I've been trying to figure this one out. Back is stamped L6, 8AC is stamped L5. Could this be a 1956 His Excellency? Also, if the story over on Watchopilia about the Academy Awards is accurate could the His Excellency be considered an Academy Award "ZZ" as well? Geoff, I've noticed you seem to have quite a collection of these so I'm eager to hear what you have to say, and my warmest regards to the rest of fantastic panel and the fabulous Bulova community.
Dane
Cool watch Dane, this is one of the truly iconic Bulova styles. Very few Bulova styles endured for the almost ten years this beauty did. There is no question that this watch with a 1950 or 51 date code would be an Academy Award ZZ but as of 1955 or 56 it would not. Pre Academy Award it was His Excellency. It's interesting that there are effectively no adverts showing his model in this time period but it obviously was still being produced. The last true ID we have for this model is "His Highness":
http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1954-his-highness-5810
The ID is based on a hang tang cross referenced to a Bulova published price list. We also have it ID's as His Excellency. I'm more inclined to 'go with what we know', that is to ID it as His Highness. Pending votes from other Panel Members I would also get along with an ID as His Excellency.
Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you jabs and Geoff. I was considering selling this watch, but the dial is kind of rough and I really don't think that it would fetch enough to leave me comfortable with letting it go. When I brought this watch home it looked like it had been through the garbage disposal, the crystal was such you couldn't see the name or numbers, and it became one of those projects to see how much I could bring it back. Now I believe I'm too attached. I will just have to give in a dress up for the sake of wearing the watch. My wife will be happy. BTW it keeps perfect time!
The watch looks identical to the His Highness linked to by Geoff, with the exception of the hands (perhaps not original). The watch is also a match to the AA 'ZZ', which still shows being available in our 1954+ pricelists under model number 37109 (which also is listed as a Craftsman at the same price of $95 in the same pricelists). The AA may not have been advertiseable by Bulova after 1952, but appears to have been available for sale. There was also a HE model with the same case advertised without the shadow dial. The lack of ads for the mid-50s makes it difficult to ID, but I would go along with His Highness for this one.