This is my "hand me down" Bulova, doesn't currently run and will need a rebuild. I love the engraving on the case and it is much different to the watches my young counterparts wear. I quickly fell in love with the style of engraved Bulovas/any art deco watch of the era (but mainly Bulovas), after receiving this. Of course, this is a restoration project.
Many thanks - Steven
Hi Steven, welcome to myBulova, this is a fine looking watch. Thanks for sharing it
I'm not sure this is a Templar model (which became 'Crusador' in the 1930's). Crusador/Templar is different in that the top opening on the case is straight as opposed to curved outward like your watch. Here is an example of a 1930 Crusador that shows the difference.
I haven't found a match to your watch yet but I'm still looking.
Hi Steven and welcome. Sometimes ID'ing the old ones is a real process. There were models with very slight differences in detail that gave them different names. I think yours is one of these "splitting hairs" examples. It does have the outward appearances of being a Crusader, but the engraving is slightly different, as well as face.
We have to find a matching case in ads and see if the case can be verified having the face your example sports. As seen in 1929 and 30 ads below. Engraving is a close match (on the sides of crystal, but not ends) to 1929 Templar, but not lug shape. 1930 Crusador matches lug "sweep", but not engraving pattern. Crystal opening and face on yours match neither.
My guess is the face was swapped in the past, but still unknown if this is true. Sometimes it can take a while to ID these beauties. We appear to be seeing something different and perhaps never previously indentified.
1929 Templar ad 1930 Crusador
I'm at unknown and still looking.
Good catch on the case contour, Bob! I didn't even notice the straight line on the one I linked to.
Probably not a Templar, there is something going on here. Engraving is different enough from the Crusador as to be likely something else entirely. The dial also does not match either of these.
Thanks for all the comments guys! I had the same kind of scenario when I was looking at similar ones, before I posted this. Some have similar engravings that are close but no cigar.
I hope you've had fun trying to find this. This restoration process will probably get underway in a couple of months. You've given me the confidence to. If the face is a replacement I'll try to source an original spec face. What are your attitudes to replacement dials? Do you hate them or are they relatively okay? Until we find what the original face is though my hands are tied.
Thanks for bringing me into the world of Bulovas with a warm and friendly attitude.
Not all watch forums are this nice
There are many opinions on face replacement. What we try to do here is positively identify and catalog original watches for collectors to reference. Basically by mybulova standards, replacement or refinishing to bring the watch back to identifiable factory condition is acceptible and the watch can be ID'ed as matching spot on to a period ad. In the case of extremely unusual early models, they can be assigned a name based on case but noting face replacement. On the other end of the spectrum, a (ex) 1950's watch with a purple refinished dial or a dial identifiable as coming from an unrelated model line or outside vendor is "non-conforming". Not a true factory spec model.
My personal take on subject watch from a purist collector standpoint is wait. leave it as it sits, movement, hands and face-wise. Service it and Let it rest in the "Unknown" vault. Perhaps one day we will be able to assign it a name. If installed dial turns out to be the correct dial, you muddied up a previously unknown model. That said, it's your watch, do what makes you happy :o)
One other observation; It appears that the crystal is a slightly mis-matched replacement, having a slightly rounded contour on top and bottom. It matches the case at top, but appears it should be flat across the bottom. No biggie, but that detail may help in one day identifying what the watch was named, based on replacement crystal specs. Crystal could be a "stand alone", only used on one specific watch. It's not standard practice to base an ID solely on crystal measurements, but often leads us in the right direction.
We do our best to be open, non-judgemental and cordial. We all enjoy what we are doing and want to keep it fun. Nobody here is an expert, we are all on the collector quest for pure documentable knowledge.