Bulova 1952 Wembley

Member for

5 years 6 months
Submitted by jerrycoh on March 21, 2018 - 2:24pm
Manufacture Year
1952
Movement Model
10BT
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
6534536
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

This was my father's 14K gold L2 (1952) watch which I recently restored. I am unsure of the model name. The stem is not original.The dial looks like the Ardsley, but the bezel doesn't quite match. Might be the Wembley which appears in one of the ads, but not sure.  Not for sale, just looking to identify and display.

1952 Bulova watch after the restoration.
1952 Bulova watch
1952 Bulova watch

Member for

8 years 4 months
neetstuf-4-u
Posted March 21, 2018 - 3:06pm

Cool heirloom watch! I draw a blank - couldn't find it in the ads database. Unknown for me for now.

Member for

10 years
Andersok
Posted March 21, 2018 - 6:32pm

I think you are correct with the Wembley id. Case, dial, jewel count all match the 1955 ad. Hands do appear to be different.

1952 Ad also

Member for

8 years 4 months
neetstuf-4-u
Posted March 21, 2018 - 6:37pm

I looked at that ad too. It appears to me the Wembly has more rounded side steps than subject watch that is sporting sharp corners.

Member for

10 years
Andersok
Posted March 22, 2018 - 7:24am

I too struggled with the lack of curves on the case, but in the movement photo the roundness near the lugs stands out more. Other photos not so much.

Member for

8 years 4 months
neetstuf-4-u
Posted March 22, 2018 - 7:54am

I agree outer lug corners do resemble the ad in some of the photos, my concern is the steps on the sides of the case. On subject watch; step (under crown) appears longer and more angular than watch represented in ad. On subject watch, crown side is flat and "corners" to the case body. In the ad, step appears to have a more gradual radius turn to case body. Wembly case also appears "pinched" in both above referenced ads(for lack of a better description) in the center  at points where steps meet case main body with a sort of bulge between the side steps and case outer lug corners, while subject watch is not.

Another issue is subject watch is 14K gold and Wembley is listed as plated.

Member for

5 years 6 months
jerrycoh
Posted March 22, 2018 - 10:38am

Regarding the 14K gold, the 2 ads referred to (1952 and 1955) show the Wembley as 14K gold, which matches my (the subject) watch. The 2 Wembley ads I've looked at do not show 14k plated, instead they reference 14K gold.

Member for

8 years 4 months
neetstuf-4-u
Posted March 22, 2018 - 9:07pm

My bad, you are absolutely correct. Both Ads reference 14K gold. I was so fixated on case shape that I saw the words "yellow 17 jewels" starting the first referenced ad description and jumped to the conclusion they were indicating Yellow GP.

Member for

12 years 10 months
Geoff Baker
Posted March 24, 2018 - 6:39am

Hi Jerry - I think you're most fortunate to have this amazing keepsake from you father, it sure is a beauty. I agree that it's a Wembley. Thanks for sharing it!

1952 Bulova Wembley

Member for

5 years 6 months
jerrycoh
Posted March 24, 2018 - 8:09am

Thank you very much Geoff!!  Thanks for providing this wonderful site and all it offers for those who have family memories of a Bulova watch.