Men’s 1958 Bulova 21 Ruby Jeweled Dress Wristwatch

The Bulova Watch Company, founded in 1875 by Joseph Bulova, became one of the most prominent watchmakers in the United States by producing high-quality timepieces that blended style and function. This attention to both artistry and reliability solidified Bulova's place in horological history.

By 1919, Bulova launched its first line of wristwatches, which were marketed specifically to men. These watches were advertised as a blend of style and function, helping Bulova capitalize on the growing trend of wristwatches over pocket watches. A year later, Bulova established the first corporate observatory in the world, located atop a skyscraper in New York City, it allowed Bulova to set its watches with unparalleled precision using celestial timekeeping.

In 1926, Bulova made history with the world's first radio commercial, announcing: "At the tone, it's 8 o'clock, Bulova Watch Time." This innovative marketing strategy helped Bulova become a household name.

Bulova made history again during WWII by airing the first television commercial in history. The ad was aired on July 1, 1941, before a baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies, and simply showed a Bulova watch over a map of the United States with the slogan "America runs on Bulova time."

Throughout the 20th century, Bulova watches appeared in numerous Hollywood films and were endorsed by celebrities. The brand's connection with popular culture helped solidify its place as a stylish and desirable accessory.

Since vintage timepieces continue to fascinate those with discerning taste, we've gotten more and more requests for clean, original luxurious examples. Because of the push for such pieces, fine examples have gotten a bit harder to get.

There are certain characteristics that are desirable in classic wristwatch design: The watch case should have clean, minimalist lines if possible; it should have stylized Arabic numerals or a dot-and-number combination and it should have that slightly futuristic, "smooth" look. As with any other type of art — cooking, for instance — the elements must be combined in just the right way for the effect to be achieved. The result is a great looking, dependable watch that can be worn in virtually any situation.

This completely original Bulova 1958 dress wristwatch with its original pearlescent dial, gold applied Arabic numerals and bar markers DEFINITELY exhibits signs of the coming retro movement. The sub-seconds register is a tip-of-the-hat to the previous era, while excellent, faceted lugs on this rectangular gold-filled bezel are indicative of the transformation from Deco to a more streamlined, Post-War Mid-Century. It even has what appears to be its original stretch band, something we've decided to leave because of its mesmeric look.

Its gold-filled back opens to reveal a completely restored 21j movement — the pride of the House of Bulova." Measuring 36mm long by 20mm wide, this well-preserved piece of horological history – offered in a Bulova factory Bakelite presentation box — is waiting to be worn and admired by someone with excellent, discerning taste!