Here is a bit of a curiosity, Case s/n dated 1940 and movement dated 1937. This appears to me to be a late date Biarritz. We currently have 3 of these in the database, all are dated 1937. The case back configuration differs, as does the face. I suspect this is a matter of production date. This seems pretty late to me for the long style with curved back (and no seconds hand). The latest ads I find are dated 1938.
Jim, take note this is as I received it and it sports a beads of rice band like yours.
Nice one. Yes it is interesting it has the same type of bracelet. I believe mine has a replacement dial and the other two have the dial documented in the ad. Your dial is interesting and may be original or a different variant. Still believe it to be a 1940 Biarritz.
In reply to Is it just me or is the dial… by mybulova_admin
In reply to It's centered in the case… by neetstuf-4-u
In reply to Can you confirm the movement… by mybulova_admin
I am now thinking we have a different watch here. Note the case back. All versions of the Biarritz in the DB seem to have a case back similar to a Phantom. Whereas this one is entirely different. I am now wondering if we have it all wrong and the three (or at least two with casebook photos) in the DB are actually variants of the Phantom and this is actually the real Biarritz.
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In reply to I am now thinking we have a… by JimDon5822
Jim can you elaborate with links? The 3 Biarritz we have all show the same dial, case bezel and back, including the stumpy lugs. The Phantom doesn't seem to have these stumpy lugs, but a continuation of the size bezel.
Also the 3 examples all have what looks like the correct dial (no sub-second).
So the subject watch has a different dial and case back from the other 3 exampes. looking more like unknown.
In reply to Jim can you elaborate with… by mybulova_admin
The three 1937 Biarritz we have in the DB all have case backs that are smaller than the bezel. As you can see in the next two photos the case back sets well within the edge of the case.
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On this one you can see from the side view it appears to have the recessed case back.
On Bob's example the case back goes all the way to the outer edges of the case on all sides as we can see below. Clearly a different case back structure. That being said this could be just a model year change or a different model. I am inclined to think the model year change to make the case improved but wanted to point out the difference.
In reply to The three 1937 Biarritz we… by JimDon5822
Jim, I am basically of the same mindset. "New and Improved", perhaps in an attempt to bolster sales as opposed to a different model. The only other model with the recessed case back in this time period besides the Biarritz looks to be the Phantom. It's possible there was a design flaw with the case style, (maybe moisture issues?) and Bulova went to the style seen on subject watch post 1937. That could also possibly explain why we see so few of these 2 models? What makes it tough is this is the only possible Biarritz example with this late a date. This is around the time when long curved watches fell out of fashion, so I have a hard time believing a new model would be introduced with a different face and case back, using the bezel design of a watch that was stylistically on the way out.
Is the movement / face a replacement? Who knows with nothing to compare it to. I suspect that watch is original as seen, but can't either prove or disprove it. It is interesting that the known Biarritz models sport the same movement and all are movement dated 1937. Coincidence?