Watch Repair

How to add images to myBulova.com forums & comments

Submitted by Jim Townsend on

Looking for a good reliable watch  repair person. Have a 14k ladies 1924 watch that needs repair. Has a 6 AF Movement 17 jewel.

shrinkboy
Posted October 18, 2022 - 9:23am

and so, a recommendation, if possible. i am not able to tell the fly by nighters from the legits...

Geoff Baker
Posted October 18, 2022 - 9:39pm

I just sent you an email. Henry Encarnacion was the head of the Bulova Service Center in New York City for 25 years. He's the best. PERIOD 

bocomay
Posted September 29, 2025 - 11:13am

Geoff,

Can you provide contact information for Henry Encarnacion? I see several references to him.

I have a 1966 Accutron Spaceview 214 that I received new. It's in reasonable shape but needs servicing.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Gary Mayer bocomay@gmail.com

 

Slickster514
Posted December 19, 2022 - 12:09pm

I have a 1973 model “CN” with a 218-2 movement. Was purchased in October and claims to have been fully serviced and cleaned. Not sure if it needs a repair / service or not, let me describe the issue:  Normally keeps excellent time, I check it every time I put it on my wrist, or put it down for the night, or store it for a few days. About -0.5s per day face up when not worn, and about +0.5s per day when on wrist. About every 10 to 14 days, it losses about 3 to 5 seconds in a wear or rest period of say 10 hours. Any idea what causes this massive time lag and so sporadically? The watch is not mistreated in any way and always rests on a soft surface when not worn.

Birch
Posted February 23, 2023 - 6:47pm

I have recently acquired a ‘43 A-11 military watch that sadly has worn lug holes. Is it repairable an if so could anyone recommend someone in Australia to do the work? Failing all else would there be one for sale by one of the members?

Birch.

mybulova_admin
Posted May 18, 2023 - 1:52am

Birch are the lug holes broken through, or just wide and loose?

teakyou
Posted June 5, 2023 - 10:22pm

I have several old Bulova watches (Sea King, Clipper, Oceanographer) that develop condensation on the underside of the crystal if I wear them when I'm working and just moderately  perspiring. They've all been serviced, so I wonder if I need to replace one or more seals. Is there some resource that lists the required seals?

Thanks in advance,

TQ

mybulova_admin
Posted June 5, 2023 - 10:51pm

The ABC Parts catalog may list these. Does your watch have an case model number stamped in the inside back case?

teakyou
Posted June 6, 2023 - 7:30am

The Oceanographer is stamped "307". It loads from the front. The 2 Golden Clippers have case #s 2999 and 3007.

TQ

bklyn1947
Posted June 13, 2023 - 7:45pm

I was given a Accutron 214 Spaceview by my late father in 1965. I have not worn the watch in over 20 years. It has enormous sentimental value and I would like to have it serviced and fully restored. While I will not say that price is no object it clearly is a secondary consideration to finding the right person who can restore this heirloom. I live in NYC but will send the watch wherever it will be restored properly. 

Thanks in advance for your help and guidance in this matter n

peatnick
Posted November 22, 2023 - 9:17am

Lost the crystal on my 1966 Date King “PM” 

Anyone know size for replacement ? 

It is domed so guess I need 3 dimensions, diameter x height x thickness

Geoff Baker
Posted November 22, 2023 - 8:23pm

What is the case number? (stamped inside case back)

peatnick
Posted November 22, 2023 - 9:37pm

Thanks again Geoff!

Pamela Feyereisen
Posted February 4, 2024 - 3:58pm

Looking for a reliable repair for my 1967 Golden Centennial "X".  It may only need a cleaning, but it's so tiny.  I don't want to pass this along to my daughter non-working.  Have another tiny vintage watch (not Bulova) probably pre-1940's, that I would like to have evaluated also.  I'm in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago.

 

Pamela Feyereisen
Posted March 3, 2024 - 2:20pm

I have a 1967 65285-9W Golden Centennial "X" ladies watch that your group was kind enough to help me identify a few years ago.  I've been delaying, because I was afraid of the cost and how to ship it securely, but I need to get on this. I mean to pass it on to my daughter in working order.  I'd also like an estimate on an old Hamilton I got from a grandmother.  Not sure how old it is. Please advise me of someone reliable I can send to for estimate/repair.

ish
Posted September 2, 2024 - 11:03am

Hi I live in the UK and am looking for a reputable repairer who can repair a Bulova 1970 11ANACB watch, including sourcing and using second-hand parts as they aren't available new any more. Any leads welcome, particularly (but not exclusively) in the North West of the UK.

Many thanks

MAC10904
Posted December 24, 2024 - 3:44pm

Hi. I am looking for someone in the DC Metro area that can repair a couple of watches that I have from the 70s. 

