Bulova 1943 Clipper

Submitted by neetstuf-4-u on February 22, 2021 - 5:23pm
Manufacture Year
1943
Movement Model
10BE
Movement Date Code
Circle
Movement Jewels
17
Case Serial No.
3054394
Case shape
Cushion
Case color
Rose
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Just got this one, and am quite puzzled. It came from an estate, and appears to have never been messed with. Movement is stamped for 1942, with a lighter stamp for 1944. Case is s/n dated 1943. No jeweler's marks in case, and it had the worst case of "rose rash" I have ever seen.

Watch band (Bretton)  and case are 14K rose gold plated, and the entire band and case (except center of case sides) were tarnished to the color of an old penny. I included a couple of "before" photos below. It almost gave the impression that the discoloration started on the band and migrated onto the watch case. Weird. Initial condition gave the appearance that this one sat undisturbed and untouched for a very, very long time.I carefully polished it and overall it's like a mirror with no plating wear on case or band. Color is now a very pale rose that was hard to accurately show in photos. Crystal is perfect and face shows some toning and speckling as seen.

Diamond settings are white gold and the cut diamonds test as real. This appears to be a Clipper case in rose gold with matching dial. There is a single example of this case in rose with copper face in the database that is 10K rose plate without diamonds. It appears to be mis-identified as a Tildon.

Panel? Have fun!

diaclip1
diaclip2
diaclip3
diaclipmvmt
diaclipback
diaclipside
neetstuf-4-u
Posted February 22, 2021 - 5:36pm

Pre-Polishing

prepolish

preclean1

After

afterpolish

afterclean2

mybulova_admin
Posted February 23, 2021 - 6:33pm

Wow, that's gone from orange to yellow.

I feel like we've seen a similar watch before, but can't recall if it was the Clipper or another model.

We have still yet to find an advert showing the white dial version, which is weird as it's usually the black dial versions that we have issues finding adverts for.

Are the diamond mounts white gold or yellow?

neetstuf-4-u
Posted February 23, 2021 - 6:41pm

Mounts are white gold. It really "yellowed up" with a polish, but is without a doubt rose gold in person. The crown retained more rose color, and I wonder if it might be a 10K vs. 14K thing?  Yes, as far as I know, the only ads for this unique case are black dial Clipper. No ads for white face in yellow case or rose case with copper face.

Geoff Baker
Posted February 23, 2021 - 9:30pm

I'd say the diamonds are aftermarket. What ad do you match it to as a Clipper Bob? Could still be with the added gems.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted February 23, 2021 - 9:35pm

In reply to by Geoff Baker

I think all the black face Cllippers are ID'ed off the same ad. We currently have one white face posted as a Clipper, based on the unique case.

Geoff Baker
Posted February 24, 2021 - 9:14pm

I'm going with Clipper. Hard to tell on the dial but it seem original to the case. Case is definitely Clipper.

1943 Bulova Clipper

plainsmen
Posted February 25, 2021 - 9:14am

We don't have an ad... Unknown for now.

 

Kathy L.
Posted February 25, 2021 - 9:46am

What an interesting watch and great job cleaning it up.  Just getting that band is a good find.  Not sure on the ID yet.

Geoff Baker
Posted February 27, 2021 - 9:32pm

Panel - Two for Unknown, One for Clipper- thoughts?