Bulova 1951 -Non-Conforming

Submitted by OldTicker on January 21, 2012 - 9:15pm
Manufacture Year
1951
Movement Model
6BC
Movement Date Code
49 (A9)
Movement Jewels
21
Case Serial No.
1396230
Case shape
Tonneau
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
GS CC294-5 12.0 x 11.8mm
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

1951 Bulova Academy Award Ladies 21J 6BC movement with a A9 date stamp, Gold Curtin Dial with Black numbers & markers and Black hands. The 10K Gold filled case and back is stamped L1, the band is a adjustable sliding clasp Bretton 12k Gold filled. 5X signed.

Discussion on this watch can be found here at  http://www.mybulova.com/node/3680

It is a very nice looking and good running ladies watch, and I hope one day we can determine which one of the 13+ letter codes this one is.

 

1951 Bulova Academy Award Ladies 21J 6BC
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Astronaut M2
Posted March 22, 2022 - 5:06pm

Does that movement have balance wheel shock jewels? 

mybulova_admin
Posted March 22, 2022 - 10:41pm

So we have a 1949 movement (ok for AA models), a 1951 case (ok for AA models), an AA dial and all presented in an AA box .....could this not just be another AA variant we have yet to see?

neetstuf-4-u
Posted March 23, 2022 - 9:05am

The ad referenced in 2012 shows a similar watch, but by the illustration, it has engraving on crystal sides and scrolls appear to be straighter. Anything is possible, but we have all seen watches paired with boxes and even string tags by sellers to enhance value. We currently have no ad verification that this combination is an AA; perhaps the way to go is call it an unknown (as opposed to non-conforming) to take the questions and potential discrepancies into account.

Kathy L.
Posted March 23, 2022 - 12:30pm

Personally I don't think so.  We see Vivian in 1951 and I do not think they would have used the same case for another watch as an AA in the same period.  I am still at mixed parts.

mybulova_admin
Posted March 23, 2022 - 5:24pm

Kathy that's a good point, but I'm still not sure Bulova wouldn't have done that. We've seen models with a higher grade movement or different case gold content called different names in the past.

The link in the original post shows a previous discussion we had years ago. The discussion, whilst at first highly suggested the AA model, did end leaving the question hanging.

http://www.mybulova.com/node/3680

I'm still on the fence (I seem to camp there quite often) with this one.

Kathy L.
Posted March 23, 2022 - 9:20pm

Yes it is interesting trying to figure things out without the line books going back that far.  Maybe we will get a 1950 price guide at some point and that will help answer some of the questions.

mybulova_admin
Posted March 24, 2022 - 12:19am

I forgot to mention that the Vivian advert states 'stainless steel back', which the subject watch does not have.  It's possible that the entire back of the watch, including movement and dial were placed into a Vivian bezel, but the more simpler answer is that it's all original and just an unknown AA model.

mybulova_admin
Posted March 24, 2022 - 9:14pm

Panel, any more thoughts on this watch?