1971 "666" Deep Sea Chronograph

Why I Love This Watch

This Bulova captures a particular kind of California cool, evoking the meeting point of 1960s surf culture and the era’s fascination with undersea exploration. It brings to mind beach rock, Jacques Cousteau, and the growing sense that the ocean was a new frontier. Its appeal lies just as much in what time has done to it. The dial, bezel, hands, and luminous details have faded together beautifully, giving the watch the character of something that has lived alongside the stories its design evokes. The compact stainless-steel case, tall domed crystal, and hand-wound chronograph movement give it considerable presence without making it oversized. Inside is the 17-jewel Bulova Cal. 14EB, based on the Valjoux 7733 and operating at 18,000 vibrations per hour.

Restoration Notes

In October 2025, I personally completed a full service of the original Bulova Cal. 14EB hand-wound chronograph movement. The movement was fully disassembled, cleaned, inspected, lubricated using industry-standard lubricants, reassembled, regulated, and functionally tested. No movement components were replaced. The movement is performing excellently, including its timekeeping and chronograph functions. A new acrylic crystal and case-back gasket were installed. A new gasket was also fitted inside the original Bulova-signed crown. The original chronograph pushers were retained, but they could not be safely removed to access their internal gaskets. The pip on the original bezel was repainted. The watch retains its original stainless-steel case and case back, dial, hands and tritium lume, bezel, signed crown, chronograph pushers, and Cal. 14EB movement. It is fitted with a new-old-stock, period-correct distressed tan leather strap. The watch was not pressure-tested. Water resistance has not been established or guaranteed, and the watch should be kept away from water.

Condition Notes