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VINTAGE BULOVA chronographe & divers

JwRosenthal
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hmmmcamu hmmmcamu
how do u feel about the watch so far ?
I love it. I sold my Helson (which occupied this style for me) which I always felt was a bit too chunky. This one has the thickness in the huge bubble, but the case is actually rather slim-ish, so it wears closer to the wrist than one would expect. It sits beautifully in terms of lug length & width, albeit a bit top heavy (of course- it’s a brick). The lugs are slightly down turned so that helps it sit better without that gap in the strap between the lugs and the wrist.

The period details like the drilled through 16mm lugs, the blasted case finishing (like a modern day parkerizing), the bubble dome, the cathedral hands- they knocked it out of the park. At the used market price it can’t beat.
I can see the desire for the LE in that the back has the full relief diving bell (although I don’t know how that would feel on the wrist), higher dome, lumed bezel and a better movement- but not for what they are fetching.
The 8 series Miyota in this is a little gritty feeling when you wind and set it, but it’s a workhorse and good time keeper so no real complaints. Could they have gone with a better movement in this one- maybe, but then that would have affected the price-point. Would I love to swap an 11ALAC into this- hell yes, but I don’t think things would line up.

And an in-car shot with the JBC
171D56FC-FB31-4480-923C-909FF4E23E7F.jpeg
 
crd
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
So flying in the face of all those that have blasted the new Mil-ships for the 16mm lugs saying “ I can’t get straps or bracelets for that size”- I say you’re a lazy ass and thinking with a 2022 mindset and not a 1958 mindset.

I admit to being someone who initially dismissed the idea of this watch from this thinking. Your recent photos have definitely influenced my ever evolving tastes to regard this watch much more highly now. Thanks for sharing.
 
JwRosenthal
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crd crd
I admit to being someone who initially dismissed the idea of this watch from this thinking. Your recent photos have definitely influenced my ever evolving tastes to regard this watch much more highly now. Thanks for sharing.
All of the US military watches from WWII up to Vietnam had 16mm lugs. Most aviator watches from the 30’s-60’s had 16 mm lugs (think Bonklip) There are tons of strap options both new and vintage out there. The Fluco pigskin strap come to mind as a very close modern replacement for the vintage pigskin straps (even has the rounded tongue). The vintage OD military single pass straps from the 50’s-60’s are 16mm and easy to find on ebay NOS (if you know what to look for).
I love the 16mm lugs, they really make it feel like a vintage piece.
 
hmmmcamu
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Bulova 14EB is a modified Valjoux 7733 whose origins can be found on Venus 188 from 1948, Valjoux absorbed Venus in 1966 and made no changes to the movement until 1969.

The Valjoux 7733 has been revised several times and Valjoux produced variants that include date (7734), 12-hour counter (7736), 10 minute regatta timer (7737) and then the self winding (7750) that was initially released for only 1 year in 1974 before the quartz crisis quashed production. The 7750 was released again in 1985 once people had realised quartz was dull.

The BULOVA 14EB is a chronograph movement featuring two sub dials of running seconds and minutes passed. Bulova used this movement from 1969 to 1973. Bulova went the extra mile of modifying the parts to perform better and last longer ... the DEEP SEA CHRONOGRAPH A, B, and C series all used these ... as a rule of thumb BULOVA until the mid 70's date stamped the case back and their movements ... the movement should have the same date stamp as the case back of the watch
Edited:
 
270221569_10158668643584537_3137540031227478284_n.jpg
hmmmcamu
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1967
BULOVA Snorkel 666ft. ' J '
17 Jewel 11ALAC automatic

Edited:
 
275309526_10158783199724537_3714077446615751463_n.jpg 760962-b48e40289fd34487c15e36eb709e0e5e.png
hmmmcamu
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1973
BULOVA SNORKEL 666ft. Day and Date
17 Jewel AOACB Automatic
Edited:
 
274717255_10158760629594537_5633447675227361902_n.jpg 272843397_10158745047544537_925290791338296894_n.jpg
pdxleaf
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Doesn't get much wrist time unfortunately. Made it out today. Has a few condition issues but it's got a vibe, for sure.

Had it serviced so running well. One little nit is that the minute has marks are faded or gone. I suppose it's just paint fading in the sun?

Love the bezel and AML.

20220714_174940.jpg
 
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