Bulova 1974 Oceanographer

Submitted by Tayloreuph on October 7, 2020 - 6:08pm
Manufacture Year
1974
Movement Model
11AOACB
Movement Jewels
23
Case Serial No.
7202-2
Case shape
Cushion
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

N4 Bulova  -  Red dial, red/white bezel  -  Bulova  -  Snorkel  -  Automatic   -  666 Feet   -  Lumed baton hour markers with minute track in white. Day/Date with silver date wheel, white day wheel  -  Case back is pitted, but N4 is visible and on the movement.

red dial front
case back
movement
neetstuf-4-u
Posted October 7, 2020 - 7:44pm

Nice watch, I really like the red dial and bezel ring combo. I'm a bit puzzled by this one. A couple questions -

is there anything stamped on the inside of the case back? Perhaps a number and "Swiss"?

Can you confirm "Bulova" is stamped on outside of case back?

Is there a s/n stamped on the outside of case back?

I don't find any examples of this watch in the database, ads or linebooks, but still looking

I don't see an import 3 letter stamp on the movement, and wonder if this might be an international model produced and sold outside the US.

Best guess at this point by date is a 1974 Oceanographer - unknown variant, with Snorkel being the name of the 666 feet feature.

Tayloreuph
Posted October 7, 2020 - 9:39pm

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

Dial has

T SWISS T

at 6:00

Case back interior has 

MLB 

SWISS 

on the inside, and Bulova on the case back

BULOVA ...*something something* FEET

I've seen green, blue and black dial variants of this model also. There's a similar Accutron variant also.

Andersok
Posted October 12, 2020 - 8:42pm

The only match I could find is in Linebook 199, which I believe to be a 1975 (not 1970).

No model names, and no color reference:

LB199_11665

 

Geoff Baker
Posted October 12, 2020 - 10:10pm

It seems there were several colors available, don' recall ever seeing an advert

1974 Bulova Unknown (although I would agree to an Oceanographer ID)

Tayloreuph
Posted October 31, 2020 - 10:04am

What's the current thinking on the difference between Oceanographer v. Snorkel designation?

neetstuf-4-u
Posted October 31, 2020 - 10:07am

In reply to by Tayloreuph

Snorkel started out as a model name and then became a designation for 666 feet water resistance for the Oceanographer.

Tayloreuph
Posted October 31, 2020 - 10:29am

So; All Snorkels are Oceanographers, but not all Oceanographers are Snorkels.

Geoff Baker
Posted October 31, 2020 - 10:28pm

There was a MODEL Snorkel in the early/mid 1960's. There was a MODEL Oceanographer that began late 1960's. SOME of the Oceanographer models had the designation Snorkel on the dial but we always ID them as Oceanographer models. None of the Snorkel Models are considered Oceanographers.

Geoff Baker
Posted March 7, 2021 - 9:19pm

I'm still of the opinion that this watch can be ID'd as Oceanographer as the the one referenced above.......panel?