Bulova 1963 Snorkel

Submitted by FifthAvenueRes… on April 14, 2012 - 11:03am
Manufacture Year
1963
Movement Model
11AFAC
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
355205
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
Bulova 314 AW
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Dual Crown Super Compressor.

 

Bulova watch
1963 Bulova watch
1963 Bulova watch
1963 Bulova watch
1963 Bulova watch
FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 19, 2012 - 7:50am

Bulova Case number 314 accepts Bulova Crystal number 314AW (Armored with White reflector)

Bulova Names the Watch model the Crystal fits as a 'SNORKEL'

OldTicker
Posted April 19, 2012 - 8:59am

Mark,

I think this is your case number...

Unless there is a 314 stamped inside??

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 19, 2012 - 11:23am

The Case number is stamped inside Greg along with a production Date of June 1963.

William Smith
Posted April 19, 2012 - 2:14pm

Fifth- I'm not sure what to call  the 314 inside. I guess it would be the "case number". The case serial number is on the back and appears to be entered correctly as 355205.  - the 5768 seems to be stamped on in a different font than other case back markings.  So what does the 5768 designate?  Perhaps it is "run" 5768 of case number 314"?.  Or it could be unique watch number 5768 of case number 314?  Or it could be the case number like Old Ticker says.   I didn't help much here, did I?

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 19, 2012 - 2:22pm

No, You didn't. lol

The Case number (Case design number) is inside the Caseback: 314 - not to be confused with the Case serial number(s) which appear on the outer Caseback.

DarHin
Posted April 19, 2012 - 2:39pm

Were these watches tested and certified for the depth rating at the factory? Could it be a certification #? Obviously it was added to a "run of the mill" case back.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 19, 2012 - 3:32pm

I have seen others that do not show the secondary (serial?) number stamped on the outer back.

William Smith
Posted April 19, 2012 - 3:46pm

I think you are on the right line of thought DarHin

William Smith
Posted April 19, 2012 - 6:06pm

For the 666ft Bulova watches, there was some required testing by Bulova.  The industry-wide depth rating was about 633 ft for this class, but Bulova advertised as 666ft, a little extra. 

Now did they test at 666ft?  
or guarantee water-proof at 666ft?
or just test and guarantee at the industry-wide rating standard (apx 633ft.) and fudge the extra few feet for for Bulova marketing/advertising?  The 666ft signature on the case back may not mean "tested or rated to 666ft"- I'm almost sure it doesn't.  But Bulova may have guaranteed them to this depth anyway for marketing.

Also coming into play on subject watch is the "super-compressor" technology licensed to Bulova by Brevet.  Over 40 watch manufacturers were licensed to use the Brevet technology around this time (this includes all three versions: compressor; compressor 2; super compressor).  One of the stipulations by Brevet to grant use of proprietary technology MAY HAVE BEEN some waterproof guarantee requirements set by Brevet.

On subject watch, the 5768 number could be the "pressure test run" number. ...and not ALL watches in that run may have been tested - just a random sample.  Perhaps the watches which were tested in run 5768 had that number stamped on the back, and the other watches which were NOT tested in that run didn't have the number stamped on the back.  Mark-This could account for some having the number (5768) and some not having this number.  If there were any rhyme or reason to the longer case serial numbers on these watches, Bulova could note the serial number range of watches which fell in depth test run 5768 to monitor unique watches not tested in that particular run. 

Example Pic (below) of 1961 watch w/o four digit "depth test run" number on back.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted April 19, 2012 - 7:50pm

From what I understand/have read Will the Case technology was depth rated to 600ft which Bulova then pushed to 666ft (?)

No Official documentation.