Bulova 1960 International

Submitted by bobbee on May 18, 2012 - 3:15pm
Manufacture Year
1960
Movement Model
11AFAC
Movement Jewels
23
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
L46874
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Watch Description

This watch has a swirl effect dial, possibly the "snow drift" on the President "E", from the 1964 ads. 34mm. X 41mm. X 18mm. lug gape. Seller specifies the watch is only sold outside the U.S. and that is where the name comes from. All photo's are with the seller's, Empressissi's permission.

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
mybulova_admin
Posted May 18, 2012 - 5:15pm

Thst's a first.
Tentertive until we confirm.
Nice watch!

William Smith
Posted May 18, 2012 - 6:19pm

Another first! Great.  Guessing the International model name came from the dial.  That's a good start, and makes sense.  Agree w/ admin.  tentative.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted May 18, 2012 - 6:38pm

This Watch is a Bulova 23 IMO.

Bulova International was the Canadian 'arm' of Bulova, not a Model Name.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted May 19, 2012 - 9:01am

In reply to by OldTicker

OCEAN BILL OF LADING
BILL OF LADING NO.
KKLUHK8706025E
SHIPPER
BULOVA WATCH INTERNATIONAL LTD.
UNIT 2-3, 3 F, SIU WAI IND. CTR., 29-33 WING HONG
CONSIGNEE
BULOVA CORPORATION.
ONE BULOVA AVENUE, WOODSIDE NY 11377, NEW YORK, U.
NOTIFY PARTY
 
Possibly Canadian division was mis-information
 
Bulova International was/is a Division of Bulova Corporation.
bobbee
Posted May 18, 2012 - 6:48pm

Maybe that is what it was called in Canada, Mark. That makes it the watch's name.

bobbee
Posted May 18, 2012 - 6:59pm

Also, all the other men's 23's in the D.B. are 10 mvmnt, this is an 11.

William Smith
Posted May 19, 2012 - 12:18am

In reply to by bobbee

This watch could be a Bulova 23, or in the superset of Bulova 23 models, but released and advertised as the International. We don't know.  The model may be known as the International, and it just happened to have 23 jewels.   Perhaps is was never marketed in USA, but only in Canada and/or elsewhere.

The Bulova 23 series came out in 1954 w/ the release of the "Bulova 23" (Shawkey, 2010).  By 1955, it is reported that there were seven different models available, all being assigned letter vairants.  The orininal 1954 model was renamed from "Bulova 23" to "Bulova 23 A" to fit the variant pattern of the six new models released in 1955.  Originally the 23 series came in the 11 linge (as subject watch).  The 10 ligne was introduced later in the 23 series, allowing a slightly smaller and thinner case design.  Shawkey states that the 11 ligne movement used in the 23's was made completly in USA, and could be used in place of the Swiss eubauchs or Swiss complets being imported at the time.  Whether this USA mvent is a defining charactoristic of Bulova 23's or the Swiss mvents were also being used is not clear.  By 1964, there were at least 107 Bulova 23's produced, with out to three letter variant designations. 

Since subject watch is Swiss(w/o BXW or USA), 11 ligne , the seller states "not sold in USA", and there is discussion of this watch being produced/marketed in Canada, could the first letter of the case serial number be associated with Bulova International plant in Canada?  And therefore, strengthen the possibility that for this model, the International on the dial may refer to this Canada plant rather than the model/series name?   

Fifth- tell me about Bulova Canada AKA International - or as OldTicker says, do you have proof.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted May 20, 2012 - 9:07pm

In reply to by William Smith

Swiss on the rotor Will.

'Bulova Watch International' referenced above in prior post.