Next steps for a running vintage Bulova

Submitted by DelKimbler on November 4, 2022 - 11:15am

My Bulova Aqua Queen, 1965 vintage with movement 7BPC has cleaned up well cosmetically. New crystal, and case looking good. I put it on Watch-O-Scope and it is running about 8 sec/day fast, amplitude 334 degrees and beat error 7.8ms. I think this looks pretty good. Is there anything I can/should do for this? Is cleaning and lube asking for trouble?

Best,

Del

1955mercury
Posted November 5, 2022 - 4:04pm

I'm no expert, but it sounds like it's ready to wear to me. If you've got a amplitude of 334 degrees there's not much friction in the movement. 

GuyMontag
Posted November 5, 2022 - 5:07pm

If it hasn't been serviced in a long time then wearing it could lead to issues. The oil that was originally used to lubricate the movement will have attracted dust,dirt, and grime over time and that can then form a kind of abrasive paste that can wear down the parts, either causing those parts to fail or grinding off metal that can then cause issues. The amplitude seems high, could just be the reading isn't accurate, wrong lift angle,  or possibly the mainspring isn't correct. The beat error is quite high. I'd recommend a service on any vintage watch that you don't know the service history of and it's a watch that you want to wear more than infrequently.

JimDon5822
Posted November 6, 2022 - 10:22pm

I agree with Guy.   It probably needs a service and new oil.