Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Bulova Snorkel Automatic 666ft 'Devil Diver', circa 1963
- Maker / attribution
- Bulova (maker)
- Date
- c. 1963
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- United States
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- vws3630
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (vws3630)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Bulova Snorkel Automatic 666ft 'Devil Diver' - With Original Box - c.1963 (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number vws3630), this is a wristwatch by Bulova, made in United States, dated c. 1963. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) 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 — Vintage Watch Specialist
A Pristine Bulova Snorkel Automatic Waterproof 666ft. 'Devil Diver' in Superb Original Condition with Original Lume, Sold with both Inner and Outer Original "Snorkel" Boxes, c.1963 The Bulova Snorkel watch, a revered name in the world of timepieces, made its debut during the 1960s, a period rich with innovation in dive watches. Bulova, already a renowned American watchmaker, recognized the growing demand for robust, water-resistant timepieces suited for underwater exploration. The Snorkel, initially part of the esteemed "Oceanographer" line, stood out with its distinctively bold design and exceptional functionality, featuring a wide, unidirectional bezel and luminous markers for optimal underwater visibility. What's on Offer We have yet to find another one of these watches in such fine condition! We are delighted to offer this Bulova Snorkel for sale in such pristine condition. Nicknamed the 'Devil Diver' due to its 666ft depth resistance, the Snorkel has become a very collectable timepiece and this one is an incredible example! The sunburst silver dial is blemish-free and retains its original lume on the hour plots and there is also original lume on the Dauphine hands. The dial is encapsulated underneath a shatterproof Plexiglas crystal and encased in steel. The coin-edged bezel is in exemplary condition and to the case back you will note the Bulova waterproof emblem and an engraving of the number 1.168715. The watch is offered for sale with its original boxes, making it a great purchase and very collectable. Don't miss this one!
Historical context
Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.
The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking
Atlas type guide
Dive and water-resistant watches
Keeping water and dust out of a wristwatch was a long-standing challenge. Rolex's screw-down Oyster case (1926) and Omega's Marine (1932) were landmarks; in the early 1950s Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms and Rolex's Submariner defined the professional dive watch with rotating bezels for timing dives, luminous dials and high water resistance. The ISO 6425 standard (1982) later codified what a 'diver's watch' must do.
Dive watches became icons of post-war design and exploration, and their evolution — helium escape valves, ceramic bezels, saturation-diving depth ratings — records the history of underwater work.
What to look for
- Unidirectional or bidirectional rotating bezel with minute markings.
- Screw-down crown and case back; depth rating printed on the dial.
- Luminous hands and markers (radium before c. 1960, tritium c. 1960–1998, then Super-LumiNova).
- Reference numbers on the case between the lugs or inside the back.
Dating clues
- Screw-down Oyster cases: from 1926.
- Professional dive watches: from 1953.
- Tritium 'T' marks on dials: c. 1960–1998.
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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