I have recently purchased a bulova as i am fascinated with old watches.unfortunately I have no idea what model it is i have tried looking for the date codes but havent found anything other than a set of long digits on the back casing with a set of four numbers below them.no letters.it has a very old brown leather strap pale watch face with dark hands and the words 'bulova' at the top and the words 'longchamp' and 'swiss' at the bottom.a glass bezel with a gold coloured case with a stainless steel back it also has a blue cabochon winder/crown.i cant find another one similar so really stuck as to what make model it is can anyone help please?
the person who sold me it said it was working but it wont wind although i am able to alter the hands it just doesnt tick.my nearest town doesnt have a watchmaker or a good jeweller who can help me can anyone give me an idea why it wont wind on etc?
i dont mind if its not worth any money or collectable i just really like this watch and would love to fix it
thanks in advance
yes will take some and pop them up tomorrow. the strap is filthy and cracked not overly happy about that and the casing is quite dirty inside however the steel back was slightly off so i loosened it and had a look at the movement and it seems clean and nothing seems broken but hard to tell as im not sure what im looking for.im a novice.
there are rubies on the back of the movement.i think it might say 17 jewels but its tiny and i cant really make out the words
sorry im pretty useless at this stuff.will take a pic and hopefully it will help discover what kind it is
In reply to yes will take some and pop by ruby77
Do you have a magnifying glass? If so, use that and write down everything you see on the movement. In addition to the jewel count, you should see a number along with one or more characters, like "6AF", for example. Also, you may see a little symbol, such as a circle, or an arrow, or a "T". That's the date code, if your watch was made before 1950. If a later model, you should see two numbers, such as 51 for 1951. Write it all down and let us know what you've got.
In reply to Do you have a magnifying by NOVA
In reply to 1950 and later will have a by OldTicker
In reply to Bulova made a "Longchamp" but by OldTicker
In reply to Yep, a Google search turned by NOVA
4-745866 and beneath that 8252 on the back of the stainless back-on the outside on the inside it says bulova and a very very small mark maybe a letter im unsure
i cant see any marks or other letters other than 'swiss' '17 jewels' but using a rubbish magnifying glass so might be something else.
When you get your camera working, add a couple pictures, and use the Macro setting when taking pictures close up if your camera has it.
A watch that does not wind can be many things from a simple cleaning/oiling to something broken and needing replacement.
There are a few excellent Watchmakers that use this site from Canada, USA, and Great Britain that I would trust to send my watch to for repair/restore if you decide to do that.
In reply to When you get your camera by OldTicker
will do :) have put up a picture from my android but its not very good.
i have been told there is a watchmaker in glasgow and one in edinburgh but i dont know them so i would be reluctant to take it there.
im bit worried why i cant find the letters etc on it and also why i cant find a watch that looks the same
my other bulova ive been able to find several images of and was made in 1967 so bit worried why this one i cant seem to find another the same or similar :/
Well, I think it's safe to say that your watch isn't one that we have in our database. Further--someone correct me if I'm wrong--but I also don't believe that any of our ads depict your watch. So, with additional information, we can probably help you pinpoint the year it was made, but we're not likely to come up with a model name. Have you tried a Google search to see what you can find? There appear to be a lot of these watches available on the Web, so you might get lucky and spot yours.
In reply to Well, I think it's safe to by NOVA
yes tried to google it but didnt come up with anything.bit worried as i said in my reply to @ old ticker that im worried that i havent been able to find another watch the same or similar whereas my other bulova was easy to find and was made in 1967 and plenty of images on the web.
In reply to Well, I think it's safe to by NOVA
i havent been able to find anything that looks like my watch on the net and havent found anymore info im going to try again with the mag glass tonight and see if i can see any other marks.i know the pics arent very clear but thought maybe somebody on here may have an idea but havent anything as yet.:)
sorry about the photo had to try and upload from my android and not a great picture hope this gives an idea as to the watch and will try and get a better pic up tomorrow
In reply to Found one similar on a by geezer_D
thanks :) yes while i was off line i had another look at that movement and found N8 which i think is 1978.thanks for looking for me and to everyone for their help :)
just need to get it fixed now.it seems to work ok without the back on it but as soon as i replace the back it stops working.very odd.
I have managed to locate a date code its N8 which i think is 1978? ive also found out (i have three bulovas and a very old helbros amongst others) that my other bulova is a spaceview so at least now i know what watches are what.as i said before not interested in the monetary value just really love old watches especially Bulova :)
If the Dial states Bulova Longchamp then it is a Bulova Longchamp.
The long string of numbers on the Caseback would be the Watches seriel number followed by the 4 digit model number.
The Watch possibly will not wind due to being Battery operated Quartz?
Geezer looks spot on with the 1980's.
In reply to If the Dial states Bulova by FifthAvenueRes…
In reply to If the Dial states Bulova by FifthAvenueRes…
The Longchamp seems to be a watch that was not sold in the USA, most that I find on the bay are from other country's.
I think I read somewhere that all Quartz movements had to be marked on the dial or caseback, this one is not and they made manual winders in the early 70's.