Bulova 1938 Tuxedo

Submitted by Chris Fox on November 9, 2018 - 1:22am
Manufacture Year
1938
Movement Model
17AE
Movement Date Code
Arrow
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
7001520
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
Tuxedo
Gender
Mens
1938 Bulova watch
1938 Bulova watch
1938 Bulova watch
1938 Bulova watch
Kathy L.
Posted November 9, 2018 - 10:45am

I found 3 models in the ads.  A 15 jewel Chesterfield, a 17 jewel Tuxedo and a 21 jewel Douglas.  The Tuxedo is very close but has an engraved case in the ad.    

jabs
Posted November 9, 2018 - 5:54am

it can actually be a Tuxedo (from 1937, with regard to the case and movement markings), but the bow for chain is altered because it has a completely different shape than the usual Bulovas pocket watch, we have in database another Tuxedo example without engraving

neetstuf-4-u
Posted November 9, 2018 - 8:31pm

Best I can come up with is an ad from 1943 showing the Tuxedo. Looks like it might be a match but the year difference may be a stretch.

Andersok
Posted November 10, 2018 - 7:10am

We just don't have enough pocket watch ads to get a feel for the various designs and model names from each year. Tuxedo works for me.

Geoff Baker
Posted November 10, 2018 - 10:18am

I agree with Ken,

1938 Bulova Tuxedo

Kathy L.
Posted November 10, 2018 - 11:28am

Tuxedo works for me.  Probably had variants.

1938 Bulova Tuxedo

Reverend Rob
Posted November 10, 2018 - 11:41am

1938 Bulova Tuxedo.

One of my customers is a Bulova fan, and he brought in a handful of pocket watches. He just wanted to get an idea of which were in better condition so he could decide which ones to service, when to my surprise, he snapped an engraved bezel from one onto another that had had a smooth one. 

We tested the interchangeabiity and found that there is indeed a very real risk of mixing up case parts. Interesting, to say the least. I don't remember exactly which models they were, but they were all from around the same time period. I could imagine a damaged case or bezel getting parts donated to it or from it.

I think this might explain why we sometimes see discrepancies in these models.