THIS SALE IS IN GB POUNDS (£).

SHIPPING TO PAYPAL CONFIRMED ADDRESS ONLY.

Please read the whole description and study ALL photos before purchasing.

See also my other watches currently for sale.

Offered for sale is this excellent 87-year-old vintage BULOVA ‘LAFAYETTE’ gentleman’s Art Deco wrist watch, made in 1930 and in beautiful used condition throughout. Its styling is quintessentially Art Deco with a dial typical of the period and a hint of ornate filigree adorning each side of the tonneau case. 

The high-quality 15-jewel hand-wound mechanical movement has just been overhauled and is running very well, keeping good time* (please see note below about vintage watch timekeeping).  

— FULLY SERVICED, CLEANED AND OILED ON 1st MARCH 2017

— NEW MAINSPRING FITTED

— NEW CRYSTAL FITTED

— NEW LEATHER STRAP FITTED

— CASE ULTRASONICALLY CLEANED INSIDE AND OUT

This watch is NOT WATERPROOF!

PLEASE NOTE: This watch is 87 years old. As with anything else mechanical of this age, certain idiosyncrasies are quite common on some of these older watches. Although this watch has just been fully serviced, it can sometimes require a light shake or turn of the wrist to spark it to life after winding from a standing start. This is only mentioned in order to provide as accurate a description as possible. The watch then runs strongly, keeping good time for the duration of its wind.

This watch is triple-signed BULOVA — on the dial, movement, and inner case-back, confirming its authenticity.

Most people who wear vintage watches do so as a statement of individuality and a fascination of the mechanical prowess and history that these unique and beautifully designed timepieces have witnessed throughout their lifetimes. A vintage car is not necessarily going to be the most reliable car on the road, even if it has just been serviced, but there is still something very special about owning and driving one. A vintage watch should be considered in a similar way.

SIZE — 

26mm (Just over 1 inch wide) x 36mm total length. 

MEN’S VINTAGE WATCHES WERE MADE SMALLER THAN THOSE OF TODAY AND MAY ALSO BE WORN BY A WOMAN. Please study the following detailed dimensions and compare them on a ruler so that you understand the size of this watch before purchasing.

The case measures approximately 26mm wide, excluding the crown. Length is 29mm (36mm total length to the tips of the lugs). The barrel-shape dial/crystal measures 20mm x 25mm (15mm wide at either end) and the watch thickness is 10mm including the crystal. 

The watch is supplied with a brand new black half-padded leather strap, 16mm wide where it attaches to the lugs, tapering to 14mm at the buckle. The watch measures a total length of 230mm buckle to tip and should fit a wrist circumference of between 165mm and 190mm.

The above dimensions are approximate. 

CASE —

White rolled gold hinged case in excellent vintage condition. Shows usual light scratches but no other notable flaws. 

The hinged tonneau-shape case features ornate filigree on either side and is in very good used condition. Apart from some light scratches that one would expect on any vintage watch, there are no other obvious signs of damage anywhere. 

The case is hinged to allow watchmaker access to the dial and movement within. The hinges work perfectly, with the back snapping together tightly with no gaps.

The inside case-back is signed BULOVA QUALITY together with the 1927 patent date for this case type. The case serial number below starting with 0 signifies, on a Bulova of this era and with this particular movement, a manufacture date of 1930.

The acrylic crystal is in perfect condition, being a NOS (new old stock) replacement just fitted.

DIAL —

Art Deco dial looks in very good condition for its age.

The silver two-tone dial features lumed numerals (luminosity has now been lot with age) plus black printed BULOVA signature, inner minute chapter track and second-hand sub-dial, all intact and in good shape. The blued steel hands are also in good condition. The background shows some light ageing, but nothing that offends overall — please see close-up photos.

MOVEMENT —

High-quality Swiss-made Bulova 10AN 15-jewel hand-wound movement. JUST SERVICED on 1st MARCH 2017. Running strongly and keeping good time* (see note below about vintage watch timekeeping).

