Bulova Date Codes

Bulova date codes: 1924 - 1949

Between 1924 and 1949 Bulova used a date code symbol on their watch movements to indicate the year that movement was assembled.  Between the same years most Bulova watch cases also had a serial number that started with the number corresponding to the year of assembly. 

The following table will help you date your vintage Bulova watch movement. 

Bulova Movement Date Codes 1924 - 1949

Bulova ladies watches date codes 1940 - 1949

Case serial number starting with the following letter:

1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
A B C D E F G H I J

Bulova date codes: 1950 onwards

Watches dated post 1949 have a 2 alpha-numeric date code on the outside back case, whilst watches dated before 1950 usually contain a date code symbol on the inside movement.

The following table will help you date your vintage Bulova watch movement and case. 

Bulova watch case markings ( N5 = 1975 )
  L M N P T A B  C 
0 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
1 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 2021
2 1952 1962 1972 1982 1992 2002 2012 2022
3 1953 1963 1973 1983 1993 2003 2013 2023
4 1954 1964 1974 1984 1994 2004 2014 2024
5 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005 2015 2025
6 1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016 2026
7 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997 2007 2017 2027
8 1958 1968 1978 1988 1998 2008 2018 2028
9 1959 1969 1979 1989 1999 2009 2019 2029

 

Pre 1950 Bulova watch movement date code stamps

Swiss made Bulova 10AN movement showing Omega symbol indicating 1930USA made Bulova 10AN movement showing Circle symbol indicating 1934
Swiss made Bulova 10P movement showing Circle symbol indicating 1925Swiss made Bulova 10AN movement showing Triangle symbol indicating 1926