1953 Vintage BULOVA ‘PRESIDENT’ Gents RGP Gold Deco-Style Watch — JUST SERVICED

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

1953 Vintage BULOVA ‘PRESIDENT’ Gents RGP Gold Deco-Style Watch — JUST SERVICED:
$285.97

THIS SALE IS IN GB POUNDS (£). Please read the whole description before offerding.
See also my other watches currently available.
Offered here for sale is this stunning vintage BULOVA ‘PRESIDENT’ gentleman’s wrist watch, made in 1953 and presenting beautifully for its 62 years. With its gorgeous black dial and distinctive styling typical of American product design of the 50s, this is a striking and rare vintage watch that looks great on the wrist.
The 10k rolled gold case has been ultrasonically cleaned and polished and contrasts beautifully against the black dial. A new crystal and a genuine lizard strap have also been fitted. The top-of-the-range Bulova 21-jewel hand-wound mechanical movement has just been FULLY SERVICED, CLEANED AND OILED and is running strongly, keeping good time*.
Please consider the added value that servicing brings to this watch. Such maintenance is required every few years and this alone can easily cost £100 or more.
For your reassurance of this watch’s authenticity, it is signed BULOVA in five places — on the original dial, movement, winding crown and inner and outer case-back.Most people that wear vintage watches do so as a statement of individuality and a fascination of the mechanical prowess and history that these unique and beautifully designed timepieces have witnessed throughout their lifetimes. A vintage car is probably not going to be the most reliable car on the road, even if it has just been serviced, but there is still something special about owning and driving one. A vintage watch should be considered in a similar way.
Size
If you are new to vintage watches please note that gentlemen’s watches of this era were generally made smaller than watches of today. Although this is by no means a small watch by vintage standards, if you are used to wearing larger modern larger watches, it may appear small by comparison. Please study the detailed measurements below so that you understand its size before purchasing.
The case measures approximately 25.5mm wide, excluding the crown, by 27mm (35.5mm lug to lug) and 9mm deep including the crystal. The face/crystal measures 18.5mm x 24.5mm. The watch is supplied with a brand new black genuine lizard strap which complements its styling perfectly. It is 16mm wide, measures a total length including buckle of 230mm and should fit a wrist circumference of approximately 160mm to 195mm.
Case
The 10k yellow RGP (rolled gold plate) case top shows exquisite styling typical of American product design of the 1950s — think Cadillacs and Wurlitzer juke boxes! It presents beautifully overall, showing the usual light surface scratches and signs of previous use that one would expect, plus a little rubbing to the high spots of the plating and a little wear to the backs of the lugs seen on close scrutiny.
The stainless steel back is in good condition, fitting perfectly to the top and snapping on tightly with no gaps. It is signed BULOVA L3 — this being the date code for 1953. The inside is signed BULOVA 10K ROLLED GOLD PLATE BEZEL STAINLESS BACK NEW YORK.
The acrylic crystal is a NOS (new old stock) replacement that has just been fitted.
Dial
The ORIGINAL, unrestored black dial is a stunning design with raised gilt markers and ‘modern’ hands contrasting beautifully against the background. It is in lovely condition with no marks to the background instantly noticeable to the naked eye. The printed white BULOVA signature, minute chapter track and second-hand sub-dial are all in excellent shape. There is a tiny amount of tarnish to the hands when viewed under magnification, but they look fine overall.
Most watch collectors would agree that any ORIGINAL dial in this sort of condition will add notable value to an already highly desirable vintage watch.
Movement
The watch is powered by an American-made BULOVA 10BM 21-jewel hand-wound mechanical movement, which would have been one of Bulova’s top-of-the-range power plants at the time. This calibre movement was made between 1949 and 1955 and features a Breguet hairspring, as fitted to some other high-end movements, including Rolex, and noted for aiding more consistent timekeeping throughout the duration of the wind. The L2 date code shows this movement was manufactured in 1952, the year before the case itself. It is quite normal to see vintage Bulovas with case and movement serial numbers differing by a year or so, as certain components were date-stamped when made and then stored until required for final assembly. For dating when this watch most likely left the Bulova factory in New York, we would use the later 1953 case date.
For your further reassurance and added value, the movement has just beenFULLY SERVICED,which consists of dismantling and cleaning all components, lubricating at specific points, re-assembling and timing the watch. A NOS (New Old Stock) balance assembly has also been fitted. The movement winds and sets smoothly, springing to life from a standing start almost immediately on turning the crown and runs strongly, keeping good time* (please see note about vintage watch timekeeping below). Mechanical watches require periodic servicing, the cost of which can be anything up to £100 or more. As this work has just been carried out, please factor this in to the value of this watch if you are interested in purchasing.
Please note that this watch will require fully winding once every 24 hours if you intend wearing it and occasional winding (every week or two) is recommended when not being worn.