 

The watch is powered by Swiss-made BULOVA 10AN 15-jewel hand-wound mechanical movement which comes with its original see-through dust cap. The 10AN was a reliable ‘workhorse’ movement fitted to many Bulovas from 1925 to 1937 and features a Breguet hairspring, as fitted to some other high-end watches, including Rolex, and designed to aid more consistent timekeeping throughout the duration of the wind. This movement is stamped with Bulova’s date code symbol for 1929, showing it was made just a year before the case for this watch was manufactured. It is quite normal to see vintage Bulovas with case and movement dates differing by a year or so as certain components were date-stamped when made and then stored until required for final assembly. For dating when this watch most likely left the Bulova factory in New York, we would assume the later 1930 case date. 

For your further reassurance and added value, this watch has just been FULLY SERVICED, CLEANED AND OILED 

on 1st March 2017.

 This involved completely dismantling the movement, ultrasonically cleaning and inspecting all components, rebuilding, lubricating with the finest Swiss Moebius watch oils and grease, demagnetising and timing the watch. A replacement NOS (new old stock) mainspring has also been fitted. It winds and sets smoothly — sometimes requiring a very light shake or turn of the wrist to spring it to life — but then runs well and keeps good time* (please see note below about vintage watch timekeeping).

In order to keep mechanical watches running as reliably as possible, such servicing is recommended every three to five years — or even sooner if the movement becomes dirty through dust ingress or gets wet. The cost of this work can easily be £100 or more, so as this watch has just been serviced, please factor this in the value of this watch.

Please note that this watch will require fully winding once every 24 hours if you intend wearing it and occasional winding (every week or two) is recommended when not being worn.

*A general note on vintage watch timekeeping and reliability

Please do not expect quartz accuracy from any vintage mechanical watch. The accepted timekeeping tolerances for a brand new watch back in the 1940s and 50s was +/- 3 minutes a day and, unless otherwise stated, my watches should still keep time to within these parameters. Most perform significantly better. 

It is recommended to wind your watch fully once only first thing in the morning. Do not repeatedly wind the watch throughout the day, and certainly never whilst still on the wrist as this can put strain on the winding stem and cause wear to its bearing. If you wish to check overall timekeeping, wind the watch as above, wear it all day and place dial-up on a bedside table or desk overnight. This will provide a good indication of its average timekeeping over a 24 hour period. Timekeeping can vary according to the various positions it experiences on the wrist (dial up, or when it is on its side, etc.) and also a fully-wound mainspring provide more power than when it has almost wound down. Testing timekeeping this way takes into account all these factors and provides a good indication of its overall accuracy.

Cleaning and freshly oiling a vintage watch provides it with the best chance of optimum performance, given its age. However, this does not imply that such servicing restores it to ‘as-new’ condition. These watches are many decades old and some develop their own idiosyncrasies and character, much like older cars. For instance, a light shake or turn of the wrist can be required to spring it to life after winding. While disassembled, the movement is carefully observed to ensure that there is no excessive wear and that no parts are broken or damaged. Any badly worn parts are replaced if necessary and when re-assembled and oiled all functions are checked to ensure the watch is working as well as it possibly can. Following servicing, it should run reliably for the foreseeable future, unless it is dropped, damaged or subjected to water or dusty conditions, or become magnetised. However, due to their age, please be aware that vintage watches are likely to be less reliable than a modern watch, even if serviced, and ongoing TLC and maintenance from a local watchmaker might be required in the future. For this reason, I am unable to provide any warranty beyond the standard 14-day return period. 

Even though my watches are very securely packed and protected when posted, sometimes there are turbulent conditions in transit that have been known to affect fine adjustment. If this happens and your watch is not keeping acceptable time when received, just let me know and I will be only too pleased to help. I want you to be completely happy with your purchase and whilst I am unable to offer an ongoing future repair service, I will of course ensure that you are completely satisfied with the working condition of your watch when delivered. If there is any problem at all on receipt, please contact me immediately and I will arrange repair or adjustment at my expense — or provide a no-quibble return and full refund if you prefer.

PLEASE ALSO SEE MY OTHER WATCHES CURRENTLY FOR SALE.

Vintage watches are proving to be a great investment, especially striking, highly collectable examples such as this from the more famous brands.  

PAYMENT BY PAYPAL IS REQUESTED WITHIN 24 HOURS PLEASE.

