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Bulova Caravelle Automatic, 1974 — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Bulova Caravelle Automatic, 1974

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Bulova (maker)
Date
1974
Country of origin
United States
Object type
Wristwatch
Stock no.
BLVCRVLA
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (BLVCRVLA)
Catalogue title (original)
1974 Bulova Caravelle Automatic W/ Box & Tags (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number BLVCRVLA), this is a wristwatch by Bulova, made in United States, dated 1974. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

The vintage Bulova obsession in the watch community is very real and here to stay! The unique and funky watches that Bulova made from the 60s-80s are always a cause for conversation. Ranging from colorful diving chronographs to eccentric electric watches like the famous Accutron. SPECS Stock # BLVCRVLA Brand Bulova Style Caravelle Model Automatic W/ Day & Date Serial N/A Size Men's Material SS Dial Blue Millimeters 36mmX42mm Bracelet Stainless Steel "Prospect" Rolled-Link Bracelet CASE & BRACELET The unpolished, oval-shaped case is in sharp and beautiful condition and exhibits very minimal signs of wear. The original sunburst style case finishing is in superb condition. The signed crown also reveals virtually no signs of use. The original "Prospect" rolled link bracelet is also in excellent condition. DIAL & HANDS The high contrast blue dial with red markers is both funky and pleasing to the eye. There are some charming signs of age around the 9, 10, 11, and 12 o'clock markers. The lume plots have started to develop a mix of yellow and gray patina throughout, under U.V. light inspection the lume plots show no degradation. The contrasting cigarette hands match the dial nicely and exhibit no degradation when inspected under U.V. light. The stacked day-date window is in excellent condition and resides at a unique 6 o'clock position. ACCESSORIES The watch comes complete with its original folding box and tags. The watch is keeping time and functioning perfectly, previous service history is unknown.

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Automatic (self-winding) watches

Self-winding watches use the wearer's motion to wind the mainspring. Abraham-Louis Perrelet and Breguet made 'perpétuelle' pocket watches with oscillating weights in the late eighteenth century, but the principle only became practical in the wristwatch. John Harwood patented a bumper automatic in 1923; Rolex's Perpetual rotor (1931) winding in one direction, and later bidirectional rotors (Eterna, Felsa Bidynator), established the modern form. Micro-rotors (Universal Genève, Buren) and peripheral rotors made automatic watches thinner.

What to look for

  • A semicircular rotor turning 360° over the movement, or a 'bumper' weight that rebounds between springs.
  • 'Automatic', 'Perpetual' or 'Self-winding' on the dial.
  • A sealed screw-back case, since automatic watches are wound less often by the crown.

Dating clues

  • Bumper automatics: 1923–c. 1955.
  • Full rotors: from 1931 (Rolex); widespread after c. 1950.
  • Micro-rotors: from 1954–1958.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

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