*A general note on vintage watch timekeeping and reliabilityPlease do not expect quartz accuracy from any vintage mechanical watch. The accepted timekeeping tolerances for a brand new watch back in the 1940s and 50s was +/- 3 minutes a day. Several decades on and following servicing, most of my watches still keep time to well within these tolerances.
Cleaning and freshly oiling a vintage watch provides it with the best chance of optimum performance. Following such servicing, it should run reliably for the foreseeable future, unless it is dropped, damaged or subjected to water or dusty conditions, or become magnetised. Three to five years is the recommended period between servicing. Please be aware, however, that due to the age of these watches, there could still be some hidden wear or other idiosyncrasies within a movement that could cause it to run less reliably than a modern watch, even if it has been serviced. For this reason, I am unable to provide any ongoing warranty beyond the standard 14-day return period.
Even though my watches are very securely packed and protected when posted, sometimes there are turbulent conditions in transit that have been known to affect fine adjustment. If this happens and your watch is not keeping acceptable time when received, just let me know and I will be only too pleased to rectify it for you. Whilst I am unable to offer an ongoing future repair service, I will of course ensure that you are completely happy with the working condition of your watch when delivered.PLEASE ALSO SEE MY OTHER WATCHES CURRENTLY FOR SALE.Vintage watches are proving to be a great investment, especially striking, highly collectable examples in such good condition as this from the more famous brands.
PAYMENT BY PAYPAL IS REQUESTED WITHIN 24 HOURS PLEASE.If there is any reason why you may not be able to make payment within this timeframe, please message me through to discuss BEFORE purchasing the item. Due to a growing number of non-payers, please be aware that after 48 hours an Unpaid Item Notice will be raised automatically by if payment is still outstanding. Non-paying buyers will be reported to and this may affect their ability to purchase items in the future.
Paypal is the only method of payment I can accept from international purchasers. For UK buyers, Paypal is my preferred means of payment but I may accept personal cheque (subject to clearance time) or direct bank transfer. Please message me to discuss BEFORE purchasing.
Your watch will be very securely packaged and normally despatched to you by the next working day following receipt of cleared payment. Please note that in order to qualify for Paypal Seller Protection and in accordance with their terms and conditions,I CAN ONLY SHIP TO A BUYER’S PAYPAL CONFIRMED ADDRESSand therefore, if you are paying by Paypal, I am unable to send to any other location.For your reassurance, and mine, I will only ship by one of the following insured and trackable means:
UK AddressesFor UK buyers, your watch will be sent by ROYAL MAIL SPECIAL DELIVERY GUARANTEED at a flat cost of £7.50, which insures the item up to £500 and guarantees next working day delivery. The package is also fully tracked so you can check delivery status online at any time. For multiple purchases up to £500 value, I will happily include within the same postage cost.
International AddressesFor overseas buyers, the watch will be sent by one of the following methods, depending on location. A flat rate charge of £13.95 includes insurance up to £250, which is the maximum available. Multiple purchases up to £250 total value will be included for the same shipping cost or, if they exceed this value, I must ship separately and charge individual shipping costs for each.
1. ROYAL MAIL INTERNATIONAL TRACKED AND SIGNED. This service is available to 43 countries and tracks the item from posting to delivery. It also requires a signature on delivery and, unless a winning buyer requests otherwise, I will use this preferred service if it is available to a particular country.
2. ROYAL MAIL INTERNATIONAL TRACKED. This is available to 33 countries and tracks the item from posting to delivery. It does not require a signature.
3. ROYAL MAIL INTERNATIONAL SIGNED. This is available to 190 countries and is tracked to the point where it leaves the UK and then confirms when delivered. It requires a signature on delivery.
Please see the attached link for a list of countries to which each of the above services above Royal Mail International services officially take 5-7 working days for delivery, but can take considerably longer. In most cases, Royal Mail ensures arrival of the package to the first port of entry in the country of delivery within just a few days. Thereafter it is entirely dependent upon local customs intervention and the speed of that country\'s internal postal service as to how long it will take to arrive at the purchaser\'s address. Packages sent to the US, for instance, are often tracked at the first entry point within two days of shipping. However, based on recent experiences, it can then take a further one to four weeks for final delivery, especially if the package is subject to security checks at customs. A watch sent to Florida recently was tracked in New York just 2 days after being posted in the UK. Tracking status didn’t change for a further 23 days and it took a total of 27 days to final delivery. Normally it would be expected to be there within a total of 10-14 days.PLEASE BE AWARE WHEN offerDING THAT DELIVERY TIME IS OUT OF MY CONTROLand I cannot be held responsible for any such international delays. Insurance claims for non-delivery cannot be actioned until 25 working days after shipping.Your satisfaction and my reputation are very important to me. If there is a problem on receipt of the item,PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE NEGATIVE OR NEUTRAL response.Please be assured that I will always do my very best to help resolve any issue to your entire satisfaction, so contact me immediately on receipt of the watch if there is anything you are unhappy with.BEFORE offerDING PLEASE NOTE:
THIS sale IS IN GB POUNDS (£). INTERNATIONAL BUYERS — PLEASE CHECK EXCHANGE RATES.
