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Bulova A-17 'Civilian'
Authorized Luxury Retailer
Renowned for expertise in luxury watch retail, Watches of Switzerland embodies the highest standards of craftsmanship and service. With a history dating back to the 1700s, the company offers a curated selection of premier timepieces and commits to excellence in customer experience grounded in a legacy of trust and industry proficiency.
Authorized Luxury Retailer
Free Expedited Delivery
Free Expedited Delivery on Orders $300 and Up (Estimated 1-3 Days)
Our secure shipping service operates Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For security reasons, an adult signature is required for for orders over $300 USD. Watches of Switzerland does not deliver to P.O. boxes or third-party forwarding services. For more information about delivery, click here. Tracking information will be made available upon shipping.
*Additional shipping fees may apply to domestic orders shipped outside the continental United States.
$15 Flat Fee on Orders Under $300 (Estimated 1 - 2 weeks)
Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information about delivery, click here. Tracking information will be made available upon shipping.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your order, please contact the Watches of Switzerland Client Services.
Free Expedited Delivery
Easy Returns
Our commitment to you does not end at delivery. We offer the following return services to make your experience as pleasant as possible.
10-Day Returns For Timepieces:
Timepieces purchased online can be returned or exchanged within 10 days from when they are shipped or collected.
30-Day Returns For All Other Purchases:
All other online purchases can be returned or exchanged within 30 days from when they are shipped or collected.
On presentation of the original receipt, your purchases may be returned or exchanged at any of our store locations. Alternatively, you may elect shipping to our facility with all the original paperwork. All refunds must be credited to the same tender used for the original purchase. To return the online purchases through secure shipping service, please contact our client service team who will provide you the shipping label, free of cost*.
All returns or exchanges must be in new, unworn condition, with no scratches or markings, not sized or adjusted and in their original packaging and with warranty cards / certificated and instruction booklets.
*For order under $300 and all international returns:
Return Shipping: Clients are responsible for shipping items back to our U.S. facility, including all associated costs such as duties, taxes, and carrier fees.
Refunds/exchanges only in the country of purchase.
Please refer to our Return Policy for details on eligible items, return timeframes, and conditions.
Easy Returns
Bulova A-17 'Civilian' - (Ref. A-17) Product Details
Overall Condition: Very good condition overall. Case shows light wear. Dial and handset show patination.
The story of Bulova is deeply entwined with American manufacturing.
Its founder, a Czech immigrant named Joseph Bulova, was inspired by the advances that Ford made in his factory in Highland Park, Michigan. Starting in 1912, Bulova built a factory in Biel, Switzerland, using Ford’s principles of mass production.
The brand was among the first to offer a wide range of wristwatches for men, with a distinctive visual style that—thanks to its innovative adoption of advertising and a relocation to Astoria, Queens—became fixed in the American imagination. Bulova took over offices in the Empire State Building and installed an observatory on the roof, in order to measure universal time.
In the workshop down below, watchmakers timed the watches they were working on to readings taken in the observatory. The watches that Bulova produced were varied, from handsome three-handers to divers and even chronographs.
This particular piece, a Reference A-17 dates to the 1950s. The A-17 was produced for the US military initially, this piece a 'civilian' example. Measuring in at 32mm and sporting a 10BNCH manually wound movement, this piece has a classic military aesthetic with a beautiful charcoal dial with incredibly legible indexes in excellent condition.
Whether you're a seasoned collector or just getting started, it's hard to go wrong with a timelessly designed manually-wound watch with a military history.
And lets face it, wearing a nearly 100 year-old watch is just cool.
General
Condition
Pre-owned
Brand
Bulova
Reference
A-17
Year
1950s
Product Code
40992955
Watch Display
Analog
Case
Case Size
32 mm
Case Material
Stainless Steel
Dial
Dial Color
Black
Movement
Type
Manual-winding
Bracelet
Bracelet Material
Fabric
What People Are Saying
4.7 Average Star Rating
Absolutely top notch service with
Absolutely top notch service with Watches of Switzerland. My watch was overnighted for free because it was over $300. On a Saturday, even! Impeccable.
Christopher S.
Thank you very much
Thank you very much
Wooin S.
Amazing service
Amazing service
Devon R.
We needed to get this
We needed to get this in about 24 hours before he left for school. It arrived right on time.
Linda S.
Great experience!
Great experience!
Shabnam M.
Kevin Phillips was really helpful
Kevin Phillips was really helpful
Rieko O.
Easy transaction
Easy transaction, fast shipping. . Literally got my item less than 24hrs from ordering.
Mikee G.
Customer service was spectacular
Customer service was spectacular. They upgraded my shipping to overnight so that my son's birthday gift would make it to us in time. Super responsive...
Amanda C.
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