - 5:08am

1929 Bulova Penelope nice watch

Reverend Rob
Posted November 28, 2018 - 10:25am

1929 Penelope she is.

Presidium makes a gem tester that is easy to use and identifies a lot of different stones. It will even tell you if your watch crystal is sapphire, although you can usually tell with a drop of water.

I use it to quickly ID watch stones as well as ring stones, and I have been surprised both ways with this. Stones that I thought were fake were real, and vice versa. For most of us, this tester might not exctly pay for itself, but for any of you who are eBay sellers, it is a quick way to check and make a better description.

Kathy L.
Posted November 28, 2018 - 10:57am

Just looked up Presidium and that is what the jeweler I go to uses.  I could see that being useful if you sold a lot on eBay for sure.

mybulova_admin
Posted November 28, 2018 - 8:54pm

Verying interesting with Alex's line of dating these to 1927.

Not seeing any reference post 1926 of this watch.

Alex with this line of thought, can you see if there is a reference to the secone number of the serial number correlating to the year?

Could be a 1926/27 Bulova Penelope.

Kathy L.
Posted November 29, 2018 - 11:39am

As far as ads go I only found two on Newspapers, one from 1926 for the 18K model and the bottom one I posted here for the 14K model is from 1927.  So it was either a short poduction or not advertised much or both.