As a watch collector myself, I like to be able to see what I am buying. That is why I provide the most comprehensive and accurate description I can, including close-up photographs from all angles. If there is anything else you would like to know about this watch, or to see further specific photos, please let me know and I’ll be happy to get back to you just as quickly as I can.
If you are new to vintage watches, here are a few things to be aware of:
SIZEVintage watches, especially gentlemen’s watches, were generally made smaller than today’s contemporary timepieces. Please satisfy yourself before offerding that you are happy with its size by checking the dimensions shown above on a ruler. Having pointed this out, I regret that I am unable to accept returns if having purchased the watch you then consider it to be too small.
TIMEKEEPINGPlease be aware that vintage mechanical watches do not keep as accurate time as modern quartz watches and can gain or lose a few minutes a day. Whilst it may not be possible to achieve timekeeping comparable with a quartz watch, a good watchmaker can often regulate and fine-tune a movement (subject to its age and condition) to suit a particular person’s style of wearing and the typical angles that the watch experiences whilst on the wrist. It is not a good idea to try regulating the watch yourself — I strongly recommend taking it in to your local watchmaker who can remove the back with the correct tools and without damaging the case. They also work in dust-free conditions and this is very important as the smallest particle of airborne dust or hair entering the movement can be enough to stop a watch working.
WATER RESISTANCEVintage watches are generally NOT waterproof, so be sure to keep your watch well away from water, steam or damp conditions. If exposed to such conditions, corrosion can form inside the movement and stop it working. It’s always a good idea to remove your watch when washing your hands and NEVER swim, shower or bath whilst wearing your watch.
WINDING AND CHANGING THE TIMEManual-wind mechanical watches typically require winding once a day until fully wound, but you should stop as soon as any resistance is felt. This can be anything from 20 to 40 turns. Normally, the watch will spring to life during the wind, but often these old movements require a shake or tap with the finger to get things moving. To change the time, pull out the winding crown until it clicks. If it doesn’t move, wind it backwards half a turn or so to engage the cogs and try again. Then wind the hands in a clockwise direction. It is normally fine to make small adjustments backwards, but best practice to wind forwards as some movements can otherwise suffer damage. Be sure to push the crown back in again afterwards. Always remove your watch from your wrist before winding or adjusting the time as this can cause damage to the winding stem. If you are not using the watch for an extended period of time, winding it once a week or so will help keep the oils distributed.
SERVICINGMechanical watches require servicing every few years and an indicator that this is due will be that either the watch will run intermittently or stop working completely. If you purchase a vintage watch that has no service history and intend wearing it regularly, a trip to your local watchmaker is to be recommended so that you know this work has been carried out. A mechanical watch service entails completely stripping the movement and carefully inspecting and cleaning each component to remove dirt and congealed oil. The movement is then reassembled and oiled at specific lubrication points before being regulated and tested. Most watchmakers also utrasonically clean and polish the case when servicing.I have made every effort to describe this watch as accurately as possible and am not aware of any defects not mentioned in the description. This watch being offered for sale is many decades old and under close scrutiny will show minor surface scratches and signs of use. Please study the photographs carefully which are intended as part of the description. They are enlarged many times for clarity but bear in mind that to the naked eye many of these imperfections are hardly noticeable. Please be aware that due to their age vintage watches can develop faults unexpectedly, even if they have been serviced, and can run erratically or stop working if exposed to magnetism (i.e. close proximity to mobile phones, ipads, TV sets, computer equipment, audio speakers or any electrical motor generating electro-magnetic fields). Exposure to water, moisture or dust can also have devastating effects, or if the watch is accidentally dropped damaging one of the pivots or jewels. As the above factors are out of my control once the watch has left me, I regret that I cannot provide any ongoing guarantee beyond that it will be as described and in working condition when you receive it (it may need winding!).
If there is any problem on receipt please let me know straight away. I package my watches very securely to minimise the risk of any damage, but on rare occasions problems can occur in transit. For instance a sudden jolt can cause the hairspring to catch or hook up on itself and then the watch will not work. Also, scanning equipment used by postal and courier services has been known to magnetise a watch, stopping it from working. These are usually easy fixes so if there is any problem on receipt of your watch, PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE NEUTRAL OR NEGATIVE response. Contact me immediately and I’ll always do my best to help — I want you to be completely satisfied. Likewise, if I’ve missed something and you feel I have misdescribed the watch, I will offer a full, no-quibble refund including postage cost, on the watch’s safe return.
Please note that due to scams, I will not sign for a return package unless by prior arrangement, so contact me first if there is any problem.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS I WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP.