Hi, Bulova Friends -- I bought this watch for its 5/8" rose gold expandable band, but I'm wondering about the watch itself. The movement is 10AE with a circle datemark, which I think is 1934. The case is interesting. It's rose gold plated, with the plating wearing through in places. The front half of the case has no manufacturer's marks on the inside or the outside. The back half of the case has no manufacturer's marks on the outside, and "STAINLESS BACK" and two watchmaker's service numbers on the inside. The lugs are large perpendicular disks. The Bulova-labeled dial is a lovely reddish-copper (although it appears a weird yellow in the photo, it's really recent-penny copper) with gold numerals, and has black hands. I'm guessing the movement was recased sometime, and is "non-conforming." I have no idea whether it's intended to look like a standard-issue Bulova model, or is a pastiche of Bulova designs. The dial is reminiscent of some of the two-tone ones from the early 1940s. So I'm curious about what model this watch might be, or might be intended to be. I'm also curious whether it's worth servicing and keeping, based on the personal opinions of this site's experts; I like the dial, and the case is wonderfully overwrought, but overall it doesn't seem built to last.
Cheers -- Michael
ID wise I think your watch is certainly a 'cobblers' watch and as such 'Non-conforming', but I would say that if the style is something that takes your eye, leave it as is, I suspect we would never know what the movement was originally placed in. The dial I think is also a non-Bulova original, but I could be wrong.
As always, thank you, my Bulova friends. You confirmed that the watch case is a conflation of design concepts, and a potpourri of pot metal.
I'm inclined to keep the 1934 10AE movement with the putative "Bulova" copper dial, and to dispose of the case. As I mentioned, I like the ostentation of the case, but it's well-worn and mostly worn-out. I can't justify to myself servicing the movement only to replace it in the same case.
Maybe someday I'll find a good case with a bad movement, and I'll breed another mutt for future generations to ponder.