Vintage 1961 Bulova Sunburst Dial Automatic

$285.00

This is a beautifully preserved 1961 Bulova Selfwinding dress watch powered by Bulova's Caliber 11AFAC automatic movement, freshly serviced and regulated for reliable everyday wear. The star of the show is the dial: a clean silver sunburst finish in excellent condition that catches the light beautifully, paired with warm gilt markers and classic mid-century typography. At 31mm, this is a particularly good fit for smaller wrists or anyone who prefers a more traditional vintage profile.

Case, Dial & Aesthetic

The case is a 10K R.G.P. (rolled gold plate) bezel construction with a stainless steel ring back, combining warm gold tone on the wrist with the practicality of a steel back. The dial is a crisp, even silver sunburst with applied Arabic numerals at 12, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 and faceted gilt markers between, giving the watch a lively, dimensional look without feeling busy. A new crystal has been installed to restore clarity. The original signed Bulova crown is present, an excellent detail that helps keep the watch true to its period character.

Movement: Bulova 11AFAC Automatic

Inside is Bulova's Caliber 11AFAC, a Swiss-made 17-jewel automatic used in the early 1960s, representing the peak of Bulova’s technical prowess. It is a practical, durable selfwinding design that delivers the easy daily-wear experience Bulova was known for in this era, and this example is notably clean.

  • Movement: Bulova 11AFAC

  • Winding: Automatic (selfwinding)

  • Jewels: 17

  • Origin: Swiss made

  • Display: Central sweep seconds

Condition & Service

This watch has been fully serviced and regulated and is running well. A new crystal was installed during restoration. The movement is very clean and in excellent condition, and the dial presents exceptionally well for a watch of this age.

Specs & Details

  • Brand: Bulova

  • Line/Dial marking: Selfwinding

  • Year: 1961 (case date code M1)

  • Case: 10K R.G.P. with stainless steel ring back

  • Case size: 31mm

  • Lug-to-lug: 38mm

  • Thickness: approx. 10mm

  • Lug width: 16.1mm (16mm strap)

  • Crown: Original signed Bulova

  • Crystal: New

Why This Watch Matters

Bulova's early-1960s selfwinding watches capture a sweet spot where mid-century design met real everyday practicality. This example stands out for its excellent sunburst dial and honest, wearable proportions, and with fresh service already completed it is ready to enjoy immediately. If you have been looking for a vintage automatic that wears comfortably on a smaller wrist without sacrificing character, this is a fantastic choice.

This is a beautifully preserved 1961 Bulova Selfwinding dress watch powered by Bulova's Caliber 11AFAC automatic movement, freshly serviced and regulated for reliable everyday wear. The star of the show is the dial: a clean silver sunburst finish in excellent condition that catches the light beautifully, paired with warm gilt markers and classic mid-century typography. At 31mm, this is a particularly good fit for smaller wrists or anyone who prefers a more traditional vintage profile.

Case, Dial & Aesthetic

The case is a 10K R.G.P. (rolled gold plate) bezel construction with a stainless steel ring back, combining warm gold tone on the wrist with the practicality of a steel back. The dial is a crisp, even silver sunburst with applied Arabic numerals at 12, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 and faceted gilt markers between, giving the watch a lively, dimensional look without feeling busy. A new crystal has been installed to restore clarity. The original signed Bulova crown is present, an excellent detail that helps keep the watch true to its period character.

Movement: Bulova 11AFAC Automatic

Inside is Bulova's Caliber 11AFAC, a Swiss-made 17-jewel automatic used in the early 1960s, representing the peak of Bulova’s technical prowess. It is a practical, durable selfwinding design that delivers the easy daily-wear experience Bulova was known for in this era, and this example is notably clean.

  • Movement: Bulova 11AFAC

  • Winding: Automatic (selfwinding)

  • Jewels: 17

  • Origin: Swiss made

  • Display: Central sweep seconds

Condition & Service

This watch has been fully serviced and regulated and is running well. A new crystal was installed during restoration. The movement is very clean and in excellent condition, and the dial presents exceptionally well for a watch of this age.

Specs & Details

  • Brand: Bulova

  • Line/Dial marking: Selfwinding

  • Year: 1961 (case date code M1)

  • Case: 10K R.G.P. with stainless steel ring back

  • Case size: 31mm

  • Lug-to-lug: 38mm

  • Thickness: approx. 10mm

  • Lug width: 16.1mm (16mm strap)

  • Crown: Original signed Bulova

  • Crystal: New

Why This Watch Matters

Bulova's early-1960s selfwinding watches capture a sweet spot where mid-century design met real everyday practicality. This example stands out for its excellent sunburst dial and honest, wearable proportions, and with fresh service already completed it is ready to enjoy immediately. If you have been looking for a vintage automatic that wears comfortably on a smaller wrist without sacrificing character, this is a fantastic choice.

Important Note on the Watch Band

Please note that the band pictured is NOT included with watch purchase. I generally acquire new bands for display purposes and do not include them because they vary significantly in price and many purchasers will want to obtain their own band as suits their taste.

You will need an 16mm band to pair with this watch.

However, if you are interested in purchasing the band pictured in the photos along with the watch, it will be available at or near my replacement cost as an optional add-on. If you don’t see it as an option in the listing please message me for help. I am also happy to point you to where you can purchase the exact same band directly from the seller.

If you have questions about bands or want my assistance, please message me. I’m happy to help.

Standard Disclaimer

I make every effort to ensure that the vintage watches I work on are both accurate enough to serve as practical timepieces and reliable enough to be worn and enjoyed for many years to come. That said, vintage watches are delicate and, like any mechanical device, subject to wear.

Therefore, I cannot provide any express or implied warranty for this watch, beyond the fact that it is running, and it is being sold AS IS.

Additional notes

·       Servicing and restoration followed the process described in detail here.

  • Vintage watches are delicate - particularly older models that lack shock protection. Please handle with care

  • Regardless of what it says on the case, I do not attempt to restore watches to a fully waterproof condition. Please keep this watch away from water and definitely do not submerge it.

  • If the watch is an automatic, I recommend that you use the hand wind feature sparingly to minimize wear on the automatic winding mechanism.

I do like to stand behind my work, so please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any problems. I will correct any obvious defects in my workmanship free of charge and will provide lifetime service (as long as I am able) for vintage timepieces that I have restored at heavily discounted rates.

Regarding Parts Originality

I know that some collectors are very concerned with originality of parts. I will list any parts that I replace, internally or externally, in the condition notes above. I will also make a good faith effort to assess whether any of the watch parts (e.g. dial, crown or hands, etc.) may have been replaced or refinished prior to my acquisition of the watch and, if I believe it is likely they were, I will also indicate this in the condition notes above. However, I cannot make any bedrock guarantees regarding originality of parts. I work on many different watch brands and lack the deep expertise on the history of any given brand that would be necessary to do so.