Why This Watch Matters

This watch has all the elements of a classic diver from the halcyon days of mid-century sport diving, in an attractive and well-aged package. 

The Full Story

Bulova was founded by Joseph Bulova in 1875 in New York City. The company is known for its long and innovative history, including the release of the Accutron – the world's first fully electronic watch using tuning fork-based technology – in 1960.

To keep up with growing demand in the early 20th century, Bulova opened a factory in Bienne, Switzerland, using the "American Watchmaking System," which had similar principles to an assembly line with a focus on interchangeable parts. In 1962, Bulova introduced a new line of watches under the "Caravelle" brand name. 

The watch we have here is ref. 665-1, a dive watch from the late 1960s. This model is fairly rare and features an attractive design characteristic for the period. The six, nine, and 12 o'clock numerals are similar to those found on a Tudor Ranger or Rolex Explorer, and the uniquely shaped "shovel" hour hand is nearly identical in appearance to those found on the Longines Nautilus Skin Diver, Tudor Ranger, and other dive watches from the late 1960s and '70s. The white seconds hand matches the white text on the dial quite nicely and really pops. The dial has retained its glossiness and almost shimmers in the light. The lume on the dial has darkened beautifully. The crystal has a cyclops built on the interior, so the crystal itself is flush. This watch also features 20mm lugs, making the process of finding straps fairly straightforward. The movement is stamped "M7," indicating it's from 1967 and the caseback is engraved with a "7" corresponding to the movement. 

The Full Story 

What we Love and What You Should Know

This Caravelle is in nice condition. The case is thick and may have been lightly polished. The case has scratches and the caseback has a few marks. The interiors of both sets of lugs have marks, most likely from a previous bracelet being removed. The dial and hands are in good condition and have developed patina. The glossy dial has an "oil slick" look to it, making it seem almost iridescent. The lume on the hands and dial has darkened; the lume on the hands is slightly lighter than the lume on the dial. The rehaut has developed light patina. The bezel is in good overall condition with scratches and some wear around the edge. The edge of the bezel at four o'clock has a slight indentation. The case, dial, and movement are all signed "Caravelle." The crown is unsigned and most likely a replacement.