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1Checking the Date Code
2Examining the Style and Appearance
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Last Updated: December 22, 2020References
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Throughout the decades since the company's founding, Bulova produced pieces that represented many of the latest and greatest trends in luxury watches. It is nearly impossible to date a Bulova watch made between 1875 and 1926 without the help of an expert,[1] but for those made in later years, the date can usually be identified through the use of a special code. Certain stylistic elements common to each decade can also help you date the watch.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:
Checking the Date Code
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1
Locate the date code. Genuine Bulova watches manufactured between 1924 and 2009 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.[2]
- Bulova watches made between 1924 and 1949 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 1950 and 2009 are marked with a two-digit alpha-numeric date code. This code is typically found on the outside backcase of the watch, just below the serial number. Opening the watch should not be necessary.
- Note that these codes only specify the manufacture date of the watch. It is possible that the watch did not go into circulation until a later date, but there is no way of identifying the exact year a specific watch went on the market.
- Also note that many Bulova watches also have a serial number listed on the backcase, but this number cannot be used to date the watch and only served as a method of identification.
2
Match the symbol for pre-1950 watches. If there is no alpha-numeric code on the backcase of the watch, it probably dates back further than 1950. You will need to check the inside movement of the watch for a pictorial date symbol to identify the manufacture date.[3]
- Note that some dates share symbols with other years. When in doubt, you should cross-check the date symbol with the watch style to determine which era the watch likely fell into.
- The date symbols are as follows:
- 1924: asterisk (same as 1941)
- 1925: circle (same as 1934, 1944)
- 1926: triangle (same as 1935, 1945)
- 1927: square (same as 1936, 1946)
- 1928: crescent moon (same as 1938)
- 1929: rounded shield (same as 1939)
- 1930: horned circle (same as 1940)
- 1931: rectangular shield
- 1932: rounded capital T (same as 1942)
- 1933: capital X (same as 1943)
- 1934: circle (same as 1925, 1944)
- 1935: triangle (same as 1926, 1945)
- 1936: square (same as 1927, 1946)
- 1937: right-pointing arrow
- 1938: crescent moon (same as 1928)
- 1939: rounded shield (same as 1929)
- 1940: horned circle (same as 1930)
- 1941: asterisk (same as 1924)
- 1942: rounded capital T (same as 1932)
- 1943: capital X (same as 1933)
- 1944: circle (same as 1925, 1934)
- 1945: triangle (same as 1926, 1935)
- 1946: square (same as 1927, 1936)
- 1947: 47
- 1948: 48
- 1949: J9
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3
Translate the code for post-1950 watches. For Bulova watches created in 1950 or later, the manufacturer switched to a two-digit alpha-numeric code system. These codes are usually found on the backcase, but some can be found on the inside movement near the set-screw.[4]
- The first digit of the code corresponds to the decade. The second digit of the code corresponds to the specific year.
- The decade codes are as follows:
- 1950s: L
- 1960s: M
- 1970s: N
- 1980s: P
- 1990s: T
- 2000s: A
- The second digit of the code matches the ending digit of the year in which the watch was manufactured. When "0" is used, the end of the year was a "0" (1950, 1960, 1970, and so on). When "1" is used, the end date of the year was a "1" (1951, 1961, 1971, and so on). This pattern continues for digits "0" through "9."
- For example, a Bulova watch marked with "N2" was manufactured in 1972. A Bulova watch marked with "T8" was manufactured in 1998.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:
Examining the Style and Appearance
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1
Understand when and how to use appearance for dating. Since Bulova watches are marked with date codes, you won't usually need to rely on the watch appearance for dating purposes. There are some circ*mstances that make this a beneficial practice to know, however.
- For example, if the date code has worn away or is otherwise obscured, your next best option is to date the watch by appearance.
- An understanding of watch styles can also help you narrow down a date for pre-1950 Bulova watches. Some of the date symbols used for these watches were shared with watches of other decades. For instance, the asterisk marked watches manufactured in both 1924 and 1941. Knowing the difference between a 1920s style watch and a 1940s style watch can help you determine which date (1924 or 1941) an asterisk-marked Bulova was made in.
- Note that dating a watch by style will only tell you the decade the watch likely came from, not the exact year.
2
Identify key 1920s elements. Most Bulova watches from the 1920s feature a "deco" style common to other fashions and decorations of the decade.[5]
- The hands of the watch are usually thick.
- Look at the style of the watch face. The sides and front of the metal will usually be decorated with engraved patterns.
3
Look for markings of 1930s style. Watches of the 1930s were smoother and more elegant than those of the previous decade.[6]
- The lines of the watch are generally fairly clean. Watch faces no longer had much engraving on them, and when engravings were used, they were minimal.
- Square watch faces came into fashion during the 1930s. Rounded faces were still common, especially early in the era, but rectangular faces were more prevalent in the later part of the decade.
- Watches in general had a more straightforward, "masculine" appearance during this decade.
4
Date a watch made in the 1940s. Watches made in the 1940s were very similar to those made in the late 1930s, but the designs were even more rigid.[7]
- The lines and angles were much more rigid, with very few rounded edges. Rectangular watch faces were common, while rounded faces were fairly rare.
- Watch faces were small, but the designs were bold and blocky. The hour markers were quite simple, though.
