What is everyone's thought on the Bulova Oceanographer Snorkel

9088 Views 19 Replies 12 Participants Last post by 850champion, Apr 20, 2017

jringo8769

Discussion Starter · Jun 10, 2014

Well i have been looking for a 6105 since before i started on here...and they are just so elusive and at what i can afford..just out of my reach..well i was contacted a few days back from a seller i buy from...asking if i liked Bulova..all i could remember about Bulova was Dad had one as a kid....i do not know quality..anything...i looked up them online and ran across this Bulova Oceanographer Snorkel which to me looks like a 6105 wantabee..any one have experience with them?...i know it will never be a 6105..but is this the watch jacques cousteau used to wear...i wish i could remember....any help will be greatly appreciated...John..here is a borrowed pic of internet

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scubarob99

· #2 · Jun 10, 2014

I think Cousteau wore a DOXA...

Rob

jringo8769

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 11, 2014

ok..appreciate the info...i really had no idea...i was told rolex to bulova to seiko...thank you

LongBike

· #4 · Jun 11, 2014 (Edited)

Yes, they are very good only

They are good watchs but a little on the small side.
My friend here before that I use to dive with was a very
close friend with Cousteau. He told me he always wore
either a .............. Blanchen, DOXA or a Eternal KON TIKI.
He said he mainly wore a DOXA because he felt the comfort
and dependability it had . They all wore DOXA'S very much
because it was a great Divers watch. My friends name was
............. Tom Seleck .............. " Magnum P.I. ".
In fact I had a ......... " KON TIKI " years ago that was given
to me by Tom, but later it got took from me and I really missed it
because of the connection to him I had. The thing is I knew who
took it but did not make a big fuss about it because it was a family
member of mine, but I told him I knew he took it.
I had couple Snorkel's before too and they were fine and I used them
but as I said small for me.But today I would take a big one if they are around too.

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OldHippie1968

· #5 · Jun 11, 2014

They are great watches, in my opinion. They are really tough to come by in decent condition. I was fortunate to have been gifted a '68 Snorkel. I'll never part with her.

Cheers!
Mike

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LongBike

· #6 · Jun 11, 2014

Now that I like

The one I had was a small one , but that one I would take any day.
I would start with the case if I had one also. But they are fine good
like you said..... " Tough ", " Rugged ".

LongBike

· #7 · Jun 11, 2014

You would love that one

jringo8769 said:
ok..appreciate the info...i really had no idea...i was told rolex to bulova to seiko...thank you

That you would like John I would say.:72:

jringo8769

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 11, 2014 (Edited)

well love that watch Mike...great gift you received and i would not part with it either..how is the size?...close to the 6105 feel?...i think it would be a great watch...Long Bike you really liked your too...well i am just toying with the idea of one...i really like it from what i have found...just need more info..i am so sorry you watch from Tom was taken...if it had been me...i would have taken it back...no matter who took it...you are a better man than i...

LongBike

· #9 · Jun 11, 2014 (Edited)

Well Some times Family

I knew him well and when I found out he was the culprit, I approached him and he was always a person not to be trusted.
He had a good front about himself, but he never fooled me.
But in my real younger days the way I was, he would have been in
a bad place with me. I never was anyone to fool with, and they knew it too, he used that as a excuse to get out of it. I put him in the Hospital Four times once with a broken collar bone with a baseball bat and he was lucky that was all.
The second time after he slapped my sister I let him hanging in the back yard on a tree by the neck, three feet of the ground, and he was lucky they came home in time to cut that rope. My sister came up the driveway and said where is he , I said I just left him hanging on the big orange tree, and walk out to the front of the house.
But a watch is not worth crippling someone for. So I just let him slide, because my sister got rid of him after that incident.
Watchs are really nice and good to have but its not a life thing about them.
( I came back from Vietnam the year before, I was about oh, maybe 22 years old about. )

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jringo8769

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 11, 2014

well i agree you have put a beating on him before...i would just go ask and tell him..remember the past..you want a repeat performance...well so sorry you had to go thru that...he will get his just reward...

iwaddell

· #11 · Jun 12, 2014

Thanks guys. You have just added more watches to the want list

Plus also looked up Eterna KON TIKI. I knew it would be a bad idea hanging around the non-seiko part of the forum. lol

OldHippie1968

· #12 · Jun 14, 2014

iwaddell said:
Thanks guys. You have just added more watches to the want list

Plus also looked up Eterna KON TIKI. I knew it would be a bad idea hanging around the non-seiko part of the forum. lol

A KON TIKI has been on my hit list for some time. So has a Doxa 750t Professional, for that matter.

Cheers!
Mike

vinylgreek

· #13 · Jun 14, 2014 (Edited)

I'm also a big fan of the '68 Snorkel ...

... although I thought you were referring to the re-issue Accutron II Snorkel

http://www.bulova.com/en_us/watch/bulova/accutron-ii/96B210

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accutronner

· #14 · Jul 15, 2014

If you need additional information on Bulova, my Dad was an instructor at the Bulova School for Watchmaking as well as a consultant and master watchmaker. I was raised on Bulovas and Omegas and went to Bulovas School for Accutrons( the real tuning fork ones). I have all of my Dads materials, and there is not much on Bulova he did not know. You can PM me if you need additional information. Yes, they predate Seikos divers, and were, along with several other manufactures the template many of the designs to come later.

OldHippie1968

· #15 · Jul 15, 2014

vinylgreek said:
I'm also a big fan of the '68 Snorkel ...

... although I thought you were referring to the re-issue Accutron II Snorkel

http://www.bulova.com/en_us/watch/bulova/accutron-ii/96B210

:tongue4::tongue4::tongue4::tongue4::tongue4:That's a beauty!

Cheers!
Mike

BenchGuy

· #16 · Jul 15, 2014

Just restored an Accutron Snorkel...great watch. One comment about any of the true 60's vintage "snorkel" designs...if you plan on using them for diving, be sure and have the cases pressure tested. Most of these have acrylic crystals which are pressed in with tension rings...with age, the properties of the acrylic change...they tend to be less elastic and just don't seal well. Also, many times the "genuine" crystals have been discontinued...and what you may find available is already very old. Many times a newer crystal can be fitted...won't be genuine (and may offer a slightly different appearance)...but may offer a much better seal. Again, this is mainly an issue if you intend to use under pressure. Regards, BG

ClockBloke

· #17 · Jul 15, 2014

scubarob99 said:
I think Cousteau wore a DOXA...

Rob

I think he wore a few watches from what I have read recently such as the Blancpain Fifty Five Fathoms. I know my friend who is no long with us was a big fan of Cousteau and he was the reason my friend became a professional diver in the first place. My friend taught me to dive and got me certified and became my dive buddy. He brought a Blancpain Fifty Five Fathoms because it was the exact model Cousteau wore.

As for the Bulova Snorkel that's one great looking watch. Bulova have a flare for style and classy watch design. I'd rather have a Snorkel than my 62mas which is a seriously over-rated watch in my humble.... but I'm giving it a bit longer before moving it along just in case it grows on me.

franco60

· #18 · Aug 7, 2014

Bulova Snorkel 666 ft.

I currently own three of these: 1968, 1969, and 1970. These are incredible watches. The '68 is my favorite even without the "Oceanographer" designation (Snorkel only). I like it because the year is significant for me but also because the dial has "waterPROOF" rather than water resistant. I believe '69 or so was when companies no longer claimed watches to be waterproof.

These are not in the small side at all - they are 41mm WITHOUT crown. That is the perfect size AND the case nicely curves to the wrist. Quite large for a vintage of any type, notwithstanding the Seiko UFO, Bullhead, etc. Also, these were made in Bulovas heyday; Bulova was an American company with movement factory in Bienne Switzerland, so all movements were pure Swiss. Great history and fantastic watches.

Just had my '69 serviced and it passed water/pressure test! What else could you want in 45 year old diver! Seriously, the most beautiful vintage divers I know of.

Will post up pics of all three shortly. Thanks for the thread!

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Camu

· #19 · Apr 19, 2017 (Edited)

anyone have one FS ??? ... looking to find a brother for my 1970 ...

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850champion

· #20 · Apr 20, 2017

LongBike said:
I knew him well and when I found out he was the culprit, I approached him and he was always a person not to be trusted.
He had a good front about himself, but he never fooled me.
But in my real younger days the way I was, he would have been in
a bad place with me. I never was anyone to fool with, and they knew it too, he used that as a excuse to get out of it. I put him in the Hospital Four times once with a broken collar bone with a baseball bat and he was lucky that was all.
The second time after he slapped my sister I let him hanging in the back yard on a tree by the neck, three feet of the ground, and he was lucky they came home in time to cut that rope. My sister came up the driveway and said where is he , I said I just left him hanging on the big orange tree, and walk out to the front of the house.
But a watch is not worth crippling someone for. So I just let him slide, because my sister got rid of him after that incident.
Watchs are really nice and good to have but its not a life thing about them.
( I came back from Vietnam the year before, I was about oh, maybe 22 years old about. )

Kapatid,
Mabuhay! Aloha!

Damn great read... The 6105 would have been a better fit for you than the Snorkel, Captain Willard I mean Louis

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