Bulova 1969 Oceanographer

Submitted by dc.gronlund on December 12, 2022 - 9:33am
E
Manufacture Year
1969
Movement Model
11blacd
Movement Date Code
M9
Movement Jewels
17
Case Serial No.
90612
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
31.5mm
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

First time posting on the site. I appologize if i mess this up.

This was purchased off ebay, 1969 Oceanographer 333ft. Movement is 11blacd. Case is round, front loader with split stem. The case resembles an Oceanographer 'k' marked 706 on inside. But the dial resembles an Oceanographer 'e'. The inside had no signatures and everything seemed like I may have been the first one in this watch. I'm trying to find the Oceanographer variant, if it has one. Thanks all!

Heres my video of cleaning it.  https://youtu.be/PHt9bkKT3KM

Complete dial side
Back
Crown side, alt crown
Lug
Movement 11blacd
Inside case
Kathy L.
Posted December 12, 2022 - 6:35pm

It does look like the "K" case but the "K" had a black dial.  The "E" has the same case with a white in the linebook.  Here is the linebook from 1969.

linebook

 

Kathy L.
Posted December 12, 2022 - 6:44pm

Just watched your video, nice job on the restore!  Ad from Honolulu, Hawaii · Monday, December 08, 1969.  

1969 ad

1969 Bulova Oceanographer "E"

dc.gronlund
Posted December 12, 2022 - 11:30pm

Thanks! I'm not a pro or even as good as some, just trying to get some decent working watches in my collection, haha.

JimDon5822
Posted December 12, 2022 - 7:44pm

This is not an Oceanographer E case as it is perfectly round and not notched between the lugs. The illusion here is the notched lugs are below the round bezel given the perception this is the same case but it is not.  I believe the case is a Sea King EW.  I am not sure if the dial and case went together originally and I looked hard for a match but could not find one.  So I am at either Unknown or 1969 Bulova Oceanographer unknown variant.

dc.gronlund
Posted December 12, 2022 - 11:28pm

I was onboard with the Sea King 'EW'....until I took a look at one, the case look smaller and there looks to be a sort of chapter/tension/reflector ring. Then the biggest ah-ha is the case back. It's a screw back, not a front loader. Here's the 'EX' on this site. The x and w are mentioned to be the same, other than the dial color.

https://mybulova.com/watches/1969-sea-king-7721

dc.gronlund
Posted December 12, 2022 - 11:34pm

I forgot to mention, the research I did showed the 'E' and 'K' cases are both ref# 706. The only differences seem to be the bezels and the caseback stamping. The 'E' seem to have more writing, like Water resistant, stainless steel, anti magnetic, etc.

JimDon5822
Posted December 12, 2022 - 11:47pm

Here is an Oceanographer K identified in the DB with the same case but with a black dial.  https://mybulova.com/watches/1968-oceanographer-12031. I wonder if there was a change in the Bezel ring after the linebook was photographed.  Based in this and Dave's additional research I am now leaning to 1969 Bulova Oceanographer E.

Andersok
Posted December 14, 2022 - 4:31pm

I would agree with Oceanographer E