Bulova 1972 Sea King

Submitted by BiomedEd on June 14, 2019 - 9:06pm
GM
Manufacture Year
1972
Movement Model
Unknown
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-Unknown
Case Serial No.
-
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Model 12427-1Y     N-2 (1972) Sea King "GM" Yellow (Gold plate) 17 Jewels, 20 micron electroplate, water resistant, sweep second, date charcoal grey dial with red and gold indexes, tritium at hour positions with red and tritium hands.  Plaid pattern corfam strap.  (Description from add shown on this website, page 3, 1972).  I purchased this watch with the outer cardboard box, the inner gift box, the original strap was still attached to the watch and was still attached to the card in the giftbox.  It appeared to have never been taken out or worn.  I bought it to wear and I had a black and red strap that looks very nice on it so I put it on the watch.  There were NO signs of wear on the crystal or back when I took it out.  Those are all my stories to tell.  Most are about trying to get the #$%!!$ back off of the watch.  Still have been unsucessful so no movement pictures but to many scratches.  I'll have to take it to my favorite watch repair place, but he has too many good deals on vintage watches to go there with out some $ saved up. :). I'm not checking the for sale button, however, I have no emotional attachments to this piece.  If someone wants it more than I do, make me an offer.  I don't sell many but if someone wants it I'm open to interesting trades or $.  

[12427-1Y-1972] Bulova watch Sea King GM Face
[12427-1Y-1972] Bulova watch Sea King Kit
[12427-1Y-1972] Bulova watch strap
Kathy L.
Posted June 14, 2019 - 9:34pm

Welcome to myBulova!  What a great find with the original strap and box!  I think the strap you put on it is very nice as well and compliments the dial.  Is there an N2 on the back of the case or were you basing the date on the ad?  If you could drop a photo of the back of the case in the comments that would be great to confirm the date and one of the movement when you get one : )

1972 Bulova Sea King "GM" 

BiomedEd
Posted June 14, 2019 - 9:59pm

The picture of the back was 258M so it was rejected! I'll resize and attach it tonight. It is stamped N2.

Reverend Rob
Posted June 14, 2019 - 10:29pm

1972 Sea King, and mint example at that.

Just a bit of my usual warning here, for anyone who hasn't been subjected to it:

Even NOS watches need to be serviced before they are run regularly.

The reason for this is that they are almost always dry as a proverbial bone. The lubricant has dried out to leave behind a residue, which will act like an abrasive and accelerate wear in the movement. Oiling an NOS watch (or a dirty watch, for that matter) merely makes the old residue more mobile, and is not the answer either.

Before I attended watchmaking school, I was a watch enthusiast and I found an NOS dive watch at a big Flea Market in Toronto. I proudly wore the watch daily for about three months before it self destructed.

I took the watch with me when I went to watchmaking school, and I learned what had happened. In my case, the watch failed in the gear train from winding and setting, as the excess pressure from the totally dried out gear train stripped the third wheel. Specifically, under close examination, setting the watch with no lube (plus residue) on the cannon pinion exerted such a force on the train that it ripped the leaves of the tiny pinions apart.

Three months.

Anyway, that's my cautionary tale. Mechanical watches can and will last hundreds of years with proper care and maintenance. The oldest one in my shop right now is from 1795. 

 

 

BiomedEd
Posted June 15, 2019 - 4:25am

Reverend Bob, your leading me into temptation. I can't get to the service area without looking at a cabinet full of Seamasters and old Hamilton's! But I won't take any more chances with the movement. In for service she goes. Thanks for the advice. I'd hate to ruin one while I'm learning.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted June 15, 2019 - 8:42am

Welcome to mybulova, Great watch! A pretty remarkable find still in the original box sporting the original band. That band in such nice condition is actually more rare than the watch and enhances the collectibility of the whole package greatly.

1972 Bulova Sea King "GM" 

Congrats, your watch is the first of it's variant to be submitted to the database.

Geoff Baker
Posted June 15, 2019 - 9:38am

I like it, cool strap.

1972 Bulova Sea king GM

jabs
Posted June 15, 2019 - 9:45am

1972 Bulova Sea king "GM"

Andersok
Posted June 15, 2019 - 10:21am

Sea King 'GM'