My Bulova Needs a Little Help

Good morning All,

My is Matthew Martellacci and this is the brief history of my Bulova.

I was about 3 or 4 years old when I 1st paid any attention to the hum coming from my fathers wrist. I recall holding his hand for safety going to a store or walking in the park and hearing that subtle tone.  I had never seen anything like it before! I could spend hours watching it’s second hand float over and around the other hands with a seamless grace.  God forbid, I was in ear shot of my father taking the wrist watch off, I would sneak over and just watch and listen to it spin. Now I don’t recall the original leather band, due to the fact that my father had swapped it out for a stainless steel band prior to my birth. This new band some how made the Bulova look more like a heavy equipment track (Tank, Bulldozer) and I was hooked. Needless to say I never let that watch out of my sight and my father could tell. 

One early Sunday morning when I was about 7 or 8 years of age, my sisters and I squeezed into my parents bed, and I snuggled up to my father and noticed the watch sitting on the nightstand. I reached over to grab the watch and asked my father when I could have a watch like his? He calmly replied, that when he died I could have his. Now I never thought hard about my response, but my mother would never let me forget it. “Dad when are you going to die?” After many years of me asking him about his pending death, my father wrapped up the watch and gave it to me for my 16th birthday. (Dad is still alive and kicking)

Upon giving me the watch he then told me about how he received it.  In 1967 the Worlds Fair was held in Montreal Quebec Canada.  My fathers parents (Nona and Nono) drove from Toronto to Montreal for the Fair, as this was a look into the future. When they returned home, they came bearing gifts for their children.  My father and his younger brother both received a shiny stainless steel pillow bodied Bulova Accutron Spaceview, with black leather bands with green stitching. While my Uncle broke his watch horsing around some years later, my father cared for his watch and as I made you aware of prior, it is now with me.

I am now 37, married, and have a 3 year old son.  The watch is still in near mint condition and sadly for the last 2 years not been on my wrist.  With normal body movement the Minute hand can advance forward or backward, providing me the incorrect time. The gears are fine and work with the adjuster. I brought it to a reputable jeweler, but they didn’t want to fix the watch. I removed the battery when it died and have kept the watch in a cool and dry environment to prevent the watch movements from seizing.

I would like my son to be captivated by the watch like I was. I want to be able to hand this beautiful time piece to him and hope that he will cherish it as I have.

Please tell me what I can do? Who do I trust with it?   

I have spoken with Bulova Canada (Don Dick), and he has informed me there is nothing Bulova Canada can do for me, and that I could take my chances on the internet.  Is this the case?  My time piece is unserviceable? I understand they no longer make the silver oxide batteries, but are there no alternatives? This is more then just a watch to me, it is part of the fabric of my life!

I will gladly take what ever steps are needed to have this watch functional again. I am willing to ship it a my cost, if it means I can once again proudly don my Accutron

The serial no.  3-229394  N1

Thank you for your time,

Matthew

Martellacci