 If there is any reason why you may not be able to make payment within this timeframe, please message me through eBay to discuss BEFORE purchasing the item. Due to a growing number of non-payers, please be aware that after 48 hours an Unpaid Item Notice will be raised automatically by eBay if payment is still outstanding. Non-paying buyers will be reported to eBay and this may affect their ability to purchase items in the future.

Paypal is the only method of payment I can accept from international purchasers. For UK buyers, Paypal is my preferred means of payment but I may accept personal cheque (subject to clearance time) or direct bank transfer. Please message me to discuss BEFORE purchasing.

Your watch will be very securely packaged and normally despatched to you by the next working day following receipt of cleared payment. Please note that in order to qualify for Paypal Seller Protection and in accordance with their terms and conditions, I CAN ONLY SHIP TO A BUYER’S PAYPAL CONFIRMED ADDRESS and therefore, if you are paying by Paypal, I am unable to send to any other location.

 

For your reassurance, and mine, I will only ship by one of the following insured and trackable means:

UK Addresses

For UK buyers, your watch will be sent by ROYAL MAIL SPECIAL DELIVERY GUARANTEED at a flat cost of £7.50, which insures the item up to £500 and guarantees next working day delivery. The package is also fully tracked so you can check delivery status online at any time. For multiple purchases up to £500 value, I will happily include within the same postage cost.

International Addresses

For overseas buyers, the watch will be sent by one of the following methods, depending on location. A flat rate charge of £13.95 includes insurance up to £250, which is the maximum available. Multiple purchases up to £250 total value will be included for the same shipping cost or, if they exceed this value, I must ship separately and charge individual shipping costs for each.

1. ROYAL MAIL INTERNATIONAL TRACKED AND SIGNED. This service is available to 43 countries and tracks the item from posting to delivery. It also requires a signature on delivery and, unless a winning bidder requests otherwise, I will use this preferred service if it is available to a particular country.

2. ROYAL MAIL INTERNATIONAL TRACKED. This is available to 33 countries and tracks the item from posting to delivery. It does not require a signature.

3. ROYAL MAIL INTERNATIONAL SIGNED. This is available to 190 countries and is tracked to the point where it leaves the UK and then confirms when delivered. It requires a signature on delivery.

Please see the attached link for a list of countries to which each of the above services relate: 

http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/RM-International-Tracking-Signature-Services-Coverage-April2015.pdf

The above Royal Mail International services officially take 5-7 working days for delivery, but can take considerably longer. In most cases, Royal Mail ensures arrival of the package to the first port of entry in the country of delivery within just a few days. Thereafter it is entirely dependent upon local customs intervention and the speed of that country's internal postal service as to how long it will take to arrive at the purchaser's address. Packages sent to the US, for instance, are often tracked at the first entry point within two days of shipping. However, based on recent experiences, it can then take a further one to four weeks for final delivery, especially if the package is subject to security checks at customs. A watch sent to Florida recently was tracked in New York just 2 days after being posted in the UK. Tracking status didn’t change for a further 23 days and it took a total of 27 days to final delivery. Normally it would be expected to be there within a total of 10-14 days. PLEASE BE AWARE WHEN BIDDING THAT DELIVERY TIME IS OUT OF MY CONTROL and I cannot be held responsible for any such international delays. Insurance claims for non-delivery cannot be actioned until 25 working days after shipping. 

 

Your satisfaction and my reputation are very important to me. If there is a problem on receipt of the item, PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE NEGATIVE OR NEUTRAL FEEDBACK. Please be assured that I will always do my very best to help resolve any issue to your entire satisfaction, so contact me immediately on receipt of the watch if there is anything you are unhappy with.

BEFORE BIDDING PLEASE NOTE: 

THIS AUCTION IS IN GB POUNDS (£). INTERNATIONAL BUYERS — PLEASE CHECK EXCHANGE RATES. 

As a watch collector myself, I like to be able to see what I am buying. That is why I provide the most comprehensive and accurate description I can, including close-up photographs from all angles. If there is anything else you would like to know about this watch, or to see further specific photos, please let me know and I’ll be happy to get back to you just as quickly as I can.

