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VINTAGE BULOVA BEZEL and WATCH CASE GUIDE

hmmmcamu
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SINGLE CROWN COMPRESSOR
Case ref# 272
Bezel ref# " B125 "
Bezel for this model is made of a solid composite blend [resin plastic] ....

140212510_10157956712759537_8216531766135429177_n.jpg 140212510_10157956712759537_8216531766135429177_n.jpg 140212510_10157956712759537_8216531766135429177_n.jpg
Edited:
 
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@hmmmcamu

I apologize for reviving an older thread, but I'm hoping you might be able to help with a vintage Caravelle project.

I'm restoring a Caravelle Devil Diver with Bulova case reference Q162 (Hong Kong case, Swiss movement) and have been trying to identify the original factory bezel or Bulova bezel reference number so I can locate a correct replacement. I've spent quite a bit of time researching this and have gone through everything I could find publicly, including the MyBulova archives, the 1974 ABC Interchangeable Parts Catalog, the 1979 Case Parts Supplement, and numerous forum discussions, but I haven't been able to find any reference to Q162.

Your posts with the Bulova case, bezel, crystal, crown, and spring reference information are by far the most comprehensive resource I've found, and they appear to be based on factory documentation rather than the information that's publicly available online.

Would you happen to have access to the Bulova case guide (or another factory reference) that includes the Q-series cases, or would you be willing to check whether Q162 is listed? My primary goal is to identify the correct factory bezel (or its Bulova reference number), but I'd also be very interested in the crystal, crown, gasket, bezel spring, or any other service parts associated with the case.

If Q162 isn't in your reference, I'd also be very interested to know which Bulova publication or service guide your bezel/case data comes from. I've reached the point where I think the missing piece is an unpublished factory reference rather than anything available through normal web searches.

I'd really appreciate any help or guidance you can offer. Thank you for putting together such an incredible resource for the Bulova community.
 
hmmmcamu
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H horologyrevived
@hmmmcamu

I apologize for reviving an older thread, but I'm hoping you might be able to help with a vintage Caravelle project.

I'm restoring a Caravelle Devil Diver with Bulova case reference Q162 (Hong Kong case, Swiss movement) and have been trying to identify the original factory bezel or Bulova bezel reference number so I can locate a correct replacement. I've spent quite a bit of time researching this and have gone through everything I could find publicly, including the MyBulova archives, the 1974 ABC Interchangeable Parts Catalog, the 1979 Case Parts Supplement, and numerous forum discussions, but I haven't been able to find any reference to Q162.

Your posts with the Bulova case, bezel, crystal, crown, and spring reference information are by far the most comprehensive resource I've found, and they appear to be based on factory documentation rather than the information that's publicly available online.

Would you happen to have access to the Bulova case guide (or another factory reference) that includes the Q-series cases, or would you be willing to check whether Q162 is listed? My primary goal is to identify the correct factory bezel (or its Bulova reference number), but I'd also be very interested in the crystal, crown, gasket, bezel spring, or any other service parts associated with the case.

If Q162 isn't in your reference, I'd also be very interested to know which Bulova publication or service guide your bezel/case data comes from. I've reached the point where I think the missing piece is an unpublished factory reference rather than anything available through normal web searches.

I'd really appreciate any help or guidance you can offer. Thank you for putting together such an incredible resource for the Bulova community.
hey there ... may i see a photo of the watch in question ? case back both outside and inner, also the mvmnt ? does the dial have info like ... set-o-matic ... or date-o-matic ... etc etc
 
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hmmmcamu hmmmcamu
hey there ... may i see a photo of the watch in question ? case back both outside and inner, also the mvmnt ? does the dial have info like ... set-o-matic ... or date-o-matic ... etc etc
Sure thing. Please see the below. I will get the caseback outer photo when I get home tonight, I don't currently have a photo on my phone. Hopefully this will help. I would assume that you can see the dial but it just says 'Caravelle - Automatic - 666 feet'. Inside caseback says Hong Kong - Q 162 - Bulova. Movement has '1353 10' on the rotor, 17 jewels. Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.

image2.webp image0 (5).webp image1 (1).webp
 
hmmmcamu
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H horologyrevived
Sure thing. Please see the below. I will get the caseback outer photo when I get home tonight, I don't currently have a photo on my phone. Hopefully this will help. I would assume that you can see the dial but it just says 'Caravelle - Automatic - 666 feet'. Inside caseback says Hong Kong - Q 162 - Bulova. Movement has '1353 10' on the rotor, 17 jewels. Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.

image2.webp image0 (5).webp image1 (1).webp
the outter surface of the case back are there the letters PO. ?
 
hmmmcamu
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Bulova had some mvmnts made in West Germany (cold war) with sourced watch cases paired with these mvmnts that were made in Hong Kong ... what comes to mind is Ref. # 1208, these have an aluminum coke bezel insert
 
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hmmmcamu hmmmcamu
Bulova had some mvmnts made in West Germany (cold war) with sourced watch cases paired with these mvmnts that were made in Hong Kong ... what comes to mind is Ref. # 1208, these have an aluminum coke bezel insert
Yes, it does have the letters PO on the back.
 
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hmmmcamu hmmmcamu
Bulova had some mvmnts made in West Germany (cold war) with sourced watch cases paired with these mvmnts that were made in Hong Kong ... what comes to mind is Ref. # 1208, these have an aluminum coke bezel insert
The watch is missing the complete friction-fit bezel assembly, so I'm trying to determine whether another PO-case Bulova/Caravelle reference (such as the 1208 you mentioned) might use the same bezel. If you know of any other PO-case references that share this case or bezel, I'd really appreciate any guidance.
 
hmmmcamu
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try doing a search of models ..........................BULOVA / CARAVELLE 666FEET ...... set-o-matic... or date-o-matic ..... and or day-date
Edited:
 
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hmmmcamu hmmmcamu
try doing a search of models ..........................BULOVA / CARAVELLE 666FEET ...... set-o-matic... or date-o-matic ..... and or day-date
Thank you again for the suggestion.

I've been digging through Set-O-Matic and Date-O-Matic examples and I'm finding several very similar 666 Feet divers (including Q110), but I still haven't been able to determine whether they share the same bezel as my Q162.

Would you happen to know:

• Is Q162 part of the same case family as the Q110 Set-O-Matic?

• Did Bulova assign a separate bezel part number for these Hong Kong Q-series cases?

• Do your Bulova parts books or case guides show which case references interchange bezels with Q162?

• Was this bezel unique to Q162, or was it shared across multiple Caravelle/Bulova 666 Feet models?

Even knowing the compatible case references would help tremendously.
 
hmmmcamu
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bulova made their parts interchangeable as to the specific look of ur hong komg case and the bezel attached to it ... my data and research only has USA parts and models 🙁 I did a quick look on eBay there seems to be a white dial day date for sale ...... have u glanced at the piece to use as a reference point ?
 
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