Bulova Date King Value Guide

The Bulova Date King is a quintessential mid-century timepiece known for its elegant sunburst dial and reliable automatic movement. It represents Bulova's successful 1960s effort to capture the mid-range luxury market with sophisticated, self-winding technology.

What affects the value of Bulova Date King?

• The presence of the original 10K gold rolled plating without significant 'brassing' or wear-through on the lugs.
• Mechanical functionality and the accuracy of the automatic date-flip mechanism.
• The clarity of the acrylic crystal and the lack of oxidation or spotting on the sunburst dial.
• Specific year codes that appeal to birth-year collectors, particularly examples from the 1964-1968 range.

How to Identify Bulova Date King?

• Check the case back for a date code starting with 'M' followed by a digit (e.g., M4 for 1964) to confirm the specific production year.
• Verify the '10K Rolled Gold Plate' or 'Stainless Steel' stamping on the rear of the case.
• Look for the signature date window at the 3 o'clock position and the characteristic sunburst finish on the dial surface.
• Ensure the movement is a genuine Bulova self-winding caliber consistent with the mid-1960s era.

History of Bulova Date King

Introduced in the 1960s, the Date King series was part of Bulova's push to dominate the mid-range luxury market with reliable self-winding movements. Bulova used a unique dating system on their case backs where 'M' represents the 1960s followed by a digit for the specific year, making these highly collectible for those seeking birth-year watches.