Bulova 1979 La Petite

Member for

3 years 10 months
Submitted by ddesjard on November 18, 2019 - 8:40pm
Manufacture Year
1979
Movement Model
-
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
100011
Case Serial No.
3803
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Crystal details
10mm wide X 13mm high
Gender
Ladies
Watch Description

Stamped on movement: 100011 - BULOVA - 17 - SEVENTEEN JEWELS = SWISS = UNADJUSTED = Printed on face: BULOVA = SWISS = 6556 = Printed inside back: 3803 = Stamped on outside back:

10KT ROLLED GOLD PLATE BULOVA N9

1979 Bulova watch
1979 Bulova watch
1979 Bulova watch
1979 Bulova watch
1979 Bulova watch

Member for

5 years 6 months
Kathy L.
Posted November 19, 2019 - 10:20pm

This is a pretty watch and I feel like it was around a long time.  I know there was one called a La Petite earlier.  By this time they were mostly going by numbers and I couldn't find a name for this one but did find an ad that looks like it.  Unknown for now.

Member for

3 years 10 months
ddesjard
Posted November 20, 2019 - 10:19am

Thank you, Kathy L.

Member for

12 years 10 months
Geoff Baker
Posted November 20, 2019 - 10:19pm

Such a beautiful watch. By this point in the Bulova timeline they were no longer naming watches, just giving them model numbers, so alas there will not be a name for this girl. Thanks for sharing it.

1979 Bulova Unknown

Member for

3 years 10 months
ddesjard
Posted November 23, 2019 - 9:33am

Thanks, Geoff (and, again, Kathy). Best wishes to all..

Member for

6 years 5 months
JimDon5822
Posted November 24, 2019 - 12:43am

La Petite ad from 1978 confirming this model existed as late as 1978.  Matches this unknown in case but not in jewel count.  The 1979 ad shows the 17J count like the unknown but no name.  I propose the 1979 La Petite had the movement down sized to the 17J as shown in the ad to keep costs down as the quartz crisis excelerated. 

Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississippi) · 23 Nov 1978

 

The Selma Times-Journal (Selma, Alabama) · 8 Nov 1979

Member for

8 years 4 months
neetstuf-4-u
Posted November 24, 2019 - 5:02pm

I'm torn on this one, the late 1970's are a slippery slope for named watches. it's a beautiful watch; however the jewel count not matching a named ad is an issue. The 17J ad helps to rule out a movement swap, and It may indeed be morphed from a LaPetite using a lower jewel count movement. The problem is that with no ad to confirm the name associated with 17j,  it is entirely possible it lost the name when it lost  the 23 jewel movement.

Pending a named ad, I have to say unknwn for now.