Bulova 'Devil Diver'

Let’s be straight here — we feel like Bulova doesn’t get enough credit.

Before the quartz era, Bulova had a reputation like no other. Obsessed with precision, the company went above and beyond, building its own observatories to determine universal time and introducing the concept of interchangeable parts to watchmaking. It was also responsible for the Accutron, the world’s first electronic movement — the same movement that powered timing on NASA's Apollo missions. (Besides the wrist-worn Speedmasters, of course.) 

Even Bulova's advertising was innovative: In 1926, it produced the first radio ad and went on to run the first television commercial in 1941. For decades, America truly ran on Bulova time.

Its spotless reputation extended to tool watches, where it produced tough-as-nails pieces for the military and civilians alike, including the legendary A-11 and A-17 pilot’s watches in the 40’s and 50’s, and a line of fun and functional chronographs dive watches in the 60’s and 70’s. 

These models, including the Snorkel and Oceanographer, combined good looks, rugged movements, and Bulova’s cheeky 666-foot depth rating into one badass package.

Bulova has finally begun attracting the attention of budget-conscious collectors, and pieces such as this one provide a glimpse as to why.

With its 37mm stainless steel cushion case, acrylic crystal, unsigned crown, and a fully hashed, bidirectional steel dive bezel, it has the air of a tool meant to be knocked around without worry. A matte-black dial with applied, luminous indices; an outer 1/5th-seconds track in white; a handy day-date display at 3 o’clock; and a lumed ‘sword’ handset complete the utilitarian picture. Inside a screw-down caseback beats a Swiss-made, automatic movement ready to keep faithful time for its next owner. 

Everyone should have a watch that they can enjoy any day of the week. Whether desk diving at the office or weekend adventuring, this 1970s diver is a daily driver. 

The story of Bulova is deeply entwined with American manufacturing. Its founder, a Czech immigrant named Joseph Bulova, was inspired by the advances that Ford made in his factory in Highland Park, Michigan. In 1912, Bulova built a factory in Biel, Switzerland, using Ford’s principles of mass production.
The brand was among the first to offer a wide range of wristwatches for men, with a distinctive visual style that — thanks to its innovative adoption of advertising and a relocation to Astoria, Queens — became fixed in the American imagination. Bulova took over offices in a skyscraper on 5th Avenue in Manhattan and installed an observatory on the roof in order to measure universal time. In the workshop down below, watchmakers timed the watches they were working on against readings taken in the observatory.
The watches that Bulova produced were varied, from handsome three-handers to divers and even chronographs. Bulova produced its first chronographs in the 1940s — single-button affairs with screw-on bezels. Throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70's, Bulova honed its mastery of such watches.

However, perhaps the brand’s single most important innovation was 1960’s Accutron, a timepiece that used an electric tuning fork in place of a traditional balance wheel. Following on the heels of the Hamilton Electric of 1957, the Accutron featured a guaranteed accuracy of two seconds per day — much better accuracy than that of a contemporary mechanical watch. (The Accutron line was later spun off and relaunched as its own brand in 2020.)

In 1971 a Bulova chronograph accompanied the crew of Apollo 15 into space. When the crystal on astronaut David Scott’s Speedmaster popped off, he strapped on his Bulova, making it the only privately worn watch to ever have been worn on the Moon. (It was subsequently auctioned off for more than $1.625M.)

Currently owned by Citizen Group and headquartered in New York City, Bulova continues to make watches inspired by its long American heritage.

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Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.