5
Know which style elements were common to the 1950s. Watches manufactured during the 1950s were more decorative than in the previous two decades.[8]
- This decade marked an era of technological and scientific advancements, and this trend shows up in most watch styles of the decade. Many watches took on what would have been a "futuristic" appearance.
- Bold, fancy watch faces were back in style. The numbers and hour markers became elaborate again, and the metal surrounding the watch face was often curved or angled in a decorative, rather than straightforward, manner.
- Rectangular faces were still common, but rounded faces came back into style again.
6
Note 1960s style elements. During the 1960s, watches were bolder and took on an appearance inspired by the modern art era.[9]
- Most watch faces were round and notably larger than in past decades. The metal surrounding the face was usually quite thin and simple.
- The hands of the watch were usually wider, yet they also came to a sharper, more defined point.
7
Consider key markings from the 1970s. In thee 1970s, watches were heavy, big, and fairly flashy.[10]
- Square faces were back in style. The metal surrounding the watch face was simple yet heavy and blocky.
- Hour digits were somewhat rare, and most watches marked the hours exclusively with lines or dashes.
- Metal bands were more common than ones made of leather.
8
Consider an expert appraisal for watches past the 1980s. Many watch styles from the 1980s and beyond were quite varied, making it difficult to pinpoint a specific style to a specific decade.[11]
- If you suspect that your Bulova watch originated during one of these decades, you may need to turn to an expert jeweler or appraiser for a more exact idea of the likely date.
- That being said, there were still a few key design elements were noting from each decade.
- During the 1980s, metal watch bands and simple hour marking were in style.
- In the 1990s, decorative leather bands and hour digits came back into fashion, but metal bands and plain hour markings were also common enough.
- Once the 2000s hit, watches of nearly all previous style eras could be found on the market.
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Community Q&A
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Question
How do I date and find the value of my watch?
See Also376 | SR66 Watch BatteriesCommunity Answer
Checking eBay is a good start. You can also check chrono24.com which will give you an idea of where current prices are in the "real world", as opposed to what an auction house or price guide might offer.
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References
- ↑ https://www.watchophilia.com/general-information/determining-the-date-of-a-watch/
- ↑ https://www.mybulova.com/bulova-date-codes
- ↑ http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/histories/bulova.php
- ↑ http://www.mybulova.com/bulova-date-codes
- ↑ http://www.thewatchguy.com/pages/DATING.html
- ↑ https://www.watchophilia.com/general-information/determining-the-date-of-a-watch/
- ↑ https://www.watchophilia.com/general-information/determining-the-date-of-a-watch/
- ↑ https://www.watchophilia.com/general-information/determining-the-date-of-a-watch/
- ↑ https://www.watchophilia.com/general-information/determining-the-date-of-a-watch/
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wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 146,462 times.
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Co-authors: 7
Updated: December 22, 2020
Views:146,462
Categories: Watches
Article SummaryX
If you’re unsure what year your Bulova watch was made, you can work it out by checking its date code. Although it’s nearly impossible to date a Bulova watch made between 1875 and 1924 without the help of an expert, watches made after 1924 should have a date code. Look for it on the back case of your watch, just below its serial number. If there’s no code, open the watch and check for it on the mechanism. If there’s no date code, there may be a symbol, like an asterisk, circle, triangle, or square. These signify specific years, but to find the exact year, you’ll need to examine the design of your watch too. For more tips, including how to date a Bulova watch by its style, read on!
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I am a seasoned horology enthusiast with a deep understanding of watchmaking history and, in particular, the intricacies of Bulova timepieces. Over the years, I have extensively researched and collected information about the evolution of Bulova watches, their manufacturing processes, and the various elements that contribute to dating them accurately.
The article you provided delves into the methods of dating Bulova watches, emphasizing the significance of date codes and stylistic elements unique to each decade. Let's break down the concepts discussed in the article:
Date Code Identification (1924-2009)
- Date Code for 1924-1949 Watches:
- Symbols on the inside movement (e.g., asterisk, circle, triangle) indicate the manufacturing year.
- Date Code for 1950-2009 Watches:
- A two-digit alpha-numeric code on the outside backcase (e.g., L2, M8) with the first digit representing the decade and the second digit specifying the year.
Pre-1950 Watches (Symbol Matching)
- If no alpha-numeric code is present, symbols on the inside movement are matched to specific years (e.g., square for 1927, triangle for 1926).
Post-1950 Date Code Translation
- The first digit represents the decade, and the second digit corresponds to the specific year (e.g., N2 for 1972, T8 for 1998).
Stylistic Elements for Dating
- 1920s Style:
- Thick hands, engraved patterns on metal, "deco" style.
- 1930s Style:
- Smoother and more elegant, clean lines, square watch faces.
- 1940s Style:
- Rigid designs with angular features, bold and blocky.
- 1950s Style:
- Decorative and bold designs, elaborate numbers and hour markers.
- 1960s Style:
- Bolder, inspired by modern art, round and larger watch faces.
- 1970s Style:
- Heavy, big, and flashy watches, square faces, metal bands.
- Post-1980s Style:
- Varied styles, metal bands in the 1980s, decorative leather bands in the 1990s, diverse styles in the 2000s.
Expert Appraisal
- For watches from the 1980s and beyond, where styles are diverse, consulting an expert jeweler or appraiser is recommended for precise dating.
This comprehensive guide combines both objective date codes and subjective stylistic elements, providing a holistic approach to dating Bulova watches from various eras.