Bulova 1942 -Unknown

Submitted by gshollingsworth on July 29, 2014 - 12:56pm
Manufacture Year
1942
Movement Model
10AK
Movement Date Code
T
Movement Jewels
21
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
2162385
Case shape
Square
Case color
Rose
Crystal details
20.8mm square
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Inside the back is stamped "BULOVA" "14K ROLLED GOLD PLATE BEZEL" "STAINLESS BACK" "NEW YORK"

The case is rose gold. The band is a Speidel stainless expandable with "10K.G.F. TOP CAPS 65" stamped into the ends also rose gold.

This was my grandfather's watch. The back is engraved with his first and middle initials and last name, his service number and U.S.N. he was a SeaBee in WWII. Many of the scribed numbers inside the back can sensibly indicate a date of service on the watch with the earliest being 2 14 42s, quite possibly a Valentine's gift. The latest could be in 1983.

Inside the case are some additional numbers and letters. One seems to be scribed over roman numerals. The roman numerals may match the serial number 3, 8, 5 but being overwritten cannot be absolutely sure because the roman 8 is a bit iffy. The 3 and 5 are clear enough to confirm.

I believe the back, case, movement, and face are all a match. I'm not sure the band is original. 

I have not been able to conclusively determine a model by ads. What does the forum think?

1942 Bulova square 14K Rolled Gold (Rose) subsecond 10AK 21J 2162385
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
Geoff Baker
Posted July 30, 2014 - 6:20am

Hello gshollingsworth, welcome to myBulova. I think you are very fortunate to have this amazing keepsake from your grandfather. I am a big fan of family heirlooms and this one is off the charts. I would LOVE to hear all the stories this watch could tell, especially those of the WWII.  I hope that you will treasure this amazing piece of your family history. If you plan to wear it, please have it professionally serviced, it deserves the finest care. As you can see from the marks in the case, your grandfather cared for it lovingly as well.

The band is not original, it could be as late as 1970's. It may have had a leather strap or a band originally, it's hard to tell for certain. I think the roman numerals are last three of the case s/n, as that was fairly common early on in Bulova history.

The ID is tough, I find three or four similar cases ( Black Hawk, Surgeon and Westchester) but nothing like your watch. Black Hawk and Surgeon had 17 jewel movements and a sweep second so I rule them out. Westchester has 21 jewels and  subsidiary seconds as your watch but the dial was different. The possibility exists that the dial was refinished at some point to it's current design.

At this point I'm inclined to say "Unknown" for the ID, I'm going to keep looking.

bobbee
Posted July 30, 2014 - 7:21am

Good call Geoff. This has the case, but none of the names!

Unknown, but a lovely one.

jabs
Posted July 30, 2014 - 3:12pm

Agree with "Unknown" no similar watch in db, no adverts

Reverend Rob
Posted July 30, 2014 - 3:47pm

I suspect this is a changed dial. 

Unknown. 

bobbee
Posted July 30, 2014 - 5:33pm

Nope, the same shape/size. did you use the link?

This is the forties version, the other Farragut is from the thirties.

JP
Posted August 4, 2014 - 5:00pm

Difficult to say but unknown from me for now.

William Smith
Posted August 4, 2014 - 10:15pm

Unknown for now.