The case and dial (with the linen texture) look to be a match to the 1966 Date King 'E' except with a 23J movement instead of 30J and I wasn't able to find anything closer in the database or ads. It's a real beauty in person and exceptionally clean with the movement looking as clean as the day it was made. It's hard to make out the case number but under a scope I think it says 2524. The ABC catalog lists the cases in this order: 2523 - 2523 - 2524 - 2524 - 2425 - 2525 - 2525 - So I think the "2425", which is out of order, may have had the 4 and 5 transposed, and that one does list the movement as a 10CPACD. By the way, is there an etiquette on how often these ID posts should (or rather, shouldn't) be made? I just had another watch ID'd and I don't want to overstep.
In reply to Agreed with 1966 Bulova Date… by mybulova_admin
I was sold on DK "E" until I looked closer. The "E" is listed as 30J and watch is 23J. I looked through 1965-1967 linebooks and didn't find a match. I think Ken might be on to something. It sure looks like it could be a Sea King or an unknown Date King variant - all dependent on date confirmation..
In reply to Agreed with 1966 Bulova Date… by mybulova_admin
In reply to Don't you just love it when… by mybulova_admin
I found a possible match to this in the 1969 linebooks called the Sea King "BB".
Many of the Date King models turned into other model names, like Sea King, by 1969 (although there are still a couple DKs in the '69 linebook). I did not find any calendar Sea King calendar models pre 1969, so I'm not sold that this model name should be applied to a 1966 version. It was most likely a Date King variant, but cannot confirm.
Can you confirm the case datestamp. It almost appears to be M8. Also, I don't believe the gold plated movements would have been issued in 1966.
If we have a 1968 model, then Sea King "BB" could be the match.
In reply to I found a possible match to… by Andersok
In reply to Good call! The case is dated… by GuyMontag
Thank you for confirming.
Seems we tend to date a watch based on case, which puts this as a 1966. I would guess the movement is not original, being two years after in a fairly popular case. Leaves some possibilities for what the watch was originally.
Bulova was mostly using 'Selfwinding' on the dial in 1967. I find a mix for 1968 and 1969, based on ads and linebooks where either 'Selfwinding' or 'Automatic' were used. So, can't really date the dial.
1966 - Date King, unknown variant
1968 - Sea King "BB"
Love that linen dial! There is no rule on how many watches you can post at one time for ID. Personally, I only post one to a couple at a time so that the panel members don't have too many to ID at once. Once they have an ID post another one or couple more and so on.
1966 Bulova Date King "E"
Based on 1966 case date and 1968 movement, are we looking at a 1966 assembled Date King "E" (30 jewel watch) case containing a 1968 Sea King "BB" 23 Jewel movement and face? It could also be a 1968 assembled watch with a replaced back from a 1966, which would be identical. It's also possible that this was a factory leftover DK case used to assemble a Sea King in 1968.
Do we date it by the movement or case? I would be inclined to date it by the movement and tag it a 1968 Sea King "BB" and note a potential replacement case back?
I like the notion that we have 1966 surplus case stock that was used in 1968 to house the new movement for a new model.
1968 Bulova Sea King "BB" seems most appropriate.
It's rarely ever easy with Bulova and the sheer number of watches, models and variants they produced. It's often a 'best guess' game.