This 1971 Bulova Sea King Automatic Clipper “AG” has a 17 Jewel movement, stainless steel case & original mesh bracelet with an acrylic crystal. The bracelet clasp is etched ‘KESTENMADE - Stainless Steel USA Pat. No. 3319308”. The cushion shaped case appears to be 34 mm w/o Crown and has a screw-in stainless steel back. The dial is slate gray with applied hour markers and applied Arabic numerals at 6 / 9 / 12 positions. The dial has a Day/Date window at 3 o’clock position showing the Day with Black letters on white background and the Date with Red numbers on silver background. The 3-hand analog display has luminous Baton hour/minute hands with a red central sweeping second hand. MSRP was $85 in 1971. I also have the original Owner's Guide in PDF format to upload if anyone cares to see it. This vintage and elegant timepiece was a High School graduation gift from my parents. Still have the original Owners Guide but can’t find the presentation box. This Bulova has been used regularly on & off over the decades and ran amazingly well, needing only a single movement cleaning done around age 34 yrs. At age 47 years it stopped working. The manual crown winder wouldn’t move, and “swinging” the watch gently no longer produced the soft buzzing the auto-wind pendulum & weight traditionally made. I brought it to a reputable Jeweler/Watchmaker who did a complete overhaul. The movement was disassembled, cleaned, lubricated and reassembled replacing only the damaged auto-winder reversing wheel. He gave me a full 1 year warranty (matching Bulova’s original) and said the “insides” are now as if the watch were brand new! Here’s to another half-century of Bulova enjoyment. Thanks again, Mom & Dad!
In reply to Thanks for the helpful by Gene Michael
I think "Golden" is a mis-speak, there was also a model by that name. Your watch is indeed a
1971 Bulova Clipper "AG"
Just like this one
https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1971-clipper-9622
Nice watch! Good for you holding on to it all those years!
In reply to I think "Golden" is a by neetstuf-4-u
In reply to Thanks very much for the by Gene Michael
Very clean cosmetic condition!
1971 Clipper 'AG'.
Just a note, my usual cautionary regarding the servicing of mechanical watches for anyone that has not been subjected to it before....
The Overhaul you describe, in the trade known as a 'CTR', is recommended to be done every 4-6 years. The watch will indeed run for many more years, but regular maintenance is critical. Dried out lube and dirt will act as abrasives and accelerate the wear and tear of the mechanism, even the jewels themselves. I often see watches that have run for decades without any service, and the wear is very noticeable. Even if the watch is put away for long periods without being run, the lube dries out and as soon as the watch gets used again, the wear and tear begins, exacerbated by the dried out residue that was the lubricant. Even without dirt, the residue acts as an abrasive and accelerates wear.
The service interval is an Industry standard, but it is rarely followed. I tell my customers the best analogy is a car, it will run without service until it just throws a rod or is so gummed up it quits, and the same is true of the mechanical transmission in the watch movement.
Wear your heirloom in good health, it is a beautiful thing.