Bulova 1958 Convoy

Submitted by 7Pines on January 19, 2014 - 1:53pm
Manufacture Year
1958
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
D268778
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Picked this up for...$.75...at a local thrift shop!  Wound it and it began to run very smoothly.  It has been keeping excellent time for over five days now!  One thing to note is that there is very little wear to the watch, and I would rate it at  near mint condition.  Still looks new.  Great find on a great old watch!  The closest model I could find was the Clipper, however, the lugs on this watch seem to be sort of "art deco-ish" to me. Thanks for having a look.

Dan

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
7Pines
Posted January 19, 2014 - 1:57pm

I should also say that this model is a handwinder, and not an auto, and that the decimal place is correct with regard to what I paid for the watch - seventy-five cents!!!

OldTicker
Posted January 19, 2014 - 11:00pm

I agree with the Convoy model, and for 75 cents, that is a bargain of a lifetime! It looks like a new watch!...I would be stopping back at that thrift store quite often!

If you plan on wearing it a lot, I would spent a few bucks and have it serviced, you would still be money ahead.

Geoff Baker
Posted January 20, 2014 - 5:54am

What a find on a great looking watch!

I agree on the Convoy ID.

7Pines
Posted January 21, 2014 - 8:39am

Thanks so much for the positive ID.  So, it's a Convoy, eh?  It might've taken me weeks - or longer - to properly identify the model.

I currently have six watches in my rotation, so I don't expect to wear the Convoy too often, but I do intend to have the movement properly cleaned and lubed.  

Oh, and any thoughts on a different bracelet or strap?  I'll check the lug width and maybe look for a nice brown or black leather strap for it.  I might wear it for a time if it is on a leather strap.

Any thoughts (through PM of course) on its value would be appreciated. 

Thanks again for this nifty ID service you guys provide.

Love old watches and I love this site!

Dan

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted January 21, 2014 - 11:40am

Brown Leather would look great, Red Leather over the top!

A strap is always a matter of personal taste, (on some Bulova Watch models a factor in the model Name). The problem with the adjustable width metal bands are they can, and will, chew into the Case lugs over time.You may have to pay well over 10x the original purchase price of the Watch for a good strap, but well worth the investment!

A very nice original looking 'sock drawer' piece.

Kudo's.

Andersok
Posted January 21, 2014 - 12:27pm

Is this Sea King from a 1955 ad the same watch as the Convoy...different name at a later year? The Convoy ad states shock proof, but the Sea King ad states shock resistant, which is also engraved on this watch. Wondering if there is a difference between these models or if the Convoy was even available in 55?

 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted January 21, 2014 - 1:38pm

Different Case Andersok, not only in size but in construction.

The Convoy Case is lift out style: A removable bezel housing the glass pops off, the stem seperates and the Movement and Dial flop out.

 

The Sea King has a screw type Caseback and is larger in Diameter.

 

There's an old discussion in the forums somewhere, the image certainly 'looks' the same.

7Pines
Posted January 21, 2014 - 3:41pm

I agree that a nice strap - I'm leaning towards brown with the gold case - would really look nice.  As it is, with the matching gold-colored Speidel, it's a bit too much gold for me.  But a brown strap...I can see it!

Any idea of lug width?  I have a caliper at home.  No biggie, unless someone could rattle it off off the top of his/her head.

I now see why the case is two-piece, as the xtal and bezel lift off to reveal the face and movement beneath.

If I pay ten times the purchase price for a leather strap, jeez, I'd have to shell out, what...$7.50?!  Ha!

OldTicker
Posted January 21, 2014 - 10:50pm

In reply to by 7Pines

I personally don't have this model in my collection, but standard lug width on most of these 60's bully's is 16mm which should give you many choices for straps.

I try to match my watches strap/band configuration to the ads we find here, but I do find a strap much more comfortable to wear...if you plan on wearing it a lot, stay away from the cheap Chinese straps, they look good for a couple weeks and in a month they are junk.