On 9 January 2024, I wrote about my brief ownership of a Lorus automatic watch. The episode concluded with me taking it back to the shop, which was rather a down-beat ending.
But in case I misled anyone into thinking that I was left sad and watch-less, here is What Happened Next.
I do not buy a new automatic watch very often: aside from the Lorus, I had not done so since 1999. After the Lorus episode, I next took a renewed interest in the Seiko ranges of automatics, the “5” series and the Prospex. To do so is to dive down another enjoyable rabbit hole. For instance, I read that Queen’s Brian May had bought a Seiko 5 diving watch in Tokyo which he had worn since the 1970’s and that Seiko made a special Brian May limited edition in his honour.
It was informative to browse the line-up of Seiko watches in my usual haunts. But it was while looking casually around H Samuel’s Oxford Street branch in mid-January (intending to look at their Seikos) that a Bulova caught my eye. I was attracted by the uncluttered dial, the absence of numerals and the absence of any day and date complication. The face has a round hole at the 7 o’clock position to show the balance wheel in action. The watch was not actually running at that stage and my initial reaction was that I would have preferred it without this porthole, which I later learned was called the “open heart” feature, (as opposed to a skeleton dial which shows the whole movement at the expense of making it difficult to see the hands and read the time).
I liked everything else about the watch including its dark blue dial, silver-tone indices and supple steel bracelet. Unlike the Lorus, this movement allows manual as well as automatic winding and also allows hacking: the pausing of the second hand by pulling out the crown, in order to set it precisely.
As well as it being the most appealing in the display, it was also 50% off the list price. I asked to have a look at it. The helpful assistant commented that the colour suited me, although I was wearing a navy blue shirt, jacket and carrying a navy blue shoulder bag! I certainly did like the colour of the dial and had never had a watch with a dial other than white or black. She adjusted the bracelet, removing two links from each side, which still left it comfortably loose but secure. I was a happy and lucky man.
It also has an exhibition back and this, together with the open heart dial (a term I do not like very much) means that you can actually hold the watch and see through it. The movement includes a rotor which, I was surprised to see, is a D outline but open in the middle. Is this to save weight? If so this seems to rather defeat the object. Perhaps it is to allow a better view of the inner workings. In any event, the rotor is very sensitive and works perfectly. The watch also has some modest water-resistance although not a screw-down crown and so I would not wear it in the water.
Swiss chronometer accuracy is no longer of such importance to me as when I was twenty, or even forty and buying a Rolex. Nevertheless I was curious to check the Bulova’s time-keeping. Over the first seven days it gained about 12 seconds a day. I then tested it over the next seven days too and got the same result. However, trying this again more recently, the deviation had lessened and it was gaining just 7 seconds a day. I hope that it remains there and does not continue to slow much further, but will check it now and again.
I also tested the power reserve – the amount of time for which the watch keeps running when not worn. I ensured that it was fully wound and then set it down. It managed a very respectable 44 hours.
I have had this watch for over two months now. I still get a little thrill every time I see it on my wrist. As well as enjoying the sight of the second hand scurrying around the dial, I soon came to enjoy seeing the intricate movement through the porthole, which is much better when the watch is running.
I had thought that I might rotate the Bulova with the other watches in my modest collection. In practice though, I have worn it every day since I bought it except for the weekend when I checked the power reserve. And this is perhaps the best testament of my high opinion.
Fountain pen blog 
Wonderful story as always Rupert!
My father died 1967 when I was eight years old. My uncle and his wife attended the funeral and gave me a new Omega Seamaster 600. (They didn’t have children of their own.) I used it for many years as my only watch. The glass and the crown were replaced by generic ones. The last 30 years I have been using other watches, but now I have decided to have it restored to its original condition! I just only have to find time to go to Stockholm, as I am busy 6/7.
Not a bad watch to give to a little boy!
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Thank you Lennart. Wow! To be given an Omega Seamaster 600 at the age of eight, is amazing. Even more impressive, is that it did not get lost or stolen or broken, before you reached adulthood. It is a fantastic idea to get it restored. At nearly 60 years’ old, I am sure that it will need cleaning and an oil change! I look forward to hearing the outcome!
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£££
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That is a very good-looking watch and a steal at the price. I have been a very intermittent watch-owner over my lifetime. Strangely, I have found that they tend to irritate me when I’m typing and typing is an enormous part of every job I’ve had. Even when I’ve had a watch, it has often spent a large part of every day lying on my desk beside me rather than on my wrist.
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Thanks Pamela. I can understand that you might not want to wear a watch if it interferes with your typing. These days, I suspect that less people are wearing wrist watches because they can tell the time from their computer screens or smartphones. Getting out a smartphone to check the time, is the equivalent of checking a pocket watch I suppose.
Personally, I have always worn a watch and would not feel right without it. I do not wear any other jewellery items. I did try wearing a wedding ring when we were first married but could not get used to it. What has changed for me with wristwatches, is the journey up the ranges of watches from Timex to Rolex – and then back down again the other side!
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Rupert, nice find and a good looking watch – myota movements are rather good japanese movements. Time keeping is very good. Always nice to find these gems discounted adds a certain something!!
A very simple trick you may have come across – to speed up a watch (slightly) is to lay it flat on its back if your don’t wear it in bed at night and to slow it place it on its side overnight. The logic is that you increase the friction on the balance wheel to slow it by placing it on its side and reduce the friction on the balance wheel to speed it up by laying it flat on its back- seems to work!!
Enjoy your new find
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Thanks for this Charles! It sounds like I should carry out some experiments with this technique. First I will see whether mine has settled down to a regular amount of drift each day and week, before making any changes. I need to be more consistent in how I position the watch at night and keep a note of this, over a week and then see how changing it affects the timekeeping!
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When I was a senior in high school my sister and mother gave me a Seiko self-wind watch with a brown face. I have been meaning to have the crystal replaced and a cleaning, it still works fine and I should wear it more often, thanks for the motivation. Next to the Seiko watch my wife gave me 36 years ago it is my oldest watch.
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Thanks Terry! Its great that you have both of these still, as they are now “vintage”, like us! I do not know what the cost might be to service your Seiko automatic: the sad thing is that the cost of a service might seem disproportionate to the value or replacement cost, but in this case, the watches are obviously of sentimental value too.
It would certainly be a good idea to look into having the Seiko serviced, if the crystal is cracked or scratched. You can find out whether the movement can be serviced, or whether Seiko would simply replace it. Good luck!
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If I was still in the US I would have had it done, there was quite a watchmaker just down the street from where we lived and it was not going to cost much. Well worth it. I also have a Seiko that was my dad’s that is now mine, when I took it in for some work on the band I found it was a quite good one. So I wear a few different watches, my Tag Hauer needs some work as well, it is almost vintage, 35 years old.
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My late grandfather bought me a watch for my 13th birthday. I chose a Rotary 21 jewel automatic with metal bracelet. A lovely watch but no longer working. I keep saying that one day I’ll get it fixed. Of course fashions change and the Rotary looks dated but it still has sentimental value.
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Thanks Dave! I must say, a Rotary automatic sounds a very grown-up choice for a 13 year-old! I do not think that looking dated is a bad thing. It might only need a simple cleaning but it is worth getting an estimate for a service or repair, given its sentimental value to you.
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Man, at that discount and looking so good, it was really a splendid catch! Congratulations, it’s really beaufiful. Cheers! Vic, from Portugal.
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Thanks Vic. Yes, I was very fortunate on this occasion, that I happened to be in the right place at the right time! I have been really delighted with the watch and have been happy to keep wearing it for the time being, rather than rotate it with my older watches.
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Great purchase and beautiful watch!
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Thankyou! I am wearing it now. It is my pride and joy.
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