Bulova 1967 -Non-Conforming

Submitted by altmans1 on April 13, 2018 - 8:26pm
Manufacture Year
1967
Movement Model
214
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
C35896
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Watch Description

Good day Gentlemen.  Just got this 67 Spaceview in today.  Would like you all to chrck it out for adding to my “My Watches” list.  I believe it may be missing a Chapter Ring, but not sure!

1967 Bulova watch
Geoff Baker
Posted April 14, 2018 - 7:35am

Sure looks like a Spaceview to me! Nice one

1967 Bulova Accutron Spaceview

neetstuf-4-u
Posted April 14, 2018 - 7:55am

I may be wrong on this statement, but believe that Spaceviews with indices on the crystal didn't generally have a chapter ring. 

1967 Bulova Accutron Space View.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted April 26, 2018 - 10:29pm

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

Did a little internet research, and it does appear the crystal is a non-Bulova afternarket. It would seem genuine Spaceview crystals that were marked had dots at numbers and small minute hash marks in between. That could mean the crystal was damaged and replaced in the past, or it's a conversion.

Without more photos, and a case number (stamped inside back), I'm going to shy away from calling it a Spaceview and for the time being, stick at

Accutron - unknown, or non-conforming.

mybulova_admin
Posted April 14, 2018 - 10:06pm

It's difficult to determine if it's a true Spaceview or simply a converted Accutron.

Do you have any more pictures of the front and back?

Astronaut M2
Posted April 19, 2018 - 11:56pm

Aftermarket crystal and a 1963-1964 3 wire coil, Hands like I've never seen before?

More than likely a converted Accutron...  

jabs
Posted April 20, 2018 - 7:16am
I have already referred several times to a page that will help distinguish the original from the converted Spaceview
I think it will be the original Spaceview
 
Geoff Baker
Posted April 20, 2018 - 7:44am

Jaroslav - I agree with you, I'm saying original. With Spaceview watches I think most of us agree that it's nearly impossible to know for certain. With this model I'm generally going with it's present state: 

1967 Bulova Accutron Spaceview

mybulova_admin
Posted April 22, 2018 - 12:05am

altmans1,

If you are able to open up the back of your watch and check for the case number, that may help determine if your watch is a genuine Spaceview or a converted Accutron. Also another front of view of the face please if you can.

See here for a list of case numbers (not a complete list, but a good guide):

http://members.iinet.net.au/~fotoplot/accsvc.htm

A couple of things that concern me, are the hands, they don't appear to be correct and fully painted and the lack of the minute chapter ring (reflector). I'm also seeing that crystal used on a number of converted Spaceviews, suggesting to me that it's an after market item.

Whilst it presents as a Spaceview, it would still need to have the basic elements to be considered one as opposed to an obviously converted Accutron. It would be like putting a 10AE movement with 'modern' hands into a 1927 Lone Eagle watch and calling it correct.  

There are two reasons I'm harping on about this:

1. To get an accurate understanding of true Spaceview models.
2. To help protect a buyer if he/she has been sold a converted Accutron, listed as an 'original Spaceview' and paid top dollar.

I understand and appreciate that there are proper conversions out there, which is fine as long as they are sold as such and not as an 'original Spaceview', or more to the point don't even get the conversion correct and still label it as original.

The subject watch may be original, I'd just like some more information before saying so.

altmans1
Posted April 26, 2018 - 10:06pm

The Case Number inside is 2548, and there is also 12-7 stamped underneath that.   Bulova 214 Movement, and I was told by an AD that this model is EXACTLY as it should be....no Chapter Ring, Red Second Hand (Rare), and correct crystal.

Mike Altman

Andersok
Posted April 26, 2018 - 9:38pm

Looking at information taken from Bulova crystal data sheets, case number 2548 uses an Armored Yellow crystal A1254EY, which is not a spaceview crystal. The crystal data sheet for this case number also calls for model reference/style number 24014, which corresponds to variant '410', which can be seen here. The subject watch is not a match to the 410 case and is most likely not an original spaceview. Since the case of the subject watch does not match the 410, I would consider that the caseback and case were not originally built together.