This is a wonderful site! Thank you all so much. I have had fun trying to figure out the following watch.
Very Handsome and unusual Bulova Men’s watch. Rare Harlequin / Checkerboard / chess face in contrasting silver colors that reflect the light differently. Applied Gilt Arabic numerals 1 -12 with a small seconds sweep instead of the number 6. Hour and Minute Hands are Gold. Crystal is has a significant cruve to it. (Don’t really know how to explain – see photo).
Gold Case-back with serial number 8092286 marked “10K Gold Filled (next line) Bulova”. Inside: 21-Jewel 7AP Movement marked with a triangle (1945?).
As I have been obsessed with this site all day – here is what I have found – Seems to be a similar style to a late 40’s Director, the case style looks a lot like a General, and the checkers is similar to the Park Lane (even down to the thicker line just between the second hand and where the hands attach in the center of the face – weird.)
I bought the watch in ’86 and it ran fine while I used it for a year or two and then I switched it out for another one and have not really looked at it much since. Needs a good tune up, but worked when I got it and has only been sitting in a drawer. May sell, not sure yet.
Good looking, interesting watch. This is a tough one - Good Luck !
Nice watch...and with the 4 by 4 checkerboard dial...similar to Old Tickers seen here. Thanks for adding it to the database!
Great watch Chicago
Agree with Stephen, the case is Presidential (seems like the General was only rose gold?). What were the Harlequin dial date ranges? Wasn't that more of an early 50's thing? I thought those ads were in the decades threads but I didn't see them in the 40's or the 50's. Dial is nicely done if it is a redial. Is there an extra line between 5 & 7 running through the seconds bit?
Unknown for now.....
In reply to Non conforming, Defiantly a by OldTicker
As I am completely new at this, I am an amateur photographer. When I look at the watch itself with a magnifying glass there is actually no space in that location. In the photo the darkness is actually a shadow. I think since the crystal is curved the shadow is of the top of the crystal. But when I look at the watch itself - there is no space in that location. Sorry for the bad photo.
As a non-conforming watch does anyone have any opinion of what model the original face may have come from. The numerals are distinctive and so is the open circle around the second hand sweep.
Thank you!
In reply to As I am completely new at by ChicagoWatch
If it seems to fit the bezel, then it might be the original dial that was refinished to look like the Park Lane/Academy Award vairiant of the early 50's.
The number style, script, and sunken seconds dial looks the same as this ad and I think the numbers & script were applied not printed on the 46' President.
Usually (but not always) a refinished dial will be painted on the backside the same base color as the front, and usually (but not always) a original dial from the 40's and up will be a dirty brass color on the back with a ink stamped code.