I have a 1955 model Bulova 23. I noticed that the dial is a bit yellow near the crown side ot the dial. Not bad, but noticeable. Is there any way that I can clean this or should I leave it alone? I have ruined dials before, particularly clock dials becasue for the most part they are uncleanalbe. Not sure about this watch.
I actually got this on ebay last week and it was pretty messed up. The regulator was turned way up to fast and the watch wouldn't keep running. Second hand was rubbing the minute hand. I re adjusted it and now it is about 30 sec/day too fast. Not sure if that's the best that I can do, but way better than when I recieved it. I now own 2 Bulovas. I will post pictures in the near future.
Sounds like you have a dirty (sticky) hairspring. They have good hairspring cleaners out there and all you have to do is remove the balance/HS/Cock and put it in to soak for about 10 minutes and it should come clean and your watch should be running much closer to expected norms when re-assembled.
JP
As far as dials go, they are not meant to be cleaned, and always keep in mind that if you attempt to clean a watch dial, you should be prepared to ruin it, as this happens a lot of the time. There is no one 'trick' to cleaning up a dial, and each case is different. Vitreous enamel dials are an exception.
I always take it as a given that all watches from eBay in particular need a complete overhaul. 99.999 % of watches at flea markets, estate sales, etc, require repair and service. I have even received watches from high profile companies on eBay (people who write the books, in fact) , claiming that the watches are fully serviced, and they never are. Always expect to service a watch, because running it without being properly fully serviced will destroy it.
That said, it is possible to clean the hairspring, but it is like putting a new air filter in a filthy, smoking engine. Cleaning and lubing the movt will only do so much to the retoration of the watch, regulation is critical afterward, and this includes manipulating the hairspring in 99 point, well....all cases. Unless you are trained to do so, I do not recommend touching a hairspring.
I know this is generally what collectors do not want to hear, and I understand the desire to 'do it yourself'. I don't do this rant very often anymore, but watches that aren't serviced should not be run. Sitting in a drawer for decades and then suddenly being wound and used will destroy a mechanical watch. Watches soaked in oil are also subject to serious damage. Before I went to watchmaking school, I got a sweet Fifty Fathom lookalike dive watch at a Flea market in NOS condition. I proudly wore my latest find daily, only to have it completely destroy itself, so that 3 months later, when I arrived at school, I was shown what can happen when a dried out watch runs. Fortunately we had parts for my watch, and I wear it still, but it has been meticulously serviced.
So that's the rant. I've trimmed it down over the years, and no offense to JP, what he says is true, it's just the tip of the iceberg.
I may run a watch for a bit...a day or two, but if I'm personally unsure of the last service, I don't run it much longer. More than once, I've gotten a "recently serviced" watch with the recent service being 21 years prior to my purchase. I guess for an 80 year old watch-that's "recent" LOL I also have gotten watches which were reportedly "just serviced" and even had some pen markings on the inside of the case back indicating "date of service", only to find out anyone can buy a sharpie and write those dates in there. I'm not talking about folks providing service or selling watches on this site, or reputable dealers- I'm talking about various flea markets, auctions sites, and even some vintage watch shows I've been too. Unless I buy a watch from a "trusted buddy", I just assume it needs service regardless of how it's advertised. This "trusted buddy" can be someone I've never met or don't personally know, but they are vouched for- endorsed, so to speak- or recommended by a "trusted buddy" I do know.
And this is one of the reasons I've got a couple hundred watches put away, and only run/wear a half a dozen or so.
Fisrt of all, I find this website is very difficult to access. I try loging on with my username and password, and I have to do it repeatedly to get it to log me in. I realy think that there is something wrong with this site. Not sure who to I should adress this issue to.
As far as servicing my watches, it is good practice to clean and oil your watchs on a regular basis, but if I had to send every collectable watch out for service, I would be in the poor house. It is generally $150 to $200 per watch to have this done. I have learned how to clean and oil watches on my own, but I haven't mastered the process completely. There are fewer watchmakers these days so good ones ahre difficult to come by. There is one guy that I trust for good work, but again, I can't really afford to clean and oil every watch that I own every 2 or 3 years.
In reply to Fisrt of all, I find this by finiteguy
Finiteguy- we are experiencing some back-end issues which are causing log-in problems. Admin is on top of it. You should only have to log in once, and can ask your computer to "remember" you so you are logged on automatically when you open your browser to MyBulova. Some recent drupal module updates have cause log-in problems similar to what you describe. We hope to figure out the problems and get it all workign smoothly again soon. Thanks
The only way to truley service a watch is to disassemble it completly and put it through the cleaning process and then oil it and reassemble it and regulate the time on a timing machine. A good example of this being done right is to look at some of the watches Plainsmen has done and in some cases, if you're lucky, you may get to see a watch in complete disassembled state that he has done and is getting ready to oil and reassmeble. He is very good at what he does and there are several people here on the site who are capable of doing it right. Typically it only costs about $75 bucks to have one of your watches serviced, a small price to pay every 2 to 3 years if you plan on keeping the watch to pass down to one of your relatives.
I have just learned how to service a watch like what Rev Rob and Plainsmen and others here on the site do it. It is not and easy task and some times you don't get things back just right and now you have a broken staff or pinion or jewel because you got in a hurry.
This is a difficult job and takes years of practice and patience and lots of spare parts to get it right most of the time.
Collecting Bulova watches is a wonderful hobby but becomes an obsession rather quickly if you aren't careful. Then you begin to develope the dreaded disease called Bulovisim which has no known cure.
Best of luck and welcome to the wonderful world of Bulova.
JP
In reply to The only way to truley by JP
So far, I have 2 Bulovas. Didn't realize that it was addictive. They are nice watches and I like the fact that they were made in USA and not Swiss.....not that I dislike Swiss watches. My collection consists mostly of Waltham pocket watches and I have learned how to clean those. My biggest prblem with cleaning watches, is that the solvent loosens up the shelac that holds the pallet jewels and roller jewels. The older I get, the more difficult it is to see these jewels and the are often lost.
By the way, I'm still having issues loggin into this site. I have attempt to log in at least 2 times in order to finally make it in.
In reply to So far, I have 2 Bulovas. by finiteguy
Alcohol or laquer thinner will dissolve the shellac, as will some other solvents. There are industry approved cleaning solutions that will not harm the shellac. (L&R watch cleaning fluids) Once the pallet jewels have been loosened, it is very tricky to get them re-set at their original position. We were always told never to use alcohols of any kind to clean the watch. Some hairsprings are pinned using shellac, and likewise, you don't want that coming loose, either.
Bulovas are not all made in the US, some are entirely Swiss, some are based on Swiss ebauches and finished or modded in the US, and some are entirely made in the US. The majority of them are Swiss ebauches, finished in the US. Bulova owned the factories in Switzerland where the Swiss mods were done. US Bulovas lack the "BXW" import code.
On other sites, I sometimes have to change browsers to access them, but I haven't had any problems here.
In reply to Alcohol or laquer thinner by Reverend Rob
When I first found myself with a bit more than a handful of watches, I took one in each year for service til they were all done. A full service is only needed every 4-6 years, although this can vary depending on use and climate, etc. In the US it is easier to find a watchmaker, sometimes semi-retired, who will do the services at a reduced rate. There are still 6 or so watchmaking schools in the US, so there are more watchmakers, but still a shortage.
Of course, as you say, collections in the hundreds would be expensive to service, I just wear and use the ones that are serviced. I see a lot of watches damaged by sudden and recent wear, and with NOS parts becoming scarcer, damaged parts cannot always be replaced. I had mine done on a collectability scale, the better watches got serviced first. I have a rotation of about 5. My knockabout work and shop watch is a quartz.
Hi Guy's ! It's threads like this that will make the hair stand up on a watchmakers back. Please listen to JP's advice and have your watches properly serviced by someone who knows the correct procedure on how to clean a watch. Everyone has their own idea of what may work, but it is very true that the wrong chemical or cleaning solution can certianly reuin a watch, either the plate finish, loosin jewels, leave a residue on polished parts, or even curode plates or other parts. Cleaning solutions are around $60.00 a gallon and rinse solutions run the same, the equipment to do a proper cleaning is very exspensive and the small price of around $60.00 to completely service a watch is well worth the money spent. Hope this helps! By the way, I service all Jerins watches, and yes they do look and run good! LOL Mike............
Boy if folks can get a good servide for $75 that's a fantastic deal....nothing near that price exists in Hawaii. Recently, I'm paying more than that :(
Several years ago (c2009), I had been sending my watches to Bulgaria.... I had bought some watches from this multi-generational watchmaker shop "over there"...and asked about service. He agreed to service a few of my watches....and said since I was a good customer, he could do it for $25 a watch. Things that sound too good to be true usually are.....however in this instance, I took him up on it....trying a couple watches for the first round. They came back quick and running....and he even sent me pictures of the watch completly dissassembled during the process. I asked him how he could do it for this price, and he said his kids and most recently grandkid were in the family business. They needed the experience (supervised by him)....but the reply that made the most sense was "...my fiend, $25 US cash is a lot of money in Bulgaria..."
Within a few months, his family could no longer keep up with service, and now they are busy working on watches which they sell.... and his service price went up quite a bit from $25... This was around 2001, and needless to say...I was happy for the family business but sad for my service needs.
With the NAWCC closing their watchmaking school, and youth interested in things more exciting than watchmaking/service, etc... the folks who do this correctly are a dying breed.... My hats are off to them (and a bunch of my watches are gonna be off to them before too long to).