If you are new to vintage watches, here are a few things to be aware of:

SIZE

Vintage watches, especially gentlemen’s watches, were generally made smaller than today’s contemporary timepieces. Please satisfy yourself before bidding that you are happy with its size by checking the dimensions shown above on a ruler. Having pointed this out, I regret that I am unable to accept returns if having purchased the watch you then consider it to be too small. 

 

TIMEKEEPING 

Please be aware that vintage mechanical watches do not keep as accurate time as modern quartz watches and can gain or lose a few minutes a day. Whilst it may not be possible to achieve timekeeping comparable with a quartz watch, a good watchmaker can often regulate and fine-tune a movement (subject to its age and condition) to suit a particular person’s style of wearing and the typical angles that the watch experiences whilst on the wrist. It is not a good idea to try regulating the watch yourself — I strongly recommend taking it in to your local watchmaker who can remove the back with the correct tools and without damaging the case. They also work in dust-free conditions and this is very important as the smallest particle of airborne dust or hair entering the movement can be enough to stop a watch working.

WATER RESISTANCE 

Vintage watches are generally NOT waterproof, so be sure to keep your watch well away from water, steam or damp conditions. If exposed to such conditions, corrosion can form inside the movement and stop it working. It’s always a good idea to remove your watch when washing your hands and NEVER swim, shower or bath whilst wearing your watch.

WINDING AND CHANGING THE TIME

Manual-wind mechanical watches typically require winding once a day until fully wound, but you should stop as soon as any resistance is felt. This can be anything from 20 to 40 turns. Normally, the watch will spring to life during the wind, but often these old movements require a shake or tap with the finger to get things moving. To change the time, pull out the winding crown until it clicks. If it doesn’t move, wind it backwards half a turn or so to engage the cogs and try again. Then wind the hands in a clockwise direction. It is normally fine to make small adjustments backwards, but best practice to wind forwards as some movements can otherwise suffer damage. Be sure to push the crown back in again afterwards. Always remove your watch from your wrist before winding or adjusting the time as this can cause damage to the winding stem. If you are not using the watch for an extended period of time, winding it once a week or so will help keep the oils distributed.

SERVICING

Mechanical watches require servicing every few years and an indicator that this is due will be that either the watch will run intermittently or stop working completely. If you purchase a vintage watch that has no service history and intend wearing it regularly, a trip to your local watchmaker is to be recommended so that you know this work has been carried out. A mechanical watch service entails completely stripping the movement and carefully inspecting and cleaning each component to remove dirt and congealed oil. The movement is then reassembled and oiled at specific lubrication points before being regulated and tested. Most watchmakers also utrasonically clean and polish the case when servicing. 

I have made every effort to describe this watch as accurately as possible and am not aware of any defects not mentioned in the description. This watch being offered for sale is many decades old and under close scrutiny will show minor surface scratches and signs of use. Please study the photographs carefully which are intended as part of the description. They are enlarged many times for clarity but bear in mind that to the naked eye many of these imperfections are hardly noticeable. Please be aware that due to their age vintage watches can develop faults unexpectedly, even if they have been serviced, and can run erratically or stop working if exposed to magnetism (i.e. close proximity to mobile phones, ipads, TV sets, computer equipment, audio speakers or any electrical motor generating electro-magnetic fields). Exposure to water, moisture or dust can also have devastating effects, or if the watch is accidentally dropped damaging one of the pivots or jewels. As the above factors are out of my control once the watch has left me, I regret that I cannot provide any ongoing guarantee beyond that it will be as described and in working condition when you receive it (it may need winding!). 

If there is any problem on receipt please let me know straight away. I package my watches very securely to minimise the risk of any damage, but on rare occasions problems can occur in transit. For instance a sudden jolt can cause the hairspring to catch or hook up on itself and then the watch will not work. Also, scanning equipment used by postal and courier services has been known to magnetise a watch, stopping it from working. These are usually easy fixes so if there is any problem on receipt of your watch, PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE NEUTRAL OR NEGATIVE FEEDBACK. Contact me immediately and I’ll always do my best to help — I want you to be completely satisfied. Likewise, if I’ve missed something and you feel I have misdescribed the watch, I will offer a full, no-quibble refund including postage cost, on the watch’s safe return

. 

Please note that due to eBay scams, I will not sign for a return package unless by prior arrangement, so contact me first if there is any problem. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS I WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP.