Thread: Thoughts on Vintage Bulova Watches?

quote: Originally posted by rip quote: Originally posted by Teacher Bulova are very nice for the money. Another one to look for...and an excellent buy...are pre-'60's Elgin watches. Very well made, and designed and manufactured in the USA (Unlike most of the others, even from the earlier years -- Hamilton, for example, usually used Swiss movements). I have a few Elgins and just love them. I'm sorry, you seem to have your facts...

I second Armscye's sage advice. For my part, I forked over top dollar at Fourcane in Carmel--and got exactly what I paid for. Best kind of (watch) bargain!

I've been searching eBay for a nice Hamilton tank watch on eBay for some time and have been unable to find anything suitable. I was wondering what the more experience watch folks among us think of the quality and reliability of vintage Bulova tank watches from the 40s and 50s. Many strikingly elegant ones sell at around $100 every week and I'm itching to pull the trigger. Will I regret it? Would they be a suitable watch to wear...

Curator, Bulova tanks from the 40s and 50s are excellent buys for the money - so many of them quietly ticking away speaks for their durability but as they are old some molly coddling is in order. Also good to have a CLA (clean, lub and adjustment) if not already done to ensure accuracy. These tank watches were made in the USA - both case and movement - and Bulova was innovative in the sense that the movements were interchangable, so easily...

I must respond that your chances of regret are very high. There is a reason why the vintage watch buffs on Timezone.com call it "ePrey." In my experience, no area of eBay has a higher dissatisfaction level than the vintage watch category-- fakes, poor condition, rusty movements, undisclosed defects, and swapped parts abound. I have personally seen a Zodiac reserve-dial dress watch that traded for over $500, which had the movement...

quote: Originally posted by Teacher Bulova are very nice for the money. Another one to look for...and an excellent buy...are pre-'60's Elgin watches. Very well made, and designed and manufactured in the USA (Unlike most of the others, even from the earlier years -- Hamilton, for example, usually used Swiss movements). I have a few Elgins and just love them. I'm sorry, you seem to have your facts wrong. Hamilton made their own,...