Bulova Oceanographer V 'If You've Got Guts'

"If you've got the guts."

The Bulova Oceanographer — better known as the "Devil Diver" around these parts for its 666-foot depth rating — is one of the very best affordable sports watches from the 1970s. Housed in a cushion case and fitted with an automatic movement, the orange-dialed version is so good, in fact, that we made our own Analog:Shift collaborative version back in 2017!

This tongue-in-cheek ad from 1972 represents everything that we love about midcentury watchmaking — about midcentury advertising. "If you've got the guts, we've got the watch," it proclaims, as the SCUBA-diving scientist wrestling a shark would certainly attest. "The Bulova Oceanographer was designed for the man who is very brave. Or slightly crazy. Or terribly accident-prone.

It was designed for the man who absent-mindedly dunks his watch in his soup." This joking tone speaks, of course, to the watch's water resistance — which, at 666 feet (roughly 200m), was plenty deep for the time. The incredible photograph only serves to drive the point home.

This ad is custom framed in a 13 3/8” x 16 1/4” made of solid wood with light natural color finish. It features a custom-measured, "floating" style, hand-cut 4-ply border in a shade of white, complimenting all the ad tones. Every material used is acid-free and the glass is anti-reflective and offers UV-protection to keep this precious ad preserved no matter where you decide to hang it up. Speaking of which, hanging your newly purchased ad is a seamless task, as this particular frame comes with an additional hanging wire and felt pads for wall protection.

If you long for the golden days of inexpensive mechanical tool watches such as the original "Devil Diver," then this is the ad for you! (Extra points if you hang it in a shed, garage, or man cave outfitted with tanks, BCDs, fins, and wetsuits.)

About our collaboration with Ad Patina

We're thrilled to be collaborating once again with our longtime friend Nick at Ad Patina to bring you a selection of the most-popular and hard to find original vintage magazine advertisements curated specifically for Analog:Shift!

Scouring the world for forgotten marketing treasures, Ad Patina's raison de être very much mimics our own - to hunt down these wonderful bits of history, preserve and restore them as needed, and share them with an enthusiastic community.

These documents of horological and advertising history have entered the collecting conversation as the ultimate accompanying accessory to go along with hobbies and passions. They have found themselves framed in homes and offices around the world.

Every one of these wonderful pieces is a genuine, vintage advertisement that has been professionally framed to ensure years of enjoyment to come - no reprints or reproductions here!

Much like a traditional piece of art - a painting or photograph - an original advertisement can be appreciated for its design as well as for its power to evoke nostalgia. Something vintage enthusiasts know all about!

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

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.