Owner review: 1967 Bulova Snorkel 666 “J”

Did you know that The us runs on Bulova time? Or so went Bulova’s motto in the world’s initially ever tv commercial broadcast on July 1, 1941 during a baseball activity among the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. These times, The us operates on Dunkin and the Dodgers perform for Los Angeles — but we can nonetheless revisit the dawn of modern day American consumerism with one particular of several surviving Bulova time-equipment. My time-device of alternative: The 1967 Bulova Snorkel 666 “J” Ref. 11403W – Calibre 11ALAC pores and skin diver.

The skin diver is 1 of my favourite lessons of classic watches. A near cousin to the much more robust mid-century divers that were being typically worn by pros sporting scuba gear, skin divers catered additional to your average leisure snorkeler. Subsequently, the situation design was normally lighter and thinner as the diving depths ended up less demanding one thing I actually appreciate as a lover of usually-sized vintage proportions. These days, skin divers have been producing fairly a comeback with reissues from Aquastar, Longines, and Seiko, as very well as contemporary vintage-influenced releases from relative newcomers Baltic and Dietrich. But as Tammi and Marvin would advise: “Ain’t very little like the true issue, child.”

Talking of the actual point, this 1967 Bulova Snorkel 666 “J” is my platonic best of a mid-century skin diver. The tritium plots are organized in the prototypical diver format and have taken on the heat butterscotch patina you would hope to see soon after 50+ a long time of character getting its study course. The gloriously daring taco hour-hand warrants applause for hanging on to its authentic lume all these yrs nevertheless I’m careful not to clap when wearing this piece for anxiety of the lume slipping out (a frequent fate for vintage divers sporting taco/lollipop palms). The trim unpolished 36mm scenario is uncomplicated and utilitarian in type, retaining its sharp manufacturing unit edges and original ending. The situation is geared up with a bi-directional rotating bezel with the all-vital bakelite insert. But even with all of this classic charm, the 1967 Bulova Snorkel 666 “J” is not a very well-known reference production was confined to just a person 12 months and significantly also handful of illustrations endure now. I contemplate it an close-activity piece in the globe of classic skin-divers offered its iconic layout, rarity, and situation.

Did you know that Bulova is even now headquartered in New York City? The Bulova constructing will be a familiar sight to several New Yorkers who’ve passed by it merging onto Grand Central Expressway from the BQE on the way to LaGuardia Airport. I think I’ll be savoring this New York legend on my wrist the subsequent time I have the misfortune of flying out of LaGuardia.