This was my grandfather's watch. I would like to identify the model of this watch and hopefully get some instructions. The pictures were taken in our fine, Canadian, overcast, winter light in a window. If it is not evident, it is gold coloured. It appears very similar to Bulova 1976 Model "12295-Y" on this website, but with added weekday & date, and made in Switzerland rather than Japan (as given on the face). I haven't been able to open it up, because the groove on the back for that purpose doesn't give any purchase to anything to do so. I've looked at it (and the whole back), with a loupe and cannot see how it can be opened. All I've managed to do is scratch up that groove.
Questions: 1. What is the model? 2. How many times do I wind it from a full, run-down state, or daily? I wind and wind and wind, never reaching the tight "full-wound" point. So I stop, worried that I might break it. I've counted up to 50 winds before stopping. It seems to need more than 20 winds per 24 hours to keep running. 3. How do I set the day of the week?
I figured out how to set the day of the month, but not the day of the week. Pulling out the stem, it has two extension levels. The first extension level lets me set the watch time. The second extension level will not hold on its own, I have to hold it out. Pull the stem from all the way in, to all the way out to move ahead by one day. Push stem all the way in and repeat. Doing this repeatedly tests the strength of my fingernail!. Holding the stem all the way out and twisting only adjusts the time.
Hi Bruce - Congrats on a special heirloom watch! There is a special tool that all watchmakers will have to remove that back. I recommend not trying to open if you don't have it. This is an "Automatic" winding watch, which means there is a weight inside that winds the watch as your arm moves throughout the day. 20 manual winds doesn't sound to far out of line for a daily wind.We strongly recommenda professional service if you plan to wear it.
The "QuickSet" feature advances the day when you click the winding crown out all the way, you've already discovered that. When you have it out wind it forward to move the day of week until you reach the day you want. I generally set it back to yesterday day AND date and then manually wind it forward to todays day and date.THIS might help.
We have catalogs from Bulova, we call them "Line Books", I found what I think is your watch in a 1976 Line book.
1976 Bulova Model 11657-4WY (pg 24 BAW0206)
1976 Bulova Model 11657-4WY looks like a great match
Thank you for the information! The 1976 Bulova Model 11657-4WY looks like a match, except that mine is gold coloured, while the watch in your picture is white & steel coloured. I wonder if the model # applied to the two very different colours, or if there was a slightly different model number for the gold coloured version.
I wasn't aware of the "Automatic" winding feature, so of course immediately shook the bejesus out of the watch near my ear, and was gratified to hear it winding.
As I mentioned, at no extension of the stem will winding it either way will affect the day of the week directly. As stated in the PDF you linked, the day of the week will only change if you move the hands through 24 hours. That takes a lot of spinning the stem.
Do you know if it is possible to over-wind the watch, and damage it? Will it ever get tight when winding, like other watches?
In reply to Thank you for the… by Bruce6
Bruce is just the bezel (the ring around the dial) yellow gold while the reset of the case is steel?
In reply to Bruce is just the bezel (the… by Geoff Baker
Yes, the case is steel coloured. Also the date. Everything else is gold coloured.
In reply to Yes, the case is steel… by Bruce6
I'm not 100% certain but I think the 4WY in the reference number designates the case as W (white - stainless) and Y (yellow), just like yours
In reply to I'm not 100% certain but I… by Geoff Baker
Are all the pictures in the 1976 Line book B&W?
In reply to Are all the pictures in the… by Bruce6
Pre 1979 all linebooks we have are indeed black and white only.
Very nice heirloom, thanks for sharing.
1976 Bulova Model 11657-4WY
1976 Bulova Model 11657-4WY