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Wrist Check

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This is my 1968 Bulova Accutron Calendar V. (Can anybody educate me about this watch? I know very little about it, as it was my Grandfather's.)
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Erikesp
2337
Jul 14, 2017
cool that you have your Grandfather's Accutron! Take care of it and pass it on to your kids one day!
tr4abrad
4
Jul 14, 2017
Love vintage Accutrons! I have about a dozen. You should be using a 344 battery in this 218-1 movement timepiece (never call an Accutron a "watch"). You should have it serviced if it hasn't been recently. A battery should not cause the watch to run fast, it's 'phasing' is probably off. Be sure to send it only to an Accutron specialist...they are becoming harder to find these days...
Jim_Kelly
49
Jul 14, 2017
tr4abradDo you have any recommendations for servicing specialists?
Clark1409
23
Jul 16, 2017
Jim_KellyI have a Bulova Accutron Snorkel 666 and contacted Bulova directly to see if they provided services or could recommend someone to me. They told me about http://www.mybob.net. They said that in the US, they really only recommend him and one other. I used Bob. It took about 6-7 weeks to get it back but it was worth the service price I think.
ricepaddywings
8
Jul 14, 2017
gorgeous piece! If it's been sitting for a while, definitely take it in for a service at your trusted watchmaker. One thing to note, IIRC, is that these movements used mercury cells, which produced 1.35 volts, whereas modern cells produce 1.5 volts. This leads to the issue of the watch running fast. It's hard to find 1.35 cells, but I think a special watchmaker can install a diode that will allow the movement to handle the modern 1.5 batteries.
Jim_Kelly
49
Jul 14, 2017
ricepaddywingsI definitely want to take it in to a vintage Bulova specialist. How long do you think batteries will typically last if they're the wrong ones? If a 1.5 causes the watch to run fast, it would explain why my watch stopped running only a few months after it was cleaned and a new battery installed.
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