Bulova serial number dating

The digit represents the actual year in that decade. Therefore, M7 is interpreted as It is possible that you may have a watch in which the date code on the movement is different to the date code on the case.

That is common, however, it has been known to never seen an original watch that had a variation of more than one year. The number appears to have no date correlation Dial signed "Bulova" or "Lady Maxim" or, possibly, "Hudson Maxim" Movement has a caliber designation--most likely an "A" or "10" caliber movement Will have a movement serial number No movement date code Case serial number begins with "11" or "12" True wrist watch with the crown at the 3 o'clock position popular, but still see some converted pocket watches Case signed "American Standard" with shield symbol Case description of " "Warranted 25 Years" and most likely 19K Gold Filled Movement signed "Bulova Watch Co.

The number appears to have no date correlation Dial signed "Bulova" Movement has a caliber designation--most likely an "10" movement Will have a movement serial number No movement date code Case serial number begins with "12" or "13" True wrist watch now predominant style Case signed "American Standard" with shield symbol or "Bulova Quality" Case description of " "25 Years" if signed "American Standard" or "Filled" if signed "Bulova Quality" Movement signed "Bulova Watch Co.

Ladies' models may begin with "5" or "1" True wrist watch rather than converted pocket watch is the norm Through Dating a Bulova watch becomes quite a bit easier beginning with models manufactured in Triangle movement symbol circled in red , along with other watch characteristics, indicates as the manufacture date Case serial number beginning with "6", along with other watch characteristics, indicates as the manufacture date Important factors in identifying the proper decade of the watch's manufacture based on it styling include the size and shape of the case, engraving placement and patterns, dial and hand designs, and movement calibers.

Serial Number Exceptions One exception to the "rule" that the first digit of the case serial number has a date correlation is seen in many ladies' models from the s. I do not know why this is true, but there is growing evidence that quite a few--perhaps even the majority--of ladies' models from the s do not bear the typical case serial number. Instead, they have a serial number that begins with a letter, such as "G" or "I", rather than a number.

This is a common characteristic of a serial number found in watches from the s, but it is not typically seen before that time. Unlike models from the s, these s ladies' watches do not have a case date code, so the only way to date the watch is by the movement symbol.

This phenomenon has not been observed in men's models from the s. Another exception to the serial number method of dating the case occurs toward the later part of the s. At that time, some, but not all, of the case serial numbers take the format seen in the s and beyond. That is, the case serial number ceases to have any date correlation, and a new type of date code appears on both the case and the movement.

This is the format seen from and beyond, and is, therefore, thoroughly explained in the section that follows. In the s models that follow this format, the case and movement date codes may be atypical in format, such as "A8" or "48" for and "A9" or "49" for These atypical date codes are listed in the date chart, which can be reviewed at Bulova Date Codes.

This method of dating a s case has been seen as early as Stainless steel models made in the s, such as the Watertight or Watertite , create another exception to the serial number method of dating a Bulova case. These models typically have short, 3- or 4-digit case serial numbers that obviously do not conform to the standard 7-digit format.

The serial numbers on these watches do not appear to have any date correlation, leaving the movement as the only method for dating the watch. An example of this type of watch is the Watertite. Similar to stainless steel models, solid gold and sterling silver models also often do not bear the typical 7-digit serial number.

In fact, these watches sometimes have no case serial number at all. This exception is particularly true of solid gold and silver models made in the s and s. In the s, solid gold models appear to have a stronger date correlation. A typical example of a s solid gold model with no case serial number can be observed here: Unknown. Yet another exception is a growing number of models from the s that have a case serial number containing only six digits, and the first digit does not have a date correlation.

On those watches, it is as though the first digit that should indicate the date has simply been left off. I have a significant, and growing, number of watches with such case markings in my collection. Here's one example: Lone Eagle. It is possible--perhaps even probable--that these six-digit case serial numbers correlate to the change in case signatures that we see during that same time period, but that possibility requires further study.

Search site site search by freefind. Inside case with June 10, patent date. Inside case with January 11, patent date. Triangle movement symbol circled in red , along with other watch characteristics, indicates as the manufacture date.

If it is stamped with the cope P0, your watch was produced in Locate the date code. Bulova Accutron Watches Serial Numbers Genuine Bulova watches manufactured between and should all have an imprinted date code marked somewhere on the watch. Once you locate and identify the date code, you should know the year during which that watch was manufactured. Bulova Watches Serial Number H Bulova watches made between and are marked with a date code symbol.

These symbols are typically located on the inside movement of the watch, so you or a professional jeweler will need to open the watch to locate the code. Bulova watches made between and are marked with a two-digit alpha-numeric date code.

We know the sequence numbers with confidence up to the end of ; these numbers are presented below. To establish the manufacture date of your movement, simply obtain the movement number then check it against the table, below.

Another user suggested that he remove the picture as someone could report to rolex using this serial number that it was their watch and it had been stolen, providing a serious problem to the true owner user who put up the picture.

For instance - I walk into a pawn shop, look to buy a rolex that appears authentic and am able to take the serial number visible on the watch and somehow search to make sure it hasn't been reported stolen. It's not a problem I have personally, as I would always buy from AD partially to avoid this situation I'm simply curious, but for other consumers be it in a pawn shop or Chrono 24 this seems like it would be a good resource.

Identification of a watch is a process, typically done as follows: First, establish that the watch is, in fact an Elgin. Second, attempt to identify the model by matching the case to known examples or to identification resources. If that fails, identify and date the movement to narrow your search and try again to identify the case. We look at each of these issues, below. Is it really an Elgin? Elgin made a very large number of private label watches, that is, Elgins released under different brand names, typically with difference cases.

Vintage Ladies Bulova Serial Number Model numbers were typically stamped inside the case back, as you can see in the picture at left.