The last time I submitted this model, it had the wrong style case back with a mismatched date code. There was speculation that it had been cobbled together from multiple other watches. There was even a suggestion that the dial wasn’t a legitimate Bulova dial. A second watch of the exact same model proves the legitimacy of this watch. I found another one and it has the correct style case back with a matching date code. The stamp inside the case back is listed in the ABC case parts catalog. According to the book, F3112 is a yellow case Bulova with an 11ANC movement. So here’s the info on the second watch.
1974 Bulova unknown model
Possibly a Sabre variant
Brown Sunburst Dial
Full Arabic white painted numerals
Luminous dots at each numeral
Luminous hands
The numerals are very similar to the Sabre “N” listed in the line book.
The case appears to be the same as the
‘71 Sea King
https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1971-sea-king-11495
’71 Sea King “B”
https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1971-sea-king-b-10769
and
‘73 Sea King “GV”
https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1973-sea-king-gv-11355
I looked through the 70’s ads. I found some day/date watches with the same number font but nothing similar overall.
In reply to I could not find an ad… by JimDon5822
In reply to I fully expect it to be… by Stinky_Sullivan
We do a good job of adding to the ads and also finding new reference materials to ID these unknowns. It is surprising how many models Bulova produced that they did not advertise. Since we do not have a lot of the earlier catalogs we can only rely on ads. Even when we have line books not all models are listed with pictures. It is extremely frustrating to add unknowns but when we do ID them, about 20 this past month I have ID'd. There is no better feeling. Regarding this watch. I have seen this dial with a date but not without. It is very distinctive and I do expect we might get lucky sometime in the future.
In reply to We do a good job of adding… by JimDon5822
But when an ad is found for a model that’s never been seen, nothing is said until someone submits one to the registry. I specifically bought these so I could add them to the registry so they can be identified as soon as sufficient information is found. It’s better to have them listed as unknown and waiting for an identifying ad than to not have them until after an ad is found. They are not the style I collect so I will not be keeping them. They have served their purpose for me.
In reply to But when an ad is found for… by Stinky_Sullivan
Thank you for that. I tend to do the same thing. We call them "unicorns". I personally look at the unknowns whenever new adds are posted. If you monitor the forums page you will find Vintage Ads by decade. These are smaller newspaper ads we have uncovered unlike the full page Vintage ad section. If you have not reviewed the forums please do. We have one forum string for each decade until 1980, for postal cards, boxes, famous people that wore Bulova etc.