unknown found in a rusty tin can

Submitted by J13 on April 19, 2011 - 11:09am

This is a recent find I would love to know more about. The dial is textured, Bulova under the 12, Self Winding under the hands, Swiss under the 6. No Serial number on the back of the watch, it just says Bulova Watch Co - Stainless Steel - Antimagnetic - Waterproof - Shock Resistant. Has a Speidel strap that looks fairly new. Keeps good time so far but the minute hand seems to skip. I have not tried to remedy the skipping by adjusting the crown at all and would like to know if the skipping is indicitave of a problem or if it can be fixed by winding the crown forwards (backwards?). Any information on the age or model number would be great. It is not for sale.

http://www.mybulova.com/watches/1955-sea-clipper-2242

J13
Posted April 19, 2011 - 11:10am

it is listed as 1955 unknown but I have no idea on the age thanks for any info!

geezer_D
Posted April 19, 2011 - 12:16pm

 Please post a picture of the front of the watch and of the movement, to aid identifying.  Does the minute hand skip as the watch is running or when setting?

NOVA
Posted April 19, 2011 - 12:47pm

In reply to by geezer_D

Geez - I think this post is referring to the watch listed earlier today in the database under "1955 - Unknown".  Pics are posted there.

geezer_D
Posted April 19, 2011 - 1:33pm

 OK, thanks Lisa.  I will check it out there.

J13
Posted April 20, 2011 - 8:30am

There is no date code/serial anywhere on the watch that I can see. I have uploaded a nice selection of large pics of the watch and hopefully you may be able to tell from there

 

http://www.iputthedotinthe.com/watch/

NOVA
Posted April 20, 2011 - 10:29am

In reply to by J13

J13 - I just went through all those pics, and it sure would save everyone a lot of time if you would pare them down to two--one that shows the back clearly enough to read the words printed there, and one that shows the pattern on the dial.  Most of them are too blurry to tell anything about the watch, and side views of the band don't help us.

Looks like the only way we're going to get a date code is if you open up the case and tell us what's written on the inside of the case back and on the movement itself.

We can make guesses/assumptions about what you've got based on the case and dial, but most of us aren't comfortable drawing a definitive conclusion without a date for verification.

 

J13
Posted April 20, 2011 - 8:52am

Hi Geezer, the minute hand seems to skip, slide, and stop briefly while the watch is running. A friend of mine wound it 3 times while he was setting the time on it 3 or 4 days ago and I have not wound it again ive just been wearing it. Im sure its not broken im just ignorant of the watch and its needs (I hope).

geezer_D
Posted April 20, 2011 - 10:11am

 Without examining the watch, it sounds like it could be as simple as  the minute hand possibly hitting the hour hand due to bad alignment ( minute hand and hour hand not parallel in the horizonal plane) and contact between the two hands causing a momentary loss of movement.  It may happen every revolution of the minute hand or only once every 12 hours depending on the misalignment.

J13
Posted April 20, 2011 - 10:29am

It does not seem to "skip" every revolution but it is frequent, seems to be keeping good time otherwise to within a minute or 2,  I recently watched a video that claimed a self winder like this one may need to be wound backwards to its first position and then wound forward. I have not done this, nor have I wound it forward any further. This watch very likey spent the last 30 years in a can filled with rusty nuts and bolts so I am thrilled it looks and works as well as it does.

geezer_D
Posted April 20, 2011 - 10:52am

In reply to by J13

 Winding the watch backward should have no effect, the click on the winding mechanism prevents any backward movement of the winding barrel.  You will not be able to wind the watch fully, as the bridle on the tail of the mainspring allows the spring to slip if it gets too tight.  In the condition that you found the watch you are ver fortunate that it runs as well as it does.  I would heartily recommend that you have the watch cleaned, oiled and adjusted (COA).  It does sound like a lack of parallel between the hands.  The hands catch and momentarily pauses, then rebounds.  I have seen this numeous times before.  A competent watch maker can correct it easily.

J13
Posted April 20, 2011 - 10:36am

Hello Nova-Novice thanks for your interest. Do you think its safe to open it? I have been told by several people that I may not be able to get it back together properly, due to it being waterproof and something about the gasket and being constructed in a pressure chamber.

NOVA
Posted April 20, 2011 - 10:43am

In reply to by J13

I'm going to let our resident expert watchmakers chime in on this one.

I open mine all the time, but then I'm not concerned about them being waterproof.  My guess is that the gasket is probably worn out by now anyway and in need of replacement.  But, like I said, if you're concerned about it, wait for some advice from the pros.

J13
Posted April 20, 2011 - 10:37am

DSC09209.JPG clear picture of the back
DSC09211.JPG  nice shot of the texture on face

J13
Posted April 20, 2011 - 10:51am

I would agree the gasket is most likely worn out as well Nova. I am more concerned about not being able to get it back together properly, I got a few comments about pressure chambers being required to get it back together and true or not they scared me!

geezer_D
Posted April 20, 2011 - 10:56am

 The gasket will most definitely need replacing if you want to preserve any type of water resistance.  I highly doubt that the watch is "water proof" in the modern sense, water resistant maybe.  A true waterproof watch also has a gasket in the winding stem tube as well as a screw down crown to prevent water infiltration.  Pressure chambers are used to certify divers watches.

J13
Posted April 20, 2011 - 11:04am

I am just going by the waterproof mark on the watch, I know its not truly waterproof but since it does say so could that suggest the presence of complicated inner workings or even diver specifications  best left to a pro?

J13
Posted April 20, 2011 - 11:18am

Correction for Geezer: its the "seconds" hand that is skipping , not the hour or minute hand. Thx.

geezer_D
Posted April 20, 2011 - 11:22am

 There are no complications on the watch, including the self winding mechanism, that could not be addressed by an experienced watch maker.  

J13
Posted April 20, 2011 - 12:02pm

That is very good to know Geezer. I guess taking it to a professional is the best way to access information inside the case I need to pinpoint the year/model of this watch, I would really like to have some idea of its age and value so I can have some idea on how much is a fair cost to pay for its restoration.

geezer_D
Posted April 20, 2011 - 12:54pm

 Good decision.