I noticed some models popping up here and a flown moon chrono got huge press and money a while back. Most of the websites out there are pretty lousy. I have a soft spot for the brand as my first good watch was a Bulova, a HS grad present and everyone was making such a big deal out of it. What is the consensus on present future collectibility? My first vintage and noob tax was a franken space view so I know Accutron has a fan base. What is the seasoned collector consensus? Thanks!
I bought a moon reissue in Jan sales. Then there is the original of course. So there is vintage & space related fan base. But I don't know where the fans collector's hang out. Or what resource are readily available. Eager to learn more P
Hmmm...in my short time, I've come across a few Bulovas. The early tanks are a classic design, and still have decent wearability today. By far some of their more popular models would be the A11s for their military presence, their Accutrons for the quartz reliability, as well as some of their chronograph designs based on several ebauches.
I tend to buy what I like and am not very concerned with "collectibility". The Bulovas I have bought appealed for their design. There's not a lot of snob appeal to Bulova that I see. I like this Aerojet manual wind for it's elegant simplicity; there's a lot of beautiful Swiss work in this piece and it's very well put together - a nice dress watch. I love the minute track on this Ambassador. Great movement inside, too - micro-rotor 30 jewel Buren produced. And here's a popular one, the Bulova Wrist Alarm: I think acquiring old Bulovas is a really fun and relatively inexpensive path for enjoying vintage watches.
Have one, That reminds me, I got this over a year ago whilst I was in hospital getting a lung drained the picture is on the window sill of the hospital room I was in. Still haven't put a strap on it or worn it, might have to pull my finger out and put a strap on it after seeing @ahsposo ,s
Bulova is kind of an odd brand from a collectibility standpoint. There are some iconic models that will always be collectible, such the ones shown above, along with the Accutron Spaceview and Astronaut. Bulova likely was the largest producer of American assembled automatic watches, although the caliber designs and almost all of the parts were Swiss. Many of these automatics were 5 position and temperature adjusted, similar to the contemporary Swiss chronometers. However, they were not independently tested like the Swiss watches were at that time. With some careful searching, you can pick these up for well under US$100. Less than what they sold for new. Good luck with an undervalued brand. gatorcpa
They can be great watches...but the great ones are far and few between. Overall, a solid watch for the money.
For me Bulova is all about the Accutrons. I have a thing for the RR versions. I never really got into the conventional movement ones.
Bulova (and Caravelle) make nice vintage divers. The Snorkel 666/ft aka "Devil Diver" is a nice piece and still affordable.
I would say they are under valued, they made a lot of nice watches with good movements that can still be had cheap. 666 quartz diver with a depth gauge... weird and worthless.
Like seeing everybody's watches. My "mystery" dial that was barely worn and very inexpensive. I like a lot of the oceanographers as well, which are usually very reasonable.
I very much dig that Stars and Stripes chronograph, Accutrons with transparent dials, and my 42mm super compressor:
I like Bulovas, I own a 218 that I wear fairly often and a 30s 10AE, and I hope to acquire an Astronaut someday as well as a 10BPAC, and a 666 Diver. Personally I think you should collect what appeals to you rather than what appeals to the market.