1971 Bulova "666 Feet" Devil Chronograph Valjoux 7733
Ref: 623734
Specification
Lugs : 20mm
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 original Bulova box or papers. The watch comes paired with a 20mm vintage-style grey suede strap. The watch is from Circa. 1971 and is sold in worn condition, overall fair for its age as you can see from the photographs. The bezel was seized fixed, we have loosened it to rotate again. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
The Watch
Here we have a 1971 Bulova "666 Feet" Devil Chronograph Valjoux 7733 with a 38mm “C-shaped” cushion case, the curve of the case leads to thick stubby lugs, a lug-to-lug length of 45mm and a case thickness of 15mm giving the watch an impressive wrist presence and comfortable fit. Down the right side, we have piston chronograph pushers and a crown with deep knurling in the centre. The friction-fit bezel has an attractive faded “ghost” dive insert with a lume pip at 12 o’clock holding a domed crystal above a faded blue/grey bi-compax dial. An outer minute track is precisely executed with Tritium lume pips and applied steel batons bevelled top and bottom that play with the light as you rotate your wrist to mark the hours, at 3 o’clock we have a 30-minute register and at 9 o’clock a continuous seconds register both in white, a nice contrast to the dial, steel baton hands infilled with Tritium luminance complemented by a tapered chronograph hand complete this vintage sporty dive watch, and at 12 o’clock we have the Bulova motif and “666 FEET” printed underneath. On the reverse, a screw-down case back with the watch serial and model number engraved into it, inside a manually wound Valjoux 7733, 17 jewels beating at a leisurely 18,000 beats per hour, this movement has a base of the Venus 188 which was then redesigned and developed after Valjoux bought Venus in 1966 launching the Cal. 7733 in 1969. The watch comes fitted on a 20mm vintage-style grey suede strap.
Personal Note
Another one I wanted to personally keep and not bring to the website, but if I did that every time I wanted to I'd have loads of watches myself and no watches to sell! This is a wonderful example and they rarely come up this good, so if you have been looking for one I'd suggest snapping this one up whilst you can! I suspect this will land with a collector where it will stay for the foreseeable future, that is often what happens with incredible vintage examples like this.
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. 1927, on the rooftop of 580 Fifth Avenue, he set up an observatory to be able to precisely determine the universal time. In 1941, Joseph Bulova decided to increase his company's reach by utilising television advertising, producing the world’s first television advert. It was the first time that commercial advertising was allowed on US television. He developed standardised watch production and was the first to create a fully electronic watch using tuning-fork technology. Bulova has collaborated with many people and organisations including Lindbergh and NASA. During the very first moonwalk, a Bulova timer was placed in the sea of tranquillity. The company was bought by Japan’s Citizen Watch Company in 2008.