Vintage 1959 Bulova White Gold 11AFC Manual

$260.00

This is a handsome 1959 Bulova dress watch with a very cool mid-century twist: a slim, white-gold-toned look paired with unusual top-lumed hands, freshly serviced and regulated and running well. With its clean, restrained dial and comfortable 35mm proportions, it wears like a classic everyday vintage piece, but the details give it a bit more personality than the average period Bulova.

Case, Dial & Aesthetic

The case is 10K white gold R.G.P. (rolled gold plate) with a stainless steel snapback, delivering that bright, silvery vintage tone that is less common than yellow-gold plating in this era. The dial is a clean silver/ivory tone with applied Arabic numerals and a tidy minute track, showing light, age-consistent speckling that reads as honest vintage character. A new crystal has been installed for clear viewing and a refreshed presentation. The hands are the standout detail: a less-common top-lume style that gives the watch a distinctive mid-century tool-meets-dress vibe.

Movement: Bulova 11AFC Manual

Inside is Bulova's Caliber 11AFC, a Swiss-made 17-jewel manual-wind movement from the late-1950s/early-1960s period. It is a straightforward, serviceable design with a classic 18,000 bph cadence, and this example presents in excellent condition after service.

  • Movement: Bulova 11AFC

  • Winding: Manual wind

  • Jewels: 17

  • Frequency (typical): 18,000 bph

  • Year code: L9 (1959)

Condition & Service

This watch has been fully serviced and regulated and is running well. A new crystal was installed during restoration. The hands were re-lumed to improve visibility while keeping the overall look period-correct. The case shows honest wear consistent with age, and the white gold plate finish gives the watch its distinctive bright, vintage character.

Specs & Details

  • Brand: Bulova

  • Year: 1959 (case date code L9)

  • Case: 10K white gold R.G.P. with stainless steel snapback

  • Case serial number: D482225

  • Case size: 35mm

  • Lug-to-lug: 41mm

  • Thickness: approx. 8.5mm

  • Lug width: 17.6mm (17-18mm band - see note below)

  • Crystal: New

Why This Watch Matters

Late-1950s Bulovas are a sweet spot for collectors because they combine clean mid-century design with durable, serviceable Swiss movements. This example stands out for its white-gold-toned finish and the uncommon top-lumed hand set, and with fresh service already completed it is ready to wear immediately without the usual vintage uncertainty.

This is a handsome 1959 Bulova dress watch with a very cool mid-century twist: a slim, white-gold-toned look paired with unusual top-lumed hands, freshly serviced and regulated and running well. With its clean, restrained dial and comfortable 35mm proportions, it wears like a classic everyday vintage piece, but the details give it a bit more personality than the average period Bulova.

Case, Dial & Aesthetic

The case is 10K white gold R.G.P. (rolled gold plate) with a stainless steel snapback, delivering that bright, silvery vintage tone that is less common than yellow-gold plating in this era. The dial is a clean silver/ivory tone with applied Arabic numerals and a tidy minute track, showing light, age-consistent speckling that reads as honest vintage character. A new crystal has been installed for clear viewing and a refreshed presentation. The hands are the standout detail: a less-common top-lume style that gives the watch a distinctive mid-century tool-meets-dress vibe.

Movement: Bulova 11AFC Manual

Inside is Bulova's Caliber 11AFC, a Swiss-made 17-jewel manual-wind movement from the late-1950s/early-1960s period. It is a straightforward, serviceable design with a classic 18,000 bph cadence, and this example presents in excellent condition after service.

  • Movement: Bulova 11AFC

  • Winding: Manual wind

  • Jewels: 17

  • Frequency (typical): 18,000 bph

  • Year code: L9 (1959)

Condition & Service

This watch has been fully serviced and regulated and is running well. A new crystal was installed during restoration. The hands were re-lumed to improve visibility while keeping the overall look period-correct. The case shows honest wear consistent with age, and the white gold plate finish gives the watch its distinctive bright, vintage character.

Specs & Details

  • Brand: Bulova

  • Year: 1959 (case date code L9)

  • Case: 10K white gold R.G.P. with stainless steel snapback

  • Case serial number: D482225

  • Case size: 35mm

  • Lug-to-lug: 41mm

  • Thickness: approx. 8.5mm

  • Lug width: 17.6mm (17-18mm band - see note below)

  • Crystal: New

Why This Watch Matters

Late-1950s Bulovas are a sweet spot for collectors because they combine clean mid-century design with durable, serviceable Swiss movements. This example stands out for its white-gold-toned finish and the uncommon top-lumed hand set, and with fresh service already completed it is ready to wear immediately without the usual vintage uncertainty.

Important Note on the Watch Band

Please note that the band pictured is NOT included with watch purchase. I generally acquire new bands for display purposes and do not include them because they vary significantly in price and many purchasers will want to obtain their own band as suits their taste.

You will need an 17mm or 18mm* band to pair with this watch.
*Note: 18mm bands are a tight fit on this watch, and quick release bands, which tend to have limitations in how much the springbars can be compressed, likely
will not fit.

However, if you are interested in purchasing the band pictured in the photos along with the watch, it will be available at or near my replacement cost as an optional add-on. If you don’t see it as an option in the listing please message me for help. I am also happy to point you to where you can purchase the exact same band directly from the seller.

If you have questions about bands or want my assistance, please message me. I’m happy to help.

Standard Disclaimer

I make every effort to ensure that the vintage watches I work on are both accurate enough to serve as practical timepieces and reliable enough to be worn and enjoyed for many years to come. That said, vintage watches are delicate and, like any mechanical device, subject to wear.

Therefore, I cannot provide any express or implied warranty for this watch, beyond the fact that it is running, and it is being sold AS IS.

Additional notes

·       Servicing and restoration followed the process described in detail here.

  • Vintage watches are delicate - particularly older models that lack shock protection. Please handle with care

  • Regardless of what it says on the case, I do not attempt to restore watches to a fully waterproof condition. Please keep this watch away from water and definitely do not submerge it.

  • If the watch is an automatic, I recommend that you use the hand wind feature sparingly to minimize wear on the automatic winding mechanism.

I do like to stand behind my work, so please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any problems. I will correct any obvious defects in my workmanship free of charge and will provide lifetime service (as long as I am able) for vintage timepieces that I have restored at heavily discounted rates.

Regarding Parts Originality

I know that some collectors are very concerned with originality of parts. I will list any parts that I replace, internally or externally, in the condition notes above. I will also make a good faith effort to assess whether any of the watch parts (e.g. dial, crown or hands, etc.) may have been replaced or refinished prior to my acquisition of the watch and, if I believe it is likely they were, I will also indicate this in the condition notes above. However, I cannot make any bedrock guarantees regarding originality of parts. I work on many different watch brands and lack the deep expertise on the history of any given brand that would be necessary to do so.