Collection… Easily Justified

I am saving up for a new leather stitching machine and still not in a watch buying mood.

But my neighbour is a picker and still calls me when he gets watches. Lately I have been suggesting he try selling at auction.

A few days ago he had a fresh pile of Timex, Seikos, Bulovas and a fake two tone Sub.

He had set aside one of the Bulovas because he believed it was solid gold.

It wasn’t, and after I suggested he auction it off, he decided he would take the gold filled watch to his gold guy.

I could not let that happen. It was nice looking, wound and ran smoothly and would make a nice gift to steer a young family member towards mechanical watches.

I brought it home.




I needed tin snips to remove the cheesy flexible metal bracelet and put the watch on an old UG strap. I like that look.

I put it in my old Bulova watch box. I bought this box from my same picker neighbour years ago.






That got me thinking… Bulovas are inexpensive, pretty and usually run at any age… I should fill that box with nice looking Bulovas. No time limit.

So I gathered the other Bulovas we have. These are worn regularly by my wife. One of them is actually 14 K white gold. She bought most of them herself.


The strap on the round dialled one (above) was one of my very first. I have improved considerably thanks to OF but she likes it so it stays.




So there you have it. Easy to find, well made, inexpensive and a box that can hold thirty two.

Seems like I have an easily achievable goal… and easy to justify if I can save them from a crucible.

Curious, My local maker space just got some new leather stitching machines. One of the stitching machines with a 1/4 chunk of leather showing what it can do was left next to the vacuum forming machine I should be working on.

I really need to make some sort of watch storage for all my rust rats. Perhaps this can inspire me.

I did sell all my Bulovas, as I had to draw a line somewhere. They are terribly underrated. Many use high quality A Schild and Valjoux movements. (I did keep the Val-23 for parts) They also did the Accutron hummers what is really what most people think of. I guess they were once made in the US, but the stuff I had was mostly Swiss. Benrus was a similar brand, So I decided to stick with the Benrus watches (as I like Back to the future.) Helbros was an anything goes brand.

Often wonder what it would have been like had Omega failed and A Schild succeeded. Guess it was what ever SMH could get in the fire sale and invest in.

Now you are making me have remorse for dumping the Bulovas, although economically it was the right move for me. Service part prices are fairly flat. Ranging from a few bucks to almost the cost of a watch. Some AS parts fit rolex labeled movements, So it really does become about economics.

Now I want to see that whole case filled with watches ...

I bought a watch from Fred and Janice (hi Fred) and he threw in a free Bulova.



I love the art deco font and curved crystal.

Wasn't sure what to do with it but now I think I figured out who to send it to.