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1941 Bulova Minute Man 10K RGPThis is a 10k rolled gold plated wrist watch, with 12-mm lugs; is 34.3long, and is 25.2 wide (not including crown).
The Watch Design The Case Material: \"10K Rolled Gold Plate\" (RGP) means a durable layer
of 10-karat gold was thermally bonded to a base metal core. It is much
thicker and higher quality than modern electroplating. The Proportions: A 25-mm width (excluding the crown) by 34mm lug-to-lug
was the standard size for a men\'s premier dress watch of that period.
Today, these classic dimensions are considered elegant unisex or
mid-size styles. The Lug Width: The 12mm lug size indicates it takes a very narrow,
tapered vintage strap. The Movement: Bulova caliber 10AX; 15 jewels; manual wind. Because
this is a mechanical, spring-powered watch, it requires manual winding
via the crown to run. This particular watch runs nicely for 30 hours,
but loses some 5 minutes during the day. It should be serviced by a
vintage-watch repair shop. Looking at the movement from the back of the case, near the crown, the
works have an asterisk (*) above \"USA\". This asterisk symbol above \"USA\"
confirms this watch was manufactured in 1941 (not 1940, not 1942) While
an asterisk can sometimes mean 1940 depending on the exact ledger,
official Bulova watch archives confirm that the 15-jewel 10AX movement
variant stamped with an asterisk explicitly corresponds to the 1941
production year: Bulova\'s official system used completely different
symbols for the surrounding years:
1940: A circle with tiny horns on top (looks like a devil or crescent-moon icon).
1941: The asterisk symbol (which matches the symbol on this movement).
1942: A stylized, rounded capital letter \"T\".
Because of the 10AX movement featuring the asterisk right above the
\"USA\" stamping, this Bulova Minute Man as a true 1941 production model. If you browse the archive, these specific Bulova models are associated
with 1941 scalloped-watch design: Bulova \"Director\"
Bulova \"Senator\"
Bulova \"President\"
Bulova \"Charles\"
Bulova \"Emperor\"
Bulova \"Minute Man\"This Bulova watch is in very good vintage condition: The Dial (very good): This is the watch\'s greatest asset. Finding a 1941
silver dial that hasn\'t suffered any damage is extremely rare. The
\"BULOVA\" logo is in raise-gold characters, as are all the Arabic
numerals. The hour, minute and second hand on the seconds subdial are
also in sharp bright gold. The black perimeter track is crisp and
unblemished. That this 1941 Bulova Minute Man has its original silver dial in
near-perfect condition, the value and collectability is elevated. In the
vintage watch world, a pristine, non-restored factory dial is the single
most important factor for collectors because it cannot be faked or
easily replaced. The Case (light Scuffs/clean): Light scratches on a 10K rolled gold
plate case are completely normal and highly preferred by collectors over
a case that has been aggressively polished. Over-polishing can rub
through the gold plating and round out the sharp, classic Art Deco lines
of the tank design. The Crystal (very good): A near-flawless crystal ensures maximum
legibility and means you won\'t have to source a period- correct,
high-domed replacement glass.
The Watch Band (very good): To complement a near-perfect silver dial,
the watch is paired with a light tan/saddle brown leather 15mm-wide
strap that allows the gold numerals to pop. The buckle color is gold
color. The 15mm strap is snipped at the ends to meet the 12mm lugs. The
strap is 8.5 inches long and will fit up to a 7-inch wrist.
Verified Watch Profile
Exact Production Year: 1941. Era Context: Pre-WWII civilian production (just months before Bulova
shifted factories entirely to wartime military gear). Movement Caliber: Bulova 10AX manual-wind, 15 jewels. Case Composition: 10K Rolled Gold Plated Art Deco scalloped \"Tank\" style. Case Serial Number: 1025253.
Conclusion
This timepiece stands as an authentic, historically preserved
artifact from the doorstep of America\'s entry into World War II. This Bulova runs nicely for 30 hours, but loses some 5 minutes during the
day, and we recommend using a vintage watchmaker, when having the watch
serviced. The crown works well, and the crystal is near perfect. The face is quite perfect, with the gold case having some scuffs and light
scratches, but very clean.No returns will be accepted.Free Shipping is provided (Shipping only to the Contiguous US states)
Thanks for looking.
