Bulova Automatic 11BSACB 17j SS 3-866239 N4/N4 - Width w/o Crown: 40.55 mm - Length: 37.65 mm w/lugs - Depth: 12.90 mm w/crystal - Lug Width: 21.95 mm - Crystal: 29.5 mm Height, 30.20 mm Width, in watch. Almost flat acrylic = Crown:5.20Dia mm, not signed - Inside case back: stamped: lateral oval w/3 vertical arrows thru it; Bulova Watch Co; Swiss; 7699 in a lateral rectangle - Engraving on outside case back: BULOVA; 3-866239; N4; Stainless Steel Back - Movement: 11BLACD - Engraving on Movement: On rotor: BULOVA WATCH CO; 11BSACB; N4; Seventeen 17 Jewels; Unadjusted; Swiss - tamped under balance: AS 2066 - Notes: Not just the case back, but the case itself is a boat anchor of stainless steel. Pressed into the case surrounding the flush crystal is a base metal bezel, that has remnants of gold plating. The movement at a glance is the ubiquitous AS 2066 from the 1970’s. Though the case has endured significant use, the dial and movement are almost pristine with a good gasket
Have looked through line book 1973 to 1975 without luck,
The closest I can come up with as a suggestion is from the Jet Star series. I love the description and I think it describes this watch perfectly.
"We named them for the way they look: like part of an instrument panel. But we love them, for the way they act: like a bunch of fiercely maternal little white-haired ladies who take care of you without expecting much care in return. Giving you the right time, and instant change of date and day. While you give them bumps and slashings, and never wind them. They don't mind neglect. Whenever you need them they will give you what you need. That's love"
..... like I said, described to a T.....
Certainly an unusual one that I have never seen before. The case back interior markings are ones I don't believe I have ever seen before either. Based on interior markings, and s/n with spaced first digit, I would venture a guess this is a model produced in Europe. Do you find a 3 letter import code stamped on the movement? One with similar inside case markings we have ID'ed here as "Set-O-Matic". Here is another we tagged the same (also yours).
Based on case markings and face text, I would be inclined to ID this one in the same fashion:
1974 Bulova Set-O-Matic
I looked closely for an import code, the inside case markings looked euro to me as well. The as 2066 is extremely common in european watches, but I have only seen 3 Bulova examples. One looks just like mine, without the gold plating. The other one is the one in this attached image, a 1973.
My opinion is that this is a Swiss produced Bulova watch for the European market. If that is the case, we may never ID it other than Set-O-Matic due to the scarcity of European market adverts.
I attempted to ID the stamp, which looks to me like a trident over oval...no luck.
In reply to My opinion is that this is a… by neetstuf-4-u
After many years, I'm starting to think that Set-O-Matic is a feature and not a model name.
Here's an Oceanographer also stamped Set-O-Matic on the dial.
https://mybulova.com/watches/1975-oceanographer-7176
There are also a number of other models with this function.
Most Set-O-Matic Bulovas that I have seen share a common feature, a "quick-set" day/date. Which also corresponds to the typical Bulova 1133.10 (ETA 2789), and the 11BSACB (AS 2066), which both were the "go to" Swiss day/date "quick-set" automatics in the late 60's and all through the 70's (I have at least four in Bulova, and scores of these in other watch makes). I have noticed that most, if not all, of the Bulovas with either of these day/date movements were default labeled Set-O-Matics. The "quick-set" feature was a prominent selling point in 70's Swiss watches. I haven't entered this discussion in the past, as I do not have the depth of Bulova knowledge that I have learned the esteemed panelists do, well demonstrated in my year on this forum. I would ask this: though I suspect that Set-O-Matic is a feature of numerous Bulova models, in the absence of clear model names what else should these watches be called? As a "user", I would prefer the Set-O-Matic on the dial over Unknown. It would be great if we at least knew the model numbers, but I would also love a tree sprouting wristwatches in my back yard.