I picked up this Oceanographer 666 chrono and noticed the hour and minute hands were different but I figured they were replaced at some point for whatever reason. When I removed the case back instead of the Bulova cal 14 EB I saw this generic 7733 Looking online I haven't seen any chronos with this movement so now I thinking it's a replacement but from when? I paid market value for this watch so I was hoping to find out how much the unmarked movement effect value and whether or not I should ask for a refund and return the watch. Any opinions or advice would be appreciated.
I assume you paid under 700usd for it? The 7733 is correct... check to make sure the minute subdial is correct as these are 30 or 45 minutes. Then start digging to see if any shipped with an unsigned movement. A quick search is not showing any but that’s inconclusive.
I was worried when I saw that movement but it never occurred to me it could have been worse Still haven't heard back from the dealer about returning the watch.
With taxes it was $745 USD ($960 CAD). I've been looking since Wednesday and the only movement I've seen that is close is this uncased one listed on ebay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bulova-chronograph-666-movement-valjoux-7733-bulova-14-eb-/162537956326?nma=true&si=jK%2B0NgGuoESJT5yJvyjeeZa5%2F54%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network None of the val 7733 movements I've seen have the UNADJUSTED and SWISS lettering on the balance cock and all of them have SEVENTEEN 17 JEWELS while this movement doesn't have that engraved anywhere. This dealer buys and sells a lot of watches but when I called him he claimed "I didn't know that movement wasn't correct".
Not a horrible price for it... might try to get some back from the seller. It’s a nice looking piece at that price regardless of it having the original movement. Is the subdial correct? If it is I’d keep it.
Just run the chrono for 30 minutes. Time those 30 minutes on a different watch or clock ! The hand should do one full sweep of the subdial. If it only goes 2/3 of the way round it's a 45 minute movement.
I found this Bulova dialed chrono with a Dugena marked val 7734 movement: https://www.thevintagemovement.com/product-page/bulova-chronograph-valjoux-7733
Clearly wrong in this instance. Yours does appear to have a swapped bridge, although it might be the lighting. I’d work from the assumption yours is a replaced movement, unless you can find data otherwise.
I haven't been able to find this movement in any other Bulova chrono. I haven't heard back from the dealer who I called yesterday so I called the antique mall where I bought the watch and they haven't heard from the dealer either. I have to call on Sunday and speak to the manager.
I finally found another val 7733 with the unadjusted and Swiss on the balance cock, it's a Croton Chronomaster from the late 70s: http://www.invenitetfecit.com/modeles/chronographe-nivada-chronomaster_en.html
I still haven't heard back from the dealer either by phone or email. I called the antique mall where I bought the watch and was told they won't give a refund, (ALL SALES FINAL) unless the dealer says they should and the dealer hasn't called them. I'm going to wait until Monday and then I'll have to figure something out, but I have no idea what.
It’s my understanding that Bulova used Valjoux movements in their 70’s era chronographs but whether or not they’d stick an unsigned movement in there...? No idea. Otherwise, that watch is really pretty mint - meaning the entire watch seems to have aged very evenly and aesthetically pleasing.