Bulova Flip Top Photo Watch

Bulova watches are both an excellent investment as a new timepiece and as a vintage time piece they are much sought after by watch collectors for the value these watches hold, their craftsmanship and unique look and styles.

Features of Bulova Flip Top Photo Watch

One of the most popular collectible watches is the Bulova Flip Top Photo Watch. Manufactured around 1940-1950, the man's vintage Bulova Flip Top Photo Watch features a two-tone dial, with gold and silver. The watch is set in a 10 Karat gold case. The timepiece also features gold hands that are raised a bit and a unique mechanism that gives the watch its name. A flip top device can be engaged to pop open via the lower bezel to disclose a spot where the wearer can hide a favorite photograph or other keepsake. This locket on your wrist makes a sentimental gift and many of these watches have been personalized, creating a slice of history as well as a collector's piece.

According to several listings by online antique watch dealers, the watch has the following stats:

• 22 X 40 mm in diameter; 8 mm depth
• 10 Karat white rolled gold
• square
• 17 jewels

How to Tell if It's Authentic

One thing watch collectors often worry about is whether a watch is authentic. There are a few key features of Bulova watches that can help you make sure the watch you purchase is a true Bulova Flip Top Photo Watch. The back of a Bulova watch should have a date code you can check. If the watch was made in the year 1950 or later, the company had begun to place a code on the back of the watch. This code was alphanumeric, containing a single letter and a single number that indicated the year the watch was manufactured. In the 1950s, they used the code of "L" on the back of the watch and added a number to indicate the year within that decade that the watch was manufactured. So, if the Bulova Flip Top Photo Watch had the marking of "L1", then that would mean the watch was manufactured in 1951. In the 1960s, Bulova used the letter "M" and in the 1970, they used the letter "N". The last date code on Bulova watches was 1977 or "N7". Once the company was sold the Loews, the codes were suspended.

Where to Purchase Bulova

New Bulova watches can be purchased at fine jewelry stores. For a list of available retailers, check the Bulova website. You can also purchase new Bulova watches at Amazon.com, where there is a huge variety of this brand in differing styles for both men and women. For vintage Bulova, such as the photo watch, you may have to get a little more creative. Try antique dealers, Ebay sellers such as Vin Time, estate auctions and private collectors. Unfortunately, the clasp in the flipping mechanism has failed in many of these vintage watches, so you may have a hard time locating a working model that is in mint condition.