MAC10904
Posted December 24, 2024 - 3:44pm

Hi. I am looking for someone in the DC Metro area that can repair a couple of watches that I have from the 70s. 

KDMiller68
Posted December 29, 2024 - 7:29pm

Hello. I'm wondering if anyone on here has heard from Jim Dozier recently? He's working on an American Clipper for me, and I haven't heard from him in two months. The lack of communication is unusual.

If you've been in touch with him, please let me know.

Thanks,

Ken.

SqueekyToy
Posted July 18, 2025 - 7:25pm

Hi Folks,

Does anyone know of someone in Australia, preferably the Sydney area, but anywhere in Australia is okay, that you can recommend to work on a Bulova Super Compressor 666 11AFAC?  I think it might need a hair spring repaired or replaced.

Thanks much!

Baobab
Posted September 6, 2025 - 2:27pm

I have recently inherited my gr-grandmother's Bulova Princine watch.  It runs well, but has likely not been serviced since 1931 when it was purchased.  The minute hand is missing the tip, the crystal is no longer useable, and the crown is missing the blue stone.  I live in California.  Any recommendations on where to take this watch to have it restored?  Thanks for your help!

Baobab
Posted September 7, 2025 - 2:20pm

Replying to my own message that I have found someone locally to take on the project.  Thanks to those of you who reached out with contact info!

mesadowski
Posted September 28, 2025 - 7:07am

Does anyone have a good service person in the NY/Westchester area? I suppose I'd ship it elsewhere if needed, but local would be nice. I have an Oceanographer with an 11BLCD. It runs, but is off by a couple min per day and doesn't run for more than a few hours when wound. 

mesadowski
Posted September 28, 2025 - 10:16am

I'm trying to get the movement out of this watch. I think it's a sea king (no whale) N1. I believe it's be a front loader, since the case appears to be just one piece of stainless stell. I took off the crystal with a crystal lifter. Internet research said you need to pull out the stem and it's a split stem. I yanked and it came out but it didn't seem to be a split stem--what came out was a regular stem. So I may have done some damage taking it out. Uh oh. Anyway, how do you get the movement out of this? It doesn't just pop out the top. Bulova made this kind of difficult, didn't they? Thanks!

 

Andersok
Posted September 28, 2025 - 4:48pm

That dial does not comes out the front of the watch. This case has a snap on back. Look for a small opening where the back meets the case - this allows for a sharp tool/blade to access and pry off the back.

The stem is also not a two-piece type. Be sure to check your setting lever to make sure it isn't broken when your stem was forced out.

mesadowski
Posted September 28, 2025 - 5:16pm

Here is the back. Yes, now I'm thinking the back is supposed to open. But it's fuzed shut. Maybe decades of dirt? I try to open it with an exacto knife but I've had no luck. I put some rubbing alcohol around the seam, but nothing. It looks like someone before me had a similar issue. Someone else left all kinds of gouge marks around what I believe to be the seam. 

 

Andersok
Posted September 28, 2025 - 5:55pm

It is often rather hard to find the opening, but there should be a small curved opening, sometimes on the left or right side. You may need something stronger than an exacto knife.

jr0senblum
Posted November 2, 2025 - 12:46am

Does anyone know what the lift angle is for an 8AH 17 jewel movement?

jr0senblum
Posted November 9, 2025 - 4:21am

Thank you！

alberto.key
Posted November 2, 2025 - 1:29am

Hi everyone,  After a successful repair, the crown of my 1970 18k Accutron is now unscrewing from the stem. I can set the time backwards, but not forwards.  How would you fix this properly? Would some Loctite do the job, or should I look for something more refined?  Also, it seems to me that the dial is slightly curved towards the center.. could I have caused this by forcing the stem upwards while trying to set the time?  Please see linked photos.

Thanks in advance,   https://ibb.co/qLvDLybS   https://ibb.co/p6bBDQGH   https://ibb.co/fG2R4bsw

GuyMontag
Posted November 6, 2025 - 8:43pm

Yes, loctite is the answer. When I service a watch I always put the stem in a pinvise and try to unsrew the crown. Usually it comes off and if it does I use some loctite 243.

mybulova_admin
Posted November 2, 2025 - 1:40am

I assume the crown is unscrewing when trying to set forwards. This does happen when the crown is not threaded tightly, so some loctite might work, unless others can suggest something better.

awenner
Posted November 30, 2025 - 6:47pm

I am seeking help to replace the crystal for my 1971 gilt dial Counselor M Bulova watch. My repair shop near Syracuse NY can't repair it. Case # s/b 3124 - which uses crystal 1438F. Thanks very much for any suggestions!! AR Wenner

mart1n888
Posted November 30, 2025 - 7:52pm

ill check it once at home, i think i got one.

mart1n888
Posted November 30, 2025 - 9:33pm

i got it ! ill send you an email in few minutesCY933.

Watch Repair