Bulova 1963 Astrojet

Submitted by stuarthouston on July 14, 2015 - 11:38am
Manufacture Year
1963
Movement Model
11AFCD
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
-
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

I have just purchased this watch and am looking for some help in identifying it. It's stamped M3 on both the movement (11AFCD 17 Jewel) and the inside of the case back, which is also engraved 398-1 and MLB. The full case is stainless steel with a black dial with Bulova in a raised font and 'Astrojet' and 'Swiss' painted on.  Thanks in advance for any pointers! If you need any more info/pictures, let me know!

1963 Bulova Astrojet
1963 Bulova watch
1963 Bulova watch
1963 Bulova watch
1963 Bulova watch
mybulova_admin
Posted July 15, 2015 - 5:54am

Thanks for adding your watch. That's a great looking 1963 Bulova Aerojet (as per the dial). The black dial variant is unknown at this stage.

Andersok
Posted July 15, 2015 - 7:06am

According to the dial this is an Astrojet (not the Aerojet, but very similar); I don't think we have any ads for this one, but I also have a '63 in my possesion with the silver dial and calendar window; I've seen one or two others of these. None of the Pricelists that we have list this model, so perhaps it was not available in the US market. I suspect this caseback style has a little to do with overseas sales.

Astrojet, tentative perhaps

jabs
Posted July 15, 2015 - 8:08am

we don´t have any ads, I found few similar watch o eB auctions but no ads

for me tentative Astrojet too

Geoff Baker
Posted July 15, 2015 - 8:09am

Hello Stuart, welcome to myBulova. This is a fine looking watch, iconic style of the 1960's. The "Astrojet" designation is interesting, as Ken states we don't see this one too often.

I'm in for an Astrojet designation as well.

stuarthouston
Posted July 15, 2015 - 9:25am

Thanks folks, for the welcome, the ideas and the kind words; I'm very pleased with the watch so far. Like you, I haven't managed to find any information on the 'Astrojet' specifically outwith eBay ads. As well as a couple of black-dial variants identical to this one, I also found a silver-dial 'Astrojet' (presumably the same as yours, Andersok?) of quite similar style with the same movement and markings as mine on the inside of the caseback: http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-BULOVA-PRESIDENT-M3-ASTROJET-DATE-MECHA…

I'm afraid I know nothing of the watch's history, so can't confirm its origin, only that somehow it has made its way to Scotland!

William Smith
Posted July 15, 2015 - 2:49pm

I'm good with tentative Aerojet unknown variant.

November 1967 ad for Aerojet "E" 

The Robesonian - 4 Dec 1968   Aerojet "K"

May 1969 ad from the Texas La Marque Times.  Does the "Sea King CT" have Aerojet on dial below Bulova?

Apparently several different variants and styles available by 1971.

 March 1971 ad. AERONAUT "G".

Reverend Rob
Posted July 16, 2015 - 12:10am

I'm going to have to say Astrojet. I found several references to this not only on eBay but also on private auction house archives in Europe and Australia. Unfortunately not a lot of info about the watch, but descriptions included several dial colours and the 11 AFCD.

It appears to be a reference to the 1961 AstroJet by American Airlines, but this appears also to be a mainly European model. No idea why it would not have been sold in the US.

The case is by Maeder-Leschot of Biel, which was used exclusively in various 'International' and non-US market models. 

Also interesting to note, in the same time period Eterna also marketed an 'AstroJet' and maybe this is why it was so short lived, viz, there may have been a copyright issue that Bulova did not enter into or win. This is speculation, but would make the AstroJet a rare bird.

William Smith
Posted July 16, 2015 - 11:51am

Yea the case of subject watch looks like other models which were sold overseas.  Maybe "primarily" overseas vs exclusively overseas?  Good info on the case maker Rob.  There are, however, at least five US third party ads for various variants of Aerojet, so they must have been selling some of the variants in US.  

Perhaps these US advertised variants would have a different case maker, and subject watch is an example of the exclusively overseas product?

William Smith
Posted July 17, 2015 - 12:27am

To date:  
Aerojet:  Will, Rev Rob, Geoff, Jabs, Andersok, Admin

mybulova_admin
Posted July 17, 2015 - 7:14am

Will, I think everyone except you and me is saying Astrojet not Aerojet.

Wondering if the owner is reading the dial correctly....probably is.