Bulova 1948 -Unknown

Submitted by ddean on October 4, 2012 - 9:33am
Manufacture Year
1948
Movement Model
7AA
Movement Date Code
48 (A8)
Movement Jewels
21
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
9318119
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
21.6mm X17.6mm
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

1948 Diamond Dial 21Jewel Excellency "LL"  7AA which was started in 1949, so is this a early 1949 with 1948 movement symbol? or late 1948? or replacement movement? L3 date stamp on movement  3 (untested) diamonds  Applied Gold numbers on a Champagne colored dial with Black tracks, Bulova signed 10K Gold filled bezel and back.  Speidel  band  (October 7, 2012) Updated image 4 with picture of movement symbol 48.

 

Bulova Excellency "LL"
1948 Bulova watch
1948 Bulova watch
1948 Bulova watch
1948 Bulova watch
William Smith
Posted October 8, 2012 - 3:55pm

1948 His Excellency w/ "different dial" and movement swap five years later?  When we go w/ dates of movement/case which are a couple years apart, we go with the latter.  Does the "LL" have this dial in the ad?   
Unknown  (or non-conforming).  I can't ID on case alone while disregarding the dial/movement.
 

mybulova_admin
Posted October 9, 2012 - 4:52am

I agree that we go with the case date, as movements can always be swapped. and after all its usually the case that determines the model and not the movement...I said usually.

Its not a 1948 date stamp on the movement or case.

ddean
Posted October 9, 2012 - 10:04am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

I've uploaded a new picture of the case.

Please review as it look's like (IMO) a clear 48.

Thanks.

mybulova_admin
Posted October 9, 2012 - 4:58am

Generic HE for me.

Geoff Baker
Posted October 10, 2012 - 7:08am

I'll go with HE, no variant

OldTicker
Posted October 11, 2012 - 8:48am

Unknown, borderline non-conforming,

I know everything is Bulova, but the 5 year span between the case & movement raises a flag.

The dial is factory, but was it original to the case or movement...or from another model? 

I have  48' & 49' unknowns in the database with the same dial in both White & Champagne

DarHin
Posted October 11, 2012 - 1:23pm

Unknown

William Smith
Posted October 11, 2012 - 2:43pm

3 Generic His Excellency:  Geoff, Admin, Bobbee
4 Unknown:  Will, Fifth, OT, DarHin

mybulova_admin
Posted October 12, 2012 - 12:46am

Well it certainly looks lie a 48 dated case to me. Movement may have been replaced as was often done if the original broke.

So what do we have in the 1948 ads thats a match for the case. These dials I believe may have been an optional extra.

 

William Smith
Posted October 17, 2012 - 4:50pm

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Stephen, what do you mean by optional extra? If you mean something the jeweler added at point of original sale, I would say maybe- the jeweler certainly could do this.  But I think Bulova produced many watches w/ many diff dial configurations, and they were assembled and shipped to dealers w/ these "options".  If we look at the few Bulvoa model/price lists we do have, we see a section for "with diamonds". This section includes diamonds in the case and/or on the dial. These have a unique model number used internally by dealers and Bulova to order said watch. Then we look at the price differences between diamond dials in those listed under "with diamonds", and compare to other unique models listed (for which we don't have ads) and the price differences are in line w/ a possible "diamond dial".   I'm seeing ads produced by Bulova with "regular" and "diamond dials" and thinking while these diamond dial "variants" may have the same model name- and sometimes even the same variant designation- if any- many came from the factory that way. 
Many have a unique Bulova model number to aid in ordering that diamond dial configuration, they are "as original", and we don't have ads for this.  Makes it challenging to rate the ticks, but something I'm becoming more aware of.