Review: Bomberg 1968 Bullhead Chronograph - Right Up My Weird Alley!

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timetraveler

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First things first: My thanks to the enablers and advisors - curiousgeorge, CLA452015, wantit, leelovesbug, and others.


Other than divers, I'm not one who likes to duplicate a look anymore. Of course there is a limit to the design differences possible. After all, they're watches. And the goofy, steam-punk over-the-top creatures are not my preferred cup of tea.

So when a unique style pops up that I find unusual - even weird, but also appealing - I'm interested. Such is the Bomberg 1968 44mm Bullhead Chronograph.

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Pooint of interest: Rick De La Croix is the chairman and 2012 founder of Bomberg Watches. He is also renowned as a partner and the boss of "Hublot in the Americas".

According to Bomberg marketing , the company's aim is to "deliver strong, distinguished and unconventional collections that reinterpret and completely overturn classic watchmaking rules to create unusual timepieces".

Now, I don't know about all of that, but this particular watch certainly delivers on most of those points. The 1968 was introduced in 2013 and has gone through several changes since. Primary among them are the movement and crown design. The original movement was the Miyota 0S11, now replaced by the Swiss Ronda Startech 3520D. The first crown
was of a basic knurled design. This one uses the proprietary Bomberg "grenade" version.



What follows is a pictorial review of the watch, along with my comments on the piece's unusual design features.

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I find the overall layout and color applications on the dial and hands to be extraordinarily pleasing to the eye.
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The obviously-nick-named "Bullhead" chronograph", with crown and pushers at the top of the watch, is reminiscent of certain mid-20th century chronographs. Seiko and Citizen each had several models. And even Omega offered a Seamaster Bullhead in the 1970s...
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The Bomberg 1968 delivers a rendition that is all its own.
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In combination with the 12 o'clock pushers, the over-long lower lugs allow for the watch to be hand-held off-wrist as an ordinary chronograph.
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This piece also features a sloping case that sits taller at the "12" or top (19mm) than at the bottom (14mm) - a full 5mm difference. In effect, this difference "tilts" the watch toward the wearer. It's a design technique first used in the 1930s as a driver's watch, allowing the car's operator to read the time with a mere twist of the wrist.
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From the internet: DRIVERS' WATCHES were very popular between 1920 and 1955. The idea was to fascilitate the driver to read the time, but not having to turn his/her arm too much away from the [then] large car steering wheels. They came in different models, including long lugs, swivel lugs, inverted dials with the 12 at the 3 position, curved cases, etc. and some times they were designed to be worn on the side of the wrist and not on 'top of the wrist' as we wear 'conventional' watches nowadays.


Now unlike most brands that say their watch has a curved case back (because they incorporate sloped lugs), the back of this watch actually does curve. The back is CURVED.
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The case itself is carefully and beautifully finished. While the entire case is bead-blasted stainless steel (including that which is black PVD coated), the lug edges are polished to a high gloss.
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The strap is the most "luxurious" silicon I've had the pleasure to meet. It is beautifully finished, front and back, and fitted with a handsome and heavy SS buckle specifically designed for the watch.
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Luminescence is by SuperLuminova. And as you can see, is definitely up to the job.
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On the wrist, this one is a joy.
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Here are the impressive specifications:

Crown -
Sandblasted Stainless Steel 316L
Dial -
Silver dial with printed Arabic numbers Superluminova C5 (green line)
Swiss Made -
Designed and assembled
Type -
Chronograph
Case - 44mm Sandblasted black PVD
Hands -
H + M nickel with Superluminova C5 / orange sweep second /
black small hand at 3h (second) / black/ orange small hands at 9h (counters 12h & 30 min)
Superluminova C5 (green line

Battery -
54 months
Strap -
Width: 22mm x 20mm
Black silicone Pin buckle,
sandblasted stainless steel, 20mm

Movement -
Ronda 3520D (10 1/2 x 11 1/2) Hour, minute, sweep second at centre,
chrono counters 9h (1/10 sec. / 10 hours) and 6h (30 min.),
small second 3h

Water Resistence -
10 ATM
Glass -
Reinforced mineral K1, with sapphire coating
1 layer non-reflecting treatment

International Warranty -
2 years
Diameter -
44MM


So there you have it. My take on the Swiss Made Bomberg 1968 Bullhead Chronograph. Is it for everyone? Probably not. But it's surely right for me. Beside satisfying my desire for the unusual, it is a magnificently-made watch. I think it's worth the list price. At the $250. I paid to Jomashop, it was a steal!

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And as always... Thanks for lookin', WiTs!!!








 
Great review and pictorial. The watch is incredibly hot looking. Stock photo's did not do the watch justice. Looks to be extremely well madem and worth every penny of the low price paid. Congrats on a beauty.
 
Ooooouu-Weee!
I'm getting tingly loins,
Your photos are unmatched Bill, thanks for for sharing.
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Wow, I am impressed all the way with your Bomberg Bill. Its hot. Great write up.
I LOVE it. :up:
 
Great review and pictorial. The watch is incredibly hot looking. Stock photo's did not do the watch justice. Looks to be extremely well madem and worth every penny of the low price paid. Congrats on a beauty.

Thanks for the hook-up, George!
 
Well done, my friend. I do believe you covered all the high points of this unique piece. And your photography brings a smile to this old bearded face.
Thanks for taking the time to put together this enjoyable review, and enjoy that special bullhead!

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I Always get a Giddy feeling when I see another review from the not so ordinary, Bill. You are articulate & your photo's outstanding.:cool:

This one has a lot of keen attributes to it. I like the strap knurling, & the top pushers & crown placement.

I think I see the knurling even on the box & included materials. Nice touch! Enjoy!:up:
 
Great review and pictorial. The watch is incredibly hot looking. Stock photo's did not do the watch justice. Looks to be extremely well madem and worth every penny of the low price paid. Congrats on a beauty.


love the BULLHEAD crown @ 12...no HGH shots necessary... my watch memory banks remembers a bullhead major dollar grail ...many moons ago...

- a hunky 2-eye... and coincidence...ScottyB spraying lots of pie-hole wind today about DRIVER'S WATCHES