Hi, Just bought this watch, haven't open yet, I'm told it has been serviced. Besides the info in the form I can only tell it is Swiss made..
In reply to 'SENATOR' in the early 1970's by FifthAvenueRes…
Thank you very much to all! And sorry for late reply, I thought I'd receive an alert through e-mail and didn't come check.
Yes, William, the 11ANACB I got from the seller. Meanwhile I've checked a database in which that specif reference doesn't exist, the closest is 11ANACB/D so possibly the seller forgot the D. Actually I was later told that A=automatic; C=center seconds; B=calendar; D=date, so the later reference seems to be the right one.
FifthAve, other observers also guessed Oceanographer and I'm curious to fall your lead on the Superwaterproof Case design - any info you can add on that is very welcome. However, as far as I could see from pictures, all Oceans had the depth proof on the dial (and Clippers feature a whale).
I left the watch for servicing and asked for a photo of the mechanism so I will soon find out the reference number for the model and any inscription on the inner case.
Meanwhile I have received from Bobee at Watchophilia a thorought albeit inconclusive analysis of this watch that I think deserves sharing:
"Let's start with Ambassador. After looking through all possible ads and watches ID'd as such, I have yet to come across an Ambassador with a day/date window. That does not rule it out definitely, as we just do not have all the information to do so, but that is my opinion on that ID.
We can rule out a Clipper or one of the many guises or variants, as these only came with 17 jewels. One ad from another site from 1964 shows a watch as a Sun Clipper with 23 jewels, but other ads for the sun clipper on that site and this one show it has only 17 jewels.
The Presidents of this time had 23 jewels and a day/date complication, but the only ads I have seen for them have an oval case. [DSS note: later I found one from 1965 with round case.]
Not a Date King, they only had a date window although they could have the correct jewel count as it is post-1965. Pre this date some of the models were called President.
There is a very similar watch to yours on another site naming it as a Bulova "23", but that is incorrect as that series ended in 1964 and never had a day/date.
Oceanographer, no markings as to depth test either on dial or case back. Also this model usually came with 17 jewels."
The Ambassador thesis had been advanced by me based on design analysis alone and after checking pictures of 1969-1972 models in your website.
Well, one thing that might validate Ambassador as a plausible option is that not all models have "Ambassador" on the dial: the "military" one from 1970 doesn't.
It is not clear in this one if the logo is featured above "Bulova" inscription - the minutes hand is at 12 - but another Ambassador from 1973 doesn't have it so logo on the dial is not a distintictive feature of this model.
On the other hand, both this 1973 model and the one from 1970 have "Automatic" and "23 Jewells" on the bottom, same as mine.
Also, I ended up buying a Swiss made 1972 Ambassador that features 11AN movement as well (and is actually similar in design, despite not having date-calendar complication nor the cross).
Best,
David