Rago Auctions

Incorporating vintage Bulova designs with the unmistakable elements of legendary performer Frank Sinatra, the ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ watch features a stainless steel case with gold-tone vintage style hands and markers.

Frank Sinatra’s signature is displayed elegantly on the textured gold dial. The watch model 96B348 features a Miyota Caliber 8215 21-jewel automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve and calendar.

The exhibition case back showcases the fine movement and features the song title as well as the iconic Fedora Hat, which can also be found etched on the crown. The brown lizard-grain textured leather strap features a deployant buckle and is stamped with the name ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ along the inside. The watch features a domed sapphire crystal with AR coating and water resistance to 30 meters in a 39mm case.

The Bulova connection to Sinatra goes all the way back to the 1950s and The Frank Sinatra Show television series, for which Bulova was a sponsor. Sinatra was also known to have owned and worn Bulova watches throughout his life. As such, the brand, in its continued commitment to produce watches influenced by famous moments and persons in music, has released the 1950s- and 1960s-inspired Sinatra collection to honor Hoboken, New Jersey’s "most famous son."

The dial has a fluted design, featuring alternating applied Arabic and pyramid-style hour markers, and is conspicuously clean due to its lack of a minute ring. Passing over the dial, including the 3 o’clock date window and aforementioned 6 o’clock Sinatra signature, are pike-style hour and minute hands accompanied by a simple pointer for the running seconds hand.

This watch was generously donated by Bulova — Citizens Watch America — New York, New York.

The Brian LaViolette Foundation was formed by the LaViolette family to honor the memory of their son, Brian, who passed away in a swimming accident in Green Bay, Wisconsin when he was just fifteen years old in 1992. Brian was not only an excellent student, athlete, and musician, but he loved watches, starting his own collection when he was four years of age.

Since 1992, the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation has presented 1,058 scholarships to deserving college-bound students in Northeastern Wisconsin, the United States, and other parts of the world. The Foundation continues Brian's legacy by helping high school seniors financially to achieve their educational dreams and, at the same time, providing them with encouragement and inspiration. 

Learn more about the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation