Bulova 1957 Surfmaster

Submitted by brandall54 on April 26, 2019 - 3:02pm
D
Manufacture Year
1957
Movement Model
8AC
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
C366095
Case shape
Square
Case color
Yellow
Crystal details
22.8mm x 22.8mm square
Watch Description

1957 Surfmaster A  After reading both threads for the surfmaster and the surfmaster, I'm going with the Surfmaster A. IMHO, the 57 Surfmaster in the database should be an A  and the Surfmaster A should be a Model 23 U. Just sayin. I just got this bak from Kurt after an oiling and servicing so I dare not open the case. I used the movement info from the database for this one and Kurt said the gasket was dried out and in pieces and he didn't have a replacement so he pieced the original back together....don't get it wet lol. Definitely my prized possession to date. Will be wearing it daily with great pride. Oh yeah, it came in the original box with the tags but unfortunately its band was replaced with a very sharp looking duchess half expansion band that fits the watch very well.

1957 Bulova watch
1957 Bulova watch
1957 Bulova watch
neetstuf-4-u
Posted April 28, 2019 - 7:37am

I'm at a confused unknown for now. Still looking.

Kathy L.
Posted May 2, 2019 - 10:49am

Great looking watch.  At unknown for now but will keep looking.

brandall54
Posted May 2, 2019 - 5:07pm

Now that I have been wearing wearing it in this Florida humidity, I am really going to need to replace the gasket that Kurt didn't have. Any help out there?

brandall54
Posted May 2, 2019 - 5:16pm

Now that I have been wearing wearing it in this Florida humidity, I am really going to need to replace the gasket that Kurt didn't have. Any help out there? The humidity fogs up the crystal because of the dried out and broken gasket.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted May 2, 2019 - 5:15pm

After more looking around, I agree with Geoff. My gut feeling is that this is a Surfmaster and likely an "A" variant with a refinished dial.

Surfmaster (no variant) or "A" tentative noting dial.

brandall54
Posted May 11, 2019 - 9:54am

Don't know if it holds any weight or not but the person I got this from claimed it had been in their grandfathers dresser drawer for the past 35 or 40 years.

The man that serviced it for me said he didn't think the dial had been redone but left that judgement to you guys.

Reverend Rob
Posted May 11, 2019 - 10:53am

That is an extremely fresh looking dial for a 62 year old watch. 

The rest of the watch does look cosmetically good, but dials will patina because of pigments and lacquer and reaction with environmental pollutants, some coming from inside the watch itself.

These watches aren't water resistant in any sense, a new gasket will make it more dustproof, but the watch will 'breathe' through the stem tube, and even tiny amounts of moisture laden atmosphere can cause clouding. The case back gasket will help with keeping wrist sweat from sneaking in, so it is still a good idea. 

 

brandall54
Posted May 13, 2019 - 11:11pm

I'm sure it will help, non of the snap on back ones I wear fog like this one

brandall54
Posted May 21, 2019 - 1:54am

I don't want to step on any toes here but could someone tell me why the watch on bottom is a Surfmaster in the database and why my watch on top is not?

neetstuf-4-u
Posted May 21, 2019 - 6:51am

In the early days of mybulova, all members could add and name watches without panel concensus or ad verification. There are still a few flying under the radar we never caught.

This one

https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1957-surfmaster-2567?page=1

needs to be revisited. Although it's not a Surfmaster, it contains a 1958 Surfmaster ad snippet showing a center sweep second hand as opposed to a subsecond like yours and the one you reference.

https://www.mybulova.com/watches/1957-surfmaster-1722?page=1

Without a 1956-1958 ad showing  a seconds sub dial variation, I would be inclined to say neither is a Surfmaster or be extremely tentative on that ID for both.

Panel?