Bulova 1946 Barbara

Submitted by twebb78 on February 21, 2024 - 11:09am
Manufacture Year
1946
Movement Model
5AB
Movement Date Code
46
Movement Jewels
17
Case Serial No.
G448689
Case shape
Cushion
Case color
Two-tone
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
11mm x 11mm
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

Likely a model "Barbara".  First appears in the family photo archive on my mother's wrist in the Spring of 1947.  She was married to my father in December 1946; my 3 siblings and I believe this was a wedding gift for her, though none of us remember her mentioning this detail.  He died in 1994, and she died in 2009.  Additional photos show this was her daily wear watch from 1947 until 1977.  It does not appear on her wrist after 1977.  The watch was likely purchased in either Philadelphia or Hartford (where they were married).  She and my father lived most of their lives in Philadelphia PA and Pittsburgh PA.  I have tried my best to photograph / scan jewelers marks - it required different lighting for each of the three marks to yield somewhat legible images.

Uploaded 21 Feb 2024
Uploaded 21 Feb 2024
Uploaded 21 Feb 2024
Uploaded 21 Feb 2024
Uploaded 21 Feb 2024
twebb78
Posted February 21, 2024 - 12:13pm

Thanks Kathy.  It was fun to find it in my mother's belongings, which are still a distributed family jumble 15 years after she died.  I was surprised to go through the photo archive and discover that it had been in hard use for thirty years. 

neetstuf-4-u
Posted February 21, 2024 - 5:37pm

Great watch and great family history. Thanks for sharing.

1946 Bulova Barbara

Geoff Baker
Posted February 21, 2024 - 9:06pm

1946 Bulova Barbara is a good match. I think the service marks, which really don't translate very well as every watchmaker used her/his own code, are a testament to how much the watch meant to your mother in that she kept it well serviced. Congrats on a special keepsake from her.

PS - if you plan to continue wearing it (I sure hope you do) I recommend still another service to keep it running strong.