Vintage & Antique Bulova Watch Value – Worth of my Bulova?

Vintage & Antique Bulova Watch Value – How much is my Bulova worth?

Posted by George Bogdan Bejan on February 3, 2021

Vintage & Antique Bulova Watch Value

Founded in 1875, Bulova is a top American watch brand, currently owned by the Japanese multinational conglomerate Citizen Watch Co. With such a rich watchmaking history behind the brand, it might be a challenge to find the true value of your vintage or antique Bulova watch. We will show you some useful examples to help you get an idea of your watch’s price and determine its age, so make sure to follow along. 

In almost 150 years of watchmaking, Bulova has produced millions of watches, some models being worth more than others. Some of the rarest antique Bulova watches are the art deco ones from the 1910-1920s, which can be made of platinum and have real diamonds. Those are the real antique Bulova watches, as they are over 100 years old.

If you are interested in purchasing a vintage or pre-owned Bulova watch, make sure to check out our collection of Bulova watches, as we have some amazing models dating back to as far as the 1950s.

Bulova Watch Serial Numbers

One of the hardest things to find when searching for the value of your watch is the actual year in which your watch was made. Each company has used different styles of serial numbering in order to index their watches, some using more intuitive systems than others.

HOW DO I IDENTIFY MY BULOVA WATCH?

Bulova watch identification numbers are split into 2 major parts, the pre-1950s cases, and the ones starting from January 1950. For each one of them, there is a simple table that you can follow in order to determine the year when your watch was produced.

From 1924 through 1949, the year can be determined from the symbol stamped on the movement. In order to find this sign, you will have to open the back of the watch and use a loupe or magnifying glass in order to find one of these signs:

Vintage Bulova Watch (The crescent moon indicates either 1928, or 1938)

As you have probably noticed, particular signs are attributed to more than one year. We have chosen the example above to illustrate this. In cases like this, what can help you determine the exact year when your watch was produced, are factors like vintage Bulova adverts and dial models that are specific to certain time periods.

Starting from 1950, the back case of the watch will contain a letter and a number following it. You no longer have to open the back of the watch in order to look at the movement, which might be a relief for many of you, as not everybody has proper watchmaker tools. The letter will tell you the decade and the number will tell you the exact year of that specific decade:

HOW MUCH IS A BULOVA WATCH WORTH?

With most prices ranging between $50 and $15,000, vintage & antique Bulova watches worth depend on age, case material (gold or platinum), extra stones such as diamonds, and whether the specific model is rare or made in a limited edition issue.

Using our guide you will be able to determine the year of your watch, and where to position it when compared to our examples. This way you can get a better understanding of its value, without consulting a watchmaker or an appraisal service.

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE PRICE OF OLD BULOVA WATCHES?

Regular vintage Bulova watches have an average price between $100 and $200. Most vintage watches people find around the house date back to the 1950s-1970s and are usually gold-plated or gold-filled.

The price can go lower or higher depending on the functionality of the watch, the age of the watch (the older, the more valuable), whether the case is gold-plated, gold-filled, or solid gold, and of course the rarity of the timepiece.

1972 Vintage Gold-Plated Bulova Mechanical Ladies Watch Perfect Condition – $250-$300
Buy it now!

WHAT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE BULOVA WATCH IN HISTORY?

In 2015, Bulova released the Joseph Bulova Collection First Edition 24-Karat Gold Watch with a suggested retail value of $42,000. With only 32 pieces ever produced, this remains the most expensive Bulova watch in history.

Joseph Bulova Collection First Edition 24-Karat Gold Watch

The most important factors that influence the value of your Bulova watch:

1. Year of Manufacture

2. Type of Case material

3. Watch Movement Type & Complications

4. Use of Precious Stones

5. Limited Issue Watch or Not

6. Overall Aesthetic Condition & Original Parts

7. Is the watch in working condition?

8. Historical Value: Has the watch been worn by Someone Famous?

Here are some of the most important factors to be taken into consideration when you are trying to properly evaluate the value of your watch. There are other things such as the sentimental value that have no price.

1. YEAR OF MANUFACTURE

The date of issue will have a crucial impact on the value of any watch, regardless of the brand. Pre 1900s you will most likely find pocket watches, up to 1940s-1950s you will find both pocket watches and wristwatches, and after that, mainly wristwatches as people started to adjust to the trends as well.

The older the watch, the better! For a watch to withstand over 100 years of history, several owners, wars, and also not deteriorate is rare! Moreover, fewer models remain in the public eye as years go by adding even more to the rarity of it.