Alrighty ladies and gents. I picked up this exquisite ladies model tonight. I think I've seen this model a couple times before. She sports a 14k white gold case, with a ruby, emerald, diamond enlay. You can't see it very well but the seller said the emeralds are cracked and chipped. I'm thinking either really crappy emeralds or just glass that has busted. Eitehr way I think Mike should be able to replace for me. Unfortunately the original movement was sent in to a watchmaker for repair... and the seller never heard from the guy again. She states the original movement was a 5AP from 1927. She got a replacement 5AP and as you can see it's from 1932. This watch has been recently serviced and runs well. I may or may not delve into getting a 5AP closer in year to the origional reported year. In fact I've picked up two 5AP's tonight to see what years they are. Anyway boys... I've looked through all my ads... I don't have a clue what this beauty is. She will be staying in my personal collection forever along side my other 18k Unknown ladies.... these will eventually belong to my daughter whose 4 right now... so they could well be 100 years old by the time they're hers!
Sellers pics... mine will of course be a my style when the watch comes in.
Hi Plainsman, very nice watch! I call this kind of watches the "wing-lugged" tonneau shaped watches. "Wing" because there are wings covering the lugs. But I am afraid that the remark of the lady "that the original movement was of 1927" might turn out that that wasn't the original movement either. Let's have a close look at the watch. First the engraving around the edge on the front. In 1927 that typically would have been the traditional Laurel leaves. As from 1928, Bulova starts putting some crosses and stripes. See the Caroline wing lugged watch from that year. Then the case signature. This is the signature that is introduced in 1929 for these wing-lugged 14K cases. all without case serial number for some reason. In that year Bulova introduced a whole range of these kind of watches. Only the Diana and the Orchid were advertized. In 1927, a typical case signatures would indicate "Bulova" in combination with the "American Standard" name. Last but not least: the dial. It was introduced in 1930 with the Miss America. It seemed to have been used in other models as well, given the fact I have seen many 1930 watches with this dial. But never with watches earlier than that. So, in conclusion: looking at the engraving, the case signature and the dial, my conclusion is that this watch is from 1930. You have new pictures so show clearly the rubies?
In reply to Hi Plainsman, very nice by Alex
To date
I'm not sure. Looks like everyone is still at Unknown.
Its the date that under review. Owner states movement swap from original 1927 to a 1932, but I'm not sure short of Alex's observations, what esle we have to determine the date from other than the memories of original owner or the movement in the watch now.
Do we split the difference LOL