Bulova Phantom Nos

[Kasper]

After a very long search, i finally found the Bulova Phantom new old stock 18 KT 20 micron gold plated (3 mm thick)...but not working at the moment.
I still have no idea what the problem is..first i want to keep the battery in the watch for a few days, and lets keep our fingers crossed that it starts

in the meantime...enjoy the pics
@ Abe ..what batt do you use.. a 341 or a 346 and is it possible to sent me an inside shot?

[dutchsiberia]

awesome! The strap is thicker than the watch...

For the battery, you'll just use a renata 39 or equivalent?

[bucko170]

Condition looks fab, nice catch Kasper.

[quietman]

For the battery, you'll just use a renata 39 or equivalent?

Old Renata Reference 39 = New Renata Reference 341

[abem]

Kasper,

Wow, that's really neat. I just got another Phantom, too - a minty working Bulova / Dugena branded one. It uses 24 hour mode instead of 12 hour mode like my Bulova branded one:
http://www.timetrafficker.com/watches/l ... index.html

The Phantoms use a Renata 39 battery / 341 battery as quietman noted. I'll try to grab an inside shot when I get a chance, maybe tomorrow night. Congrats on the beautiful Phantom. If you strike out on getting it working and would like to trade for something, let me know.

-abe.

[gjlelec]

I remember Uli Sick had a solid 18ct Phantom, here http://www.dwf.cc/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=395#p1537

[Kasper]

wow, very Nice Abe, 2 working ones now...mine still does nothing

@gjlelec sssstt, me and Abe dream of that 5000$ Phantom

[simone]

Wow Kasper!!! Fantastic....finger crossed....where did you found this gem?

[Kasper]

believe it or not...CHILE..SOUTH AMERICA

[simone]

believe it or not...CHILE..SOUTH AMERICA

Incredible ....now some digits appear?

[Kasper]

no dice , cleaned, inspected it etc..but still nothing..it isn,t going that good the last months you win and you loose some.

some extra pictures

[abem]

Kasper,

Wow, thanks for the fantastic photographs. Really neat. It's impressive how minimalist this module is - way more so than earlier digital modules.

There was a thread not long about about modules with open wire bonding and how that affects module durability. It would be interesting to know what factors contribute to module lifespan and how the thinking and practices have evolved since the technology first emerged in the 1970s. It also would be neat to understand integrated circuits enough to know what we're looking at - which areas are counters, which areas are display drivers, which areas function as memory, etc. etc. Perhaps someone with more EE background can enlighten us.

I know what you mean about winning some and losing some. Been there.

Thanks again for your efforts and for the sharing of information.

-abe.

[gjlelec]

Kasper, dont know if you had the box and paperwork with your watch. If you want to PM me you can have my complete (non working) set and watch FOC .Maybe you could make a working watch out of the two ? That would be great !! Anyway, here's what i have (had to check, aint even looked at it for 6 years !! Tempus fugit !!!
http://www.dwf.cc/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=184

[abem]

Hi.

I have a couple of Phantom related questions...

1) Who actually produced the Phantom?
The Phantom is known as a Bulova model, but Bulova didn't produce any of their digital (or 70s quartz) modules. One of the Phantoms that I have is even branded by the German retailer, Dugena. So, did Bulova produce the Phantom and subcontract the module to ESA or is the Phantom really an ESA (or someone else's) creation that was just branded and resold by Bulova?

2) The Seiko 9300 Phantom-Killer / Phantom Clone
Does anyone have photos (or a sample) or the limited edition super thin (1.79mm) Seiko that came out about the same time as the Phantom (not the F231) which they reportedly attempted to sell for $3500?

http://www.digitalwatchlibrary.com/adve ... full/3104/
http://www.dwf.cc/download/file.php?id= ... &mode=view
http://doensen.home.xs4all.nl/r3.html

-abe.

[simone]

Kasper did you have news about Phantom?

[Kasper]

not yet..you mean Bulova...mine is still not working.

I have another Bulova Phantom from an incredible Forum member Gjelelec..nos with box and papers. I will try to make one working of the two watches. Thanks again Gary
But it,s the busiest moment of the year in my shop...so many picts will follow as soon a have a little spare time.

[abem]

Kasper,

Here's a photo of my two Phantoms together.

I thought I'm mention that the ESA 930.262 movements seems to be touchy. My Bulova branded Phantom occasionally gets a little flaky - possibly in response to elevated temperature. On one occasion last summer, it wouldn't display certain digits but still kept time. Last week, it went through a spell where it skipped some digits entirely and started running fast. On both occasions, it returned to normal within a few hours after I stopped wearing it. They are both running fine now. In any case, they are probably better as display pieces or worn occasionally.

Both the case color and display color is slightly different between the two. The Dugena branded one is yellow gold with a yellow tinted display whereas the Bulova one is slightly coppery in color with a matching display.

DSC_8008 (900x600).jpg

-abe.

[Kasper]

Flaky or not..there still running and mine not ..the module in indeed very touchy. But my search goes further to trace a working module.. Bulova here i come.

lets enjoy some pictures meanwhile.
btw..check the difference in module quality. from light metalfolie to plastic.

[simone]

I can't resist...here a rare italian Bulova Phantom's advertising....The old italian price (1979) was very very high:

from 600.000 lire for the plated gold version (actual 300 euro) to 4.250.000 lire for the total gold incl the strap (actual 2.100 euro)

I don't know who was able to buy it,maybe a rich person

bulphan.jpg