Brand: Bulova

Model: "Snorkel" 666 Feet Self-Winding Automatic Diver; Swiss Made circa 1968 (M8 date code)

Case: Solid stainless steel case with screw-down back is approximately 35mm excluding the original Bulova signed crown

Strap: 18mm OD green nylon NATO strap with stainless steel hardware

Movement: Bulova cal. 11 ALACD self-winding automatic movement with date (17 jewels); Swiss Made; M8 date code = 1968

Features: Stunning original matte black dial with applied Bulova logo; original handset; original rotating dive bezel displays elapsed time during dives; correct domed acrylic crystal with internal date magnifier

Condition: Nice original condition overall with minor honest wear from age and use; solid stainless steel case is thick and sharp and in great condition; original rotating dive bezel has lost its black enamel paint over the years (common on these); a couple of very minor toolmarks on the caseback

Other: This is a nice example of a later Bulova 666 Feet Self-Winding Automatic Diver sans "SNORKEL" printed anywhere on the dial. Bulova would officially re-introduce the SNORKEL in late 1968, but it was an entirely new model with an updated "turtle" case, a black and red acrylic bezel, and a different movement. To presumably avoid confusion, that model became the OCEANOGRAPHER SNORKEL in 1970. While that reference is also super cool, we much prefer the classic look and size of this previous model. You get a solid stainless steel diver's watch with a date, a workhorse movement, and a rotating dive bezel for only a small fraction of the price of other popular vintage dive watches from that era (i.e. the Rolex Submariner). We like to think of this particular model as a cross between a 1680 Submariner and a 1016 Explorer. Read more about this 666 Devil Diver in an early HODINKEE blog post archived here.