Bulova 1955 -Unknown

Submitted by geoffrey.louden on June 3, 2021 - 5:04pm
Manufacture Year
1955
Movement Jewels
Unknown
Case Serial No.
A228358
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

 Front: Bulova / Self-Winding Back (clockwise, from top of case): BULOVA / Stainless Steel Back / Anti Magnetic / Shock Resistant / Self-Winding / [star] Water Tite [star]

Front of watch
Back of watch
Back of watch
mybulova_admin
Posted June 4, 2021 - 12:49am

Very much a Bulova Clipper dial and hands, but the case isn't correct for a Clipper. Another model ?

geoffrey.louden
Posted June 4, 2021 - 1:12am

Yes, the face is identical to the 1955 Royal Clipper, but it's the back that threw me off because the serial number isn't in a box like the Royal Clipper has it. I haven't been able to find an example of a similar model that has the serial number on the back, outside of the boxed text in a circle. 

The winding pin is not original, but the rest is (to the best of my knowledge). 

neetstuf-4-u
Posted June 4, 2021 - 7:00am

I poured through the ads and linebooks from 1952 to 1959, and came up empty. Sorry,

Unknown for now.

Andersok
Posted June 4, 2021 - 7:02am

I am unable to match this case and dial. I first thought American Clipper, but the lugs here look wider. The dial is Clipper similar, but other models during the 50s used this dial design. I am hesitant to call it a Clipper, and would go with Unknown at this time.

Kathy L.
Posted June 4, 2021 - 10:04am

Unknown at this time

geoffrey.louden
Posted June 4, 2021 - 4:09pm

Thank you all for looking! Quite the mystery.

Geoff Baker
Posted June 4, 2021 - 10:04pm

This one really is an enigma. I looked for 45 minutes last night and gave up. I see similar watches later in the decade but they don't quite match. I'm anxious to know the jewel count if you ever get the back off.

1955 Bulova Unknown

 

geoffrey.louden
Posted June 4, 2021 - 10:38pm

Movement

geoffrey.louden
Posted June 4, 2021 - 10:39pm

So I removed the back of the case. From left to right: 17 Jewels Seventee / Bulova Watch Co. 10CSC / Swiss Adjusted / L4

The case has L5 on it, maybe an older watch in a newer case?

Geoff Baker
Posted June 5, 2021 - 9:27pm

Geoffrey - not unusual to find a 1954 movement in a 1955 case, after all there's only one day between 1954 and 1955. Knowing it's 17J rules out the Bulova 23 Line. If I were to wager I'd say it was a Clipper model but until we find an advert we just don't know.