[jackteet]

Hi, Guys, sorry vbut I am as usual being a pain in the bum. For quite some time I have wanted a near mint 1852 or 1853 President. Number 1 has come up at between $220 and 250. Pic number 2 is a 1953 President with the plain white dial. This is not for sale and I list for reference purposes only.
I move from one pic to the next and still cant decide. This has gone on all day and I still cant decide. They need new eyes so I thought I would as usual bore you guys. So those of you who have nothing better to do, like watching paint dry, may I impose upon you for a vote please. TIA jack

 

[mikeyt_53]

That first one appears to be a President 'C' version but i dont recognize the dial / numerals on the 2nd one as a 1953 model. To my eye its either from an older watch or has been repainted. They used a very similar case with their 'Princeton' models in the later 1950's. I do prefer the look of the 2nd one but I'm not sure its authentic.

There are a number of excellent examples over at the MyBulova site.

 

[jackteet]

Hi Mikey, sorry I have made a mistake. The second one is said to be a 1952. The seller has a couple of these watches and this is by far the better one. He did mention that he had another one somewhere and would look for it. He said he found it and "installed it".
looking more closely the case is the same as the first watch he showed me and which I immediately rejected. there is a litte loss of plating on the inner edge of the lug to the left of 7 0`clock.
Do you think watch "2" is a "cut and shut" and not a genuine Bulova watch. Looking to the future, who knows when we might want to sell and buy again. Should this be bits and pieces it might be worth very little. I am looking at paying possibly $220 to $250. Perhaps I should walk away. I value your opinion. jack

 

[mikeyt_53]

I'm not confident that the 2nd watch is authentic simply because of that dial as i cannot find another example with that same printing. All of the examples i viewed had press-fit numerals. The watch should have a '10BM' - 21 jewel movement and both the movement & case should be date coded as "L2" if it is a 1952 (or L3 for a 1953 etc)

 

[jackteet]

Hi Mikey, I have tried to get into "my bulova" but its down at present. Just to make sure I have this right, the case is a genuine "President" but whilst the dial is bulova, its not from a President model. would this wrong combination devalue the watch. I am not happy to pay around $230 for a "fake" president. I am inclined to walk away from this one. Would you do the same. regards jack

 

[jackteet]

sorry Mikey I meant to mention that whilst scanning through DuckDuckgo I came across " "Watchophilia" which has a fantastic library of top notch pics of the Bulova range with info to match. I dont know whether you are already aware of this site.Apologies if you are. jack.

 

[mikeyt_53]

Watchophilia is the equivalent of MyBulova and yes i have both of them bookmarked for reference work. MyBulova was working when i first mentioned it earlier but i saw that it was down most of this evening (here) and that site does have a habit of disappearing for a few hours...

I (personally) wouldn't pay that much for that watch if i wasn't sure of its authenticity and I might also simply look for something else.

btw... what are you still doing up playing on a computer? Its like 4:45am in Spain..

 

[jackteet]

Hi Mikey, I am going to walk away from this watch. I would not have known had it not been for your knowledge so as always I am most grateful. regards jack

 

[jackteet]

Watchophilia is the equivalent of MyBulova and yes i have both of them bookmarked for reference work. MyBulova was working when i first mentioned it earlier but i saw that it was down most of this evening (here) and that site does have a habit of disappearing for a few hours...

I (personally) wouldn't pay that much for that watch if i wasn't sure of its authenticity and I might also simply look for something else.

btw... what are you still doing up playing on a computer? Its like 4:45am in Spain..

Many thanks Mikey, I told the ebay seller that I was not going to purchase. I didnt give any reason. He came back throwing his toys out of the pram and suggesting that I just make contact with sellers for the love of it. Telling me never to contact him again. He sells only Bulovas vintage and is based in Washington, Utah. The gloves were off so I replied and told him exactly why I had pulled out and mentioned that I had enlisted the help of a few vintage forums and also ebay community. Poetic licence as I only contacted you but he isnt to know that. A most unpleasant chap with 94% feedback and just over 550 sales.
Thanks for your opinion Mikey and I am back on ebay and etsy looking for a slightly ornate rectangular vintage.
Purely on a personal note which US vintage make do you particularly favour.
Yes I got carried away and forgot the time but doing better now.

 

[mikeyt_53]

The 94% feedback would have raised alarm bells for me....

As for my favourite vintage watches? I dunno. For a time i really got into Gruens of the 1930's & 1940's and I have a few Bulovas of that era along with a few Elgins, Walthams and Hamiltons. For me now though its more about the particular watch appealing to me rather than the brand.

btw... MyBulova.com is back up & running. Personally i think their pics and info are slightly better than Watchophilia.

 

[jackteet]

Thanks for that Mikey I share your views. At present I am smitten by the bulova president but most around at present I wouldnt give a dime for. Still one will come along and I shall check on MyBulova to make sure the model exists.
I dont know whether some makes command higher prices than others. Hamilton and Elgin seem higher in price than say Waltham and Benrus. Perhaps it just comes down to popularity.
Oh dear look at the time I really must go to bye, byes. nighty, night.