Bulova 1966 Ambassador

Submitted by GuyMontag on
#250101
Manufacture Year
1966
Movement Model
12EBAD
Movement Date Code
M5
Movement Jewels
30
Case Serial No.
1-483490
Case shape
Round
Case color
White
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Crystal details
#544 / 32.4mm
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Here is a sharp looking Ambassador. I'm a big fan of the dial on this one. The cylindrical minute markers are something else and really make the dial pop. I also really like how they used a stylized tuning fork symbol for the hour markers on a very light blue dial with a metallic sheen. I've seen a variation of the dial which has the cylindrical minute markers present for the 14, 15, and 16 minutes and the date window isn't an insert like on this watch but instead just has a printed border.

This comes with a M5 dated 12EBAD 30 jewel movement, a re-badged Buren 1281, with no seconds hand in a stainless steel monocoque case that opens through the front. This is one of those cases where the crystal wall is sandwiched between a metal ring that stands proud from the case and the case bezel, so the crystal thickness has to be exact for the crystal to fit. I was able to find a NOS crystal, trying to find a flat top generic crystal that would fit would be problem. The case back is dated M6 on the inside and N3 on the outside. I guess Bulova had some surplus cases and movements that they wanted to get rid of.  I think that may make this the most recent case Bulova sold that has the word 'Waterproof' on it.

Front
Back
Inside case back
Movement
GuyMontag
Posted May 30, 2025 - 4:32pm

On second thought, it's not a monocoque case as the bezel is a separate part from the case.

Geoff Baker
Posted May 30, 2025 - 9:54pm

Oh Dave - this is the coolest watch, I love that dial! We have one in the database HERE marked as 1966, which I really think yours is too. The challenge for us is that it's marked 1973 as well. We typically tag watches with this case back and the X-XXXXXXX serial number as 'International". Some of the Internationals are Pacific Rim and some are Swiss. I don't know why our when this beauty was stamped N3 but I still think we should receive it as 1966 Bulova Ambassador. It's a unicorn to say the least but it a Bulova Ambassador Unicorn!  I assume you added the strap - it's perfect.

GuyMontag
Posted May 30, 2025 - 10:19pm

In reply to by Geoff Baker

Thanks, I had been looking for one of these for a while so ended up overpaying a bit when I saw it come up. I did add the strap. I was considering a bracelet but decided to go with a strap in the end.

mybulova_admin
Posted May 31, 2025 - 2:35am

Appears in the 1966 Bulova international linebook, so I agree that 1966 seems the best year.

1966 Bulova Ambassador #250101

1966 Bulova Ambassador #250101

GuyMontag
Posted May 31, 2025 - 11:35am

In reply to by mybulova_admin

Mine may not be the 250101 model as it doesn't have the second hand like the one in the linebook. Does the linebook happen to have a model without the second hand?

Geoff Baker
Posted May 31, 2025 - 9:28pm

In reply to by GuyMontag

No Dave - all the Ambassadors in that book are 30j auto with a sweep second hand.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted May 31, 2025 - 11:36am

That is a real beauty, congrats on finding it. I agree this is an International

1966 Bulova Ambassador #250101

Interesting that this movement has yet to be added to the database.

JimDon5822
Posted May 31, 2025 - 7:39pm

1966 Bulova Ambassador #250101 is a great match.   A great watch.