
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Bulova Snorkel Skindiver (Ref. 386-4) “666 Feet”, 1968
- Maker / attribution
- Bulova (maker)
- Date
- 1968
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- United States
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 36 mm
- Stock no.
- BLV3684
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (BLV3684)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1968 Bulova Snorkel Skindiver (Ref. 386-4) “666 Feet” (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number BLV3684), this is a wristwatch by Bulova, made in United States, dated 1968. 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 1968 Bulova Snorkel ref. 386-4 skindiver 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, and is in excellent condition as well. SPECS Stock # BLV3684 Brand Bulova Style Diver Model 368-4 Serial M8 Size Men's Material SS Dial Black Millimeters 36mm Bracelet 2pc Handmade Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The wonderful case is believed to be lightly polished in the past, retains very thick and symmetrical lugs. The bi-directional ratching bezel is in excellent condition with light signs of use, the pearl at the 12 o'clock position is missing. The original crystal exhibits some light crazing towards its center. The Bulova crown appears to be an early service replacement. The factory case back medallion is in excellent condition. The watch will come supplied on a 2pc handmade leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The original black dial has achieved a handsome and consistent speckled patina throughout, and is in excellent condition. The tritium lume has taken on a beautiful yellow patina that shows charming signs of age and shows no degradation under U.V. light inspection. The original tritium sword hands have aged a shade darker than the dial and exhibit no degradation under U.V. light inspection. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is keeping time and functioning 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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