Bulova Accutron Snorkel 666 Day Date cal. 2182G ref.7526-4
- All original, stainless case and bracelet, thin seconds, French day variant (No rectangular cyclops, removed or sold without)
- Last service mark 12-1-95D (1995?! Wax pencil inside caseback)
- Serial 5-160xxx (No N4 or N5 marks)
- Cased by MLB (A. Maeder-Leschot SA, Gehäuse, Biel/Bienne, Switzerland)
- Known variants: Blue/White, Green/White, Black/Orange
- Lug 40mm Dial 29mm
- Lumed hands, hour markers and bezel triangle
- 60 click bi-directional bezel (Did not remove for cleaning)
- Cal. 2182G 15 Jewels - 3 position stem: 0 date, 1 - time and day, 2 - power off
- Had a legacy Renata 343 1.35V mercury oxide cell installed (HAZMAT discontinued 1990s?)
- Replaced with new Renata 344 1.55V silver oxide cell ($4 CAD)
- Voltage spec is 1.03V-1.70V, watch runs accurately with new cell without rephasing or voltage step-down
- Original "Devil Diver" 666 ft. = 203m Tuning fork frequency 360Hz +/-14 (F-F#)
- Accuracy - before interior cleaning, lubrification and regulation -6 sec./day - after regulation only 0 sec./day
- Range of timing adjustment +/- 14 sec./day
- Number of index wheel teeth 320 (!)
I bought this watch at an international chain of thrift stores for $22.99 after $2 coupon. It was not running, was ridiculously dirty exterior (see back photo) and had a few light scratches in the center of the crystal, buffed out with a 7-step nail buffer, Brasso and then NuFinish. I knew the watch. Tweaked the regulation over a period of 8 days, it's still at 0 sec. variance after 48 hours. Any further maintenance will be done by an accredited professional.
Now that is a great bargain. Well done. Your watch appears to be an international model. We currently have one in the database as a 1974 Bulova Accutron. We have not found a "snorkel" designation in an ad so I am not sure we can give it the name.
1974 Bulova Accutron
I'm inclined to think that being an international model, the variance in dial text is regional (European). The majority of Accutron dive watches during this period in the US seem to be referred to as Deep Sea per the linebooks. Based on all contributing factors, including the European ad and penned in correction above, I would classify this one as
1974 Accutron Deep Sea 21547-5W
I've seen many, mostly earlier models marked Deep Sea. Searching 1970 Deep Sea shows a very similar one with a 218I movement and stem at 4 o'clock. I like the theory about international versions being marked Snorkel. Close enough to the 21547-5W, except for the second hand, many with European language day dials have the thinner second hand, which is light orange IRL rather than the more yellow that shows up in my photos.
Also: I found a page which states Accutron 218 models 1968-1977 have 7-digit serial numbers which fits, but also that numbers starting with 5 would be 1968-1970 which seems too early for this movement. At this point I don't suspect a Frankenwatch, and still date it N4 or N5 even without such marking, but stores of older model compatible parts including second hands could have been liquidated years after production.