Bulova Ocean Snorkel and more Random Thoughts
No excuses not to be writing a post now. The World Cup is over so I have to get back to the routine. Man, I was watching a lot of soccer! I can say Spain is a worthy winner. More FIFA scandals, as usual. I thought Argentina was a little disappointing and I don’t like their antics. Cape Verde was probably the most surprising and fun to watch. I did get to some games in Seattle, but also picked up a virus that has had me sick going on a month now…
I have been catching up on yard work and the slow ADU remodel trudges on. When I do yard work or painting or other dirty work, I wear a watch that I don’t mind getting banged up or splattered. Lately it has been an old Bulova Marine Star on a bracelet. Bracelets can be cleaned of paint easier. I got the watch already banged-up because I was testing to see if the bracelet would fit another Marine Star I had. It’s 30-yr. old quartz movement doesn’t miss a beat.
Deceptive Online Listings
As usual I have been scanning websites hunting for watches to buy or just for research purposes. I continue to be frustrated by seeing the same preowned watch listed in multiple places at multiple prices?! As I have posted about this before, eBay and Chrono 24 don’t seem to care? Am I just an odd ball? Maybe its a generational thing? I understand sellers wanting to get more exposure for one watch by having multiple “stores” list it, cross-listing, but I find it confusing and unethical to misrepresent where a watch is. Besides the location question, each listing is a different price. How can one watch be in multiple places? Surprise, surprise, people are selling things they don’t own, yet, or physically have control over, and may never have in their “store”.
The websites don’t seem to understand that it is hard for their customers to compare different watches when the same watch keeps appearing multiple places at different prices, with different descriptions? You start to wonder, “Is it the same watch or or just the same photos?”, because someone is too lazy to take photos of the watch they have, as is frequently done with “new” watches. It makes it harder to determine the value of a watch by comparison when these “brokers” create multiple listings at wildly different prices for same watch just to get a commission, any commission.
What is new?
Another thing I am getting sick of is sellers calling a watch “new” when it is really preowned. There are lots of definitions for “new”. To me “new” is not used, unaltered, original box and papers. Some sellers flat out lie because they have all the stickers, tags, box, etc. But, they have worn the watch. So, to me, that is “like new” preowned. Another thing is changing a strap or buckle and still calling it new? A new watch, not worn, that sits around for several or more years is “unused” but not new. At some point a “new” watch becomes “new old stock”.
It is also interesting how many “new” watches don’t seem to have box or papers? Even samples or demonstration watches come in something. Overhauled or reworked, reconditioned watches can be of any age, but “new overhauled” is not new. I don’t usually ask too many questions since I am used to buying preowned or “not new” of various categories. They don’t cost as much. I just think sellers can be honest and still get a fair price.
Bulova Ocean[ographer] Snorkel
I’ve liked these watches since they were released for Christmas 2024, I think. It seems like a long time ago, but maybe they appeared early 2025? Originally called the Oceanographer Snorkel, I think, because of the shape resemblance to vintage and reissue steel Oceanographer models. They don’t look like the vintage Snorkels I know and love. (I’m still smarting from letting one go at an estate sale because I was to cheap and afraid of my wife.) I have seen them called Ocean Snorkels, for short, so I am using that name. I just wish they had been given a different name? What about Plunge or Swim?
The reason I am writing about them now is because I want one, but have decided I need new tires now and not another watch. I figured I could hold off buying one if I just keep researching one more. It’s an effort to enjoy watches without actually owning them. What really got me going recently was I actually tried one on my wrist at the same time looking at the new Marine Star auto Series B. I really liked it. I thought I liked the blue Marine Star when I saw one several months ago, but the Snorkel is more interesting to me now?
The price has dropped, too. Still, I need new tires and that gives me an excuse. So, I wanted to write about them to hold myself off for longer. Now, I was not completely excited about them on release because I wasn’t sure which of my classifications to drop them into. They were diver-like, but had 100m WR, so not really a diver. They were part ceramic which was different and they had not-so-serious color schemes. They were quartz while the steel Oceanographers were autos. I was trying to figure out what they were all about. At the time the Swatch collaborations with ceramic and fun colors were the big thing, so maybe Bulova, as Fratello mentioned in their review, wanted to get in on something not as serious, too?
Well, I like the Snorkels for what they are; I like the colors, I like the sea life themes, I like the case shape and size, I like the rubber straps, I like the bezel and hands. I even like the textured dials, but not as much as other things. I like that they are quartz. I like that they are not so serious but can still be a fun, useful watch.
I’ve mostly thought that Bulova’s tend to be over-priced compared to the competition. Also I’ve felt that Bulovas tend to be overwrought–trying to be fancier, dressier, than they need to be, like Marine Stars. So, with the Snorkel, they just seem different than that. That said, a $350 quartz watch with 100m WR still seemed a bit high? But then I didn’t know what cost were involved with the ceramic.
I don’t want this to be a review review, but I need to state some data. They are 41mm x 45mm, almost 13mm thick, mineral glass, 19mm rubber strap and a Miyota 2115 quartz movement with date. There is some usable lume. That 19mm lug gap is an interesting and irritating choice. I really just wanted to say that I like these watches whatever the specs are.
When I had a White Shark version on my wrist, I liked it so much , I could have walked out with one. The colors, the curve of the glass, the fit, the shape, the lightness. If I can compare it to trying a green-dialed two-tone Marine Star Series B auto, it was just refreshing, because, you see, the Marine Star is so familiar it almost has no distinction.
Another thing I like about the Snorkels are the variety. Initially there were four colorways. There have been LEs or collaborations added since. The first four were the Sea Turtle in brown/green, the Clown fish in orange/white, The Great White in white/grey, and the Tang in blue. They all have pops of other colors and shades to add richness. At first I was drawn to the Sea Turtle brown and green. Since then the Great White has moved to the top spot. I have discovered 12 versions of the Snorkel. There could be more.
The above limited edition is the only one I know of that comes a nylon NATO-type strap. A very ’80s color scheme. I usually don’t go for the color purple so I have some problems with this one. I do like the turquoise. The reason for this strap is tb be able to use recycled ocean waste plastic, as Timex and others have done.
There were three exclusive editions done for the Wind Up Watch Fairs in San Francisco, Chicago and New York. These I am not as excited about? Its that urban chic thing where they try to be more subdued monotone. They all got dark cases and fewer colors. The SF gets orange like the Golden Gate Bridge, Chicago black/silver to remind you of Cloud Gate sculpture, NY green to evoke the Statue of Liberty.
They all have unique multi-colored case backs. I think each was only produced in quantities of 100 or less? As a collector, I would probably not pursue these because of the exclusivity/price angle and the colors schemes are not as fun. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the green NY.
Another batch of sea life Snorkels came out and may have been for markets other than North America? Seagull/white, Blue Whale/ pale blue, and Flamingo/pink. Again a little more monotone with the colors–less contrast. But, I like them better than the WU Watch Fairs; probably because of the lighter cases.
I still like the original four better. Of these the all-white Seagull is most appealing. You know, I think the grey strap would work well on all of these? They are all a bit too pale for me? I would try the grey strap on the Seagull. The dark case I didn’t like on the WU Watch Fairs would be good for this Blue Whale. If the Flamingo’s pink was a little darker… I guess I’m just needing more contrast?
The last Snorkel version I have seen is for the 250th US birthday. Its Red and Blue with the White case. Like a lot of watch companies, the 250th BD is another chance to offer a special edition for Bulova. I don’t really care about the commemorative aspect, but the colors scheme is nice. I always liked navy with a dark red. But is does seem familiar somehow? Again, it would work with the grey strap too!
The Snorkel seems to be popular or there wouldn’t be so many collabs or LEs? I suppose I need to read more reviews on this watch because the feeling I initially got was that since it was quartz and not a more tool-ish 200m watch, it was not that interesting to enthusiasts.
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