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Bulova Snorkel Skindiver (Ref. 386-1) “Devil Diver”, 1967 — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Bulova Snorkel Skindiver (Ref. 386-1) “Devil Diver”, 1967

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Bulova (maker)
Date
1967
Country of origin
United States
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 36 mm
Stock no.
BLV3681-5
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (BLV3681-5)
Catalogue title (original)
1967 Bulova Snorkel Skindiver (Ref. 386-1) “Devil Diver” (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number BLV3681-5), this is a wristwatch by Bulova, made in United States, dated 1967. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 36 mm. 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. This diver, nicknamed the "Devil Diver" because of its depth rating of an oddly specific 666 feet (which, for those on the metric system, is roughly 202 meters) was actually designed for skin diving and snorkeling rather than deep-sea diving, which meant that Bulova could make the case less chunky – and thus more naturally wearable and aesthetically pleasing. And at 36mm, it's a small-by-today's-standards dive watch that will look great on just about anyone's wrist, even if they're only desk diving. This 1967 Bulova Snorkel ref. 386-1 skin diver has all of the elements we love about the mid to early "Golden Era" divers. Not only has it aged to reflect a beautiful patina, but it's also a devilishly attractive watch, hosting an occult-inspired depth rating of 666 feet. SPECS Stock # BLV3681-5 Brand Bulova Style Snorkel "Devil Diver" Model 368- 1 Serial M7 Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Matte Black Millimeters 36 Bracelet JB Champion SS Bracelet CASE & BRACELET The wonderful 36mm stainless steel case has been lightly polished and is in excellent condition with long and slightly curved lugs that display light signs of use. It retains its original Bulova-signed crown. The original rotating shows minimal signs of use and no longer retains its enamel. The case back is clean and retains its original Bulova medallion. The era-correct JB Champion bracelet is in great condition retaining 21 links that exhibit normal stretch for the style of the bracelet and will fit up to a 7 1/2-inch wrist. DIAL & HANDS The beautiful matte black dial is in excellent vintage condition, showing consistent but light aging that amplifies the watch's vintage aesthetic. The dial features numeric hour markers at 6, 9 and 12 o'clock, and rectangular markers for the remaining hours with a date window replacing a marker at 3 o'clock. The markers have aged to a deep tan / sandy patina. The original sword hands have been professionally restored with tritium to coordinate with the dial. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is functioning and keeping time perfectly, previous service history is unknown.

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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