Thinking about picking this beauty up for under $1000. I love the arabic numbers, broad hands, and tritium patina. Owner says it runs well and received an overhaul this past April. Thoughts?

 

I bought similar and like it very much. I had mine serviced by a highly reputable watchmaker, what do you know about the watchmaker who did the "overhaul" in April? If it was done by the same watchmaker I used, I would jump all over that for under $1k... but if not, might still need a lot to be in top working condition.

 

That original bracelet is a huge plus. I didn't realize these things got so valuable as I thought the expensive ones were the Doxa-like style oceanographers. However an early 1965 example like that is certainly going to be hard to come by.

 

The watchmaker is located in Maplewood, NJ.

 

That bracelet doesn't seem to fit very well (the end-links appear to have the wrong curvature), so I doubt it's original. Given the degradation of the dial, it would have to be WAY under $1k for me.

 

I haven’t seen many photos of the original bracelet. Although the ones I have seen seem to match the one in the first photo. Looks ill fit, but he also said he wasn’t wearing it properly as the bracelet is too large for his wrist. He’s offering it for about $700.

 

Here’s mine for comparison



There were apparently 2 makers of these bracelets, Kreisler and JBC- mine is JBC. There is also a high profile link and low profile link. The endlinks were made to fit a few different models apparently, but they are 17.5mm and we’re never a perfect fit.
Here is an original ad showing the bracelet

 

Thanks for the useful info! His is a JBC as well. Here are some more photos the actual bracelet. Definitely not a great fit given those gaps.

 

I had the same gaps when I got mine. A little tweaking, correct thickness spring bars and some tightening of folded links that were opening up dramatically helped. They were never perfect, but you can get them close

 

Oh, and the clasp cover should have the tuning fork- which means either that was a JBC bracelet in the same style matched to that watch later, or the clasp cover was replaced. The correct covers aren’t cheap and not easy to find on their own- but that wouldn’t keep me from buying a watch, just something to look out for down the line.

 

Good to know. Also realized your bezel has a pip while the one I am purchasing doesn’t.

 

Dial may be degraded, but the patina on the lume plots is gorgeous. If it needs a service (because last one was not done properly) then I would agree. If it was serviced the way mine now has been, then I would disagree. My cost of watch + proper service puts mine quite a bit over $1k. I know service is usually discounted when you don't know who did it, and I understand that, but a proper service adds a lot of value IMO.

 

After all the work and parts I have into mine, to get it sorted out, I am probably at about $800 with service considering I didn’t know what to look for when I bought it (had wrong crown, wrong crystal, wrong date wheel). Luckily I had condition on my side and I love the watch, so it was worth the investment to me despite it going above street value. I wouldn’t sell mine under $1k (at all actually) even though they trade for less.
That said, I agree with Dan about the OP’s watch. Although the lume is great, the moisture speckling on the dial is a love or hate thing- I cant take dial degradation so I would pass on it regardless of price.
If I didn’t have an issue with the dial damage, lacking a service but running- I would say value would be around $6-700 with that bracelet, $4-500 without. My understanding of value is based on what I see these sell for in consistent completed eBay auctions- not the random spike every now and then that makes one raise an eyebrow.

 

I should also note- that the “value” I am assessing on my watch does not include the hours I spent tracking down the correct crystal, crown and date wheel over the course of months (for which I had to buy a complete watch with the same movement to get the date wheel- luckily Bulova used this movement in a few other models), and my watchmaker didn’t charge me to install the aforementioned parts after he had already done the serviced initially.
There are lots of hidden costs in getting a vintage watch straitened out- if you care enough to do it.

 

Funny as I was looking at this watch too and I found the price excessive even it’s attractive - and the size for me is perfect.
Clearly the seller has high expectation - does it mean that’s what the watch is worth?
Asking price doesn’t mean market price.

 

Oh it certainly does to those that own them but I never let the internet establish true value for me.

Chances are I will come across some here in my Connecticut treasure hunting for 1/3 that price and definitely once the Chelsea weekend flea markets open back up in Manhattan. This tri-state area is Bulova country.

 

Actually- scrap what I said, it wasn’t the same watch. Still outrageously priced.

 

Why would a non-tuning fork movement watch feature such a claps? Having said that, I am, like others, skeptical that an "original" bracelet would feature incorrect end-pieces.

In any case, well overpriced in my view.

 

I asked the same question of a well known Bulova expert here when I got mine and apparently it was just the logo they were using on the early 60’s bracelets after they released the tuning fork (I assume as the logo was a point of pride for the entire company). After thinking about it, it dawned on me that any of the “Bulova” marked clasps I had seen were all from later models.

 

i think it's overpriced.

1k can go a long way in the vintage skin diver market. you can get very nice condition different models in the 6 range.