Woke up on Thanksgiving, walked by a shelf in my father's office and low and behold I find what I believe to be a 1952 Bulova Franklin. It apprently belonged to my grandfather. It still runs. The movement is 1951. Though the band is broken both it and the box are almost certainly original. My grandfather wasn't exactly a rich man so we assume the jewels are not real.
Neat watch. We have encountered two others like it in the past, dated 1951 and 1953. Yours makes a 3 year run, so it appears to be a legit model. Both of these are currently listed as unknowns. Still looking
https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1953-unknown-7266
https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1951-unknown-5381?page=1
Heirloom watches are the best! It would appear to be a Beau Brummel, as another BB advertised in the relative same time frame was "diamond/ruby" with simulated rubies and "white stones" with the same style face
https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1951-beau-brummel-9495
That one was in a case like the Squadron; Yours is in a case like a Franklin of the same period. This is pure speculation, but perhaps more than one of the first Beau Brummels were in previously released cases.
I am going to say unknown for now, pending further investigation and input from other panel members.
What a fun find on Thanksgiving day! Heirloom watches are the best.
Bulova did real diamonds on almost all their watches at this time that I see. There were a few exceptions one of the exceptions was the Beau Brummel that had a dial similar to this one. Doing a search on newspapers I found this configuration was most popular with a few out there by other brands as well all with simulated stones. Still a nice watch but at a more affordable price than one with real diamonds. I agree with Bob that this was most likely a model based on us seeing three of them now. A really attractive piece and I can see why they were so popular. Hopefully we will find an ad at some point.
Unknown for now
What a cool find Tom, you must have been overjoyed. I don't think any heirloom is better than a watch, it's just so personal. I have to go along with the crowd as to the name. I'm sure it has one, I don't think it's Franklin (nice job making a case match though) and I hope someday will find an advert.
1952 Bulova Unknown
1957_LineBook_BAWD0132
Exeter looks like it may be a match to me. Lugs might be a bit different at attachment to case, but could be a year difference?
I thought for sure this was an Exeter, but this one
http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1953-unknown-7266
appears to be a dead match to the ad and is a year newer. I'm wondering if the apparent lug variance is shadow/reflection? Identical otherwise.