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 27, 2021 - 9:47pm

I'm on board with calling it a Clipper. Case appears to be unique to the model.

 

Geoff Baker
Posted February 28, 2021 - 9:21pm

2 Each for Clipper and Unknown.........Jaroslav, Ken, Stephen, Alex?

Geoff Baker
Posted February 28, 2021 - 9:21pm

2 Each for Clipper and Unknown.........Jaroslav, Ken, Stephen, Rob, Alex?

mybulova_admin
Posted March 1, 2021 - 4:02am

Whilst I'd be happy with unknown, to keep this grouped with the other white dial variant, I agree that it's probably best to ID as Clipper, although the diamond accents may in fact may it another model entirely.

Bulova Clipper.....for now.

Kathy L.
Posted March 1, 2021 - 10:10am

With the unique case shape I will go with Clipper as well.

Bulova Clipper