Hello, i ran across a website where this watchmaker was making custom Diver watches using cases,dials,bezels and movements from various watches to make his own Divers watch..The movement he used the most was a Bulova Hacking Automatic 17j movement...He did not list the movement's model number age or years produced...Would anyone happen to want to take a guess of which movment it its, i don't think there could be too many...i was in the market for a nice real divers watch but they can get pricey..i wouldn't mind putting together one like this guy did...One i could save money 2 i could put together parts i like..3 and having the pleasure of doing it myself... Here is the Website that i am talking about.. http://50717.com/hybrids/hseung-hybrid-3.2.html . not to much techincal info but lots of pics of nice watches using Bulova movements...i might want to look into Building your watch for beginners) But i kinda already know what i have to do... i mean there are companies that supply all the cases dials movements and parts...but like i said if i could get scrap parts from watches that are one step for being thrown out then i can save money...and have fun doing it;...
i found the answer..the movement i was looking for is a 10BNCH...does anyone know if this movement was made by AS or ETA and has a counterpart under a different model name? i am trying to find a movement of this kind..i figure it will be hard since is powers the military watches that bulova had made...any info would be of major help,thanks...
You're right about there not being too many....this is the only movt Bulova used that was hacking. It doesn't have interchangeability with other Bulova movts, and does not have an ebauche listed. This is not to say that it isn't one that Bulova got from a manufucture, and then modified.
I see on the site that he has used a variety of sources for his materials. I don't know why he would use hands from another watch, when new ones are readily available, and will fit better. Another concern I would have is that he has modified a quartz watch case to accept an automatic movt. This is fine if everything fits, but it clearly does not in this case. He has removed the dive rated sapphire crystal and replaced it with a simple plastic one that uses a tension ring (albeit a homemade one?) instead of the gasket you would find with a sapphire crystal. The caseback is also non-original and has been changed, again to accomodate the thickness of the movt. I doubt this watch would pass a 300m pressure test, although that is probably not the concern of most that would purchase this watch. The canteen crown cover would certainly be effective, however.
Just my 2¢, but if it were me, I would buy a case and dial and hands kit online, which would give me a new case, with sapphire crystal and gaskets, and install a new Swiss movt like a 2824. One of the students did this while we were still at school, and the result was very good. Here is a link:
http://www.mdwatch.ch/fournitures.html
There is also an eBay company that specializes in such things:
http://www.ebay.ca/sch/b_line55cc/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25&…
My point here is merely that to put together a watch, it would be less trouble to use new parts that are made to fit together, than cobble together disparate pieces, and use a vintage movt, which may have its own issues. The result would be much better, in all respects, as even a serviced vintage movt can have problems due to age and history. I also drove myself nuts at school trying to fit a mechanical movt into an early Rado quartz, so I know the inherent problems.
In reply to You're right about there not by Reverend Rob
thanks for the advice.. i really just wanted a high grade divers watch so i figure i put one together..i was looking into the cases dials and movements that otto frie sells..but a new eta movement is like 200 dollars and the idea is to save money..so i was thinking just getting the case and dial...also i don't know how waterproof the cases they sell are..it doesn't have to be like a 1000 meters but alteast something i can wear into my inground pool...also the idea was to have a vintage case with an upgraded movement to have the vintage look instead of new copy...but your right they both have their pros and cons...also i don't know why someone would want to change the sapphire crystal to plastic,not only for dive rating but for a nice look,the only reason i can think of is something to do with fitting the movement...i will check out the sites you mentioned...
The linked Watch mentions an Automatic Movement was used - which would not be the Bulova Military 10 BNCH as It is manually wound
Also, the Bulova Military 10 AKCSH (10AK Center Seconds Hack) 'hacks' as does the (Accutron) 214 and possibly others.
Bulova's Movement of choice for the majority of their Dive Watches was the 11 ALAC (11 AL Automatic, Center Seconds) and its derivatives.
Why would anyone go to such trouble to produce a Dive Watch ?
Spot on, Fifth. I missed that one. So that would be two hacking movts, not including the Accutrons. In my ebauche list of several hundred Bulova movts, those are the only two that appear to have that feature. There are a variety of companies that do things like this, not the least being ChronoSwiss, although they may not be utilizing old movts any more. A modern dive watch, by definition, meets some fairly impressive standards, and to put a vintage movt inside such a high tech case seems odd.
its not so much trouble if you have the parts and the know how...its just to have the look of an expensive diver with out the price..plus you can say you put it together yourself using the best parts of other watches...i think it is a neat idea and different...i guess i didn't get the movement right i'm sorry...but like i said info on an automatic hacking bulova was hard to find...my discussion was more on the movement anyway...so i got that wrong what movement is he talking about?