1964 Bulova Snorkel 666 "Devil Diver" Automatic 35mm 386-1
Ref: 386-1
Specification
Lugs : 18mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and, therefore, comes with no Bulova box or paperwork. It is paired with a well-suited 18mm aftermarket suede strap and its original Bulova pin buckle. The watch is from the 1960s and is sold in worn vintage condition, but overall, it is in very fair condition for its age, as you can see, the friction-fit bezel does move fairly freely which is often the case with these very early original bezels. The watch comes with our 12-Months Non-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Ykk9BE5Cqhu9egbJ4NvNKHFotx1KeUR3?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 18:11 - https://youtu.be/-LySNlvArqQ
The Watch
Here we have a 1964 Bulova Snorkel 666 "Devil Diver" Automatic 35mm 386-1. Launched in 1961, recreational Scuba diving was in its infancy, and this watch exceeded the previous dive record of 133m or 436 feet with 203m or 666 feet, hence the “number of the beast” Devil Diver name. It has a 35mm round stainless steel case with tapered lugs, a lug-to-lug length of 43mm, and a case thickness of 12.5mm that curves over your wrist for a comfortable fit. On the right side is a signed coin edge crown, a bidirectional stainless steel bezel that has a coin edge for grip and a deeply engraved 60-minute dive bezel with markings and numerals painted in black. A domed acrylic crystal sits above a black dial. An outer minute track surrounds an Explorer-style dial configuration 12, 6 and 9 and indexes coated in lume marking the hours, at 3 o’clock, a framed date window. Sword hands are filled with lume and complemented by a tapered second hand; at 12 o’clock, we have an applied Bulova motif “Snorkel” printed underneath, and at 6 o’clock “, Automatic Waterproof 666 Feet” completes this distinctive vintage dive watch. On the reverse, a screw-down case back with “Bulova Waterproof” and the dancing lady symbolising the Bulova Goddess of Time seen on their watches since the 1920s, inside an automatic Bulover Cal.11 ALACD, 17 jewels, beating at a leisurely 18,000 beats per hour and comes paired with a well-suited 18mm aftermarket suede strap and its original Bulova pin buckle.
Personal Note
The Bulova Snorkel 666 "Devil Diver" is one of the most underrated vintage dive watches in the market at the moment, the designs are incredible, the wrist presence is powerful and they look far more expensive than they actually are, I do wonder when their time will come and how many of us will have wished we kept the ones we had, I can already feel myself regretting selling this amazing example. Someone snap it up today before I change my mind!
The Brand
Bulova Company was founded in 1875 by Joseph Bulova. Based in New York, they moved to 580 Fifth Avenue in 1920. In 1923, Bulova Watch Inc. was introduced. Max Hetzel, a Swiss engineer, was recruited in Bienne in 1950; he developed a number of prototypes, replacing the balance with a U-shaped tuning fork fitted between two transistors, which increased the watch's precision considerably. In 1952, Bulova started the development of the Accutron, the world's first fully electric watch. NASA asked Bulova in 1960 to incorporate Accutron into its computers for the space program. Bulova Accutron timing mechanisms have become an essential part of the 46 missions of the U.S. Space Program. In 1962, Bulova was the first brand to bring a tuning fork-powered quartz movement to the mass market with the slogan "The watch that hums." This slogan was powerful as the watch indeed became known for its constant hum. This was due to the motor inside constantly working to provide a smooth sweep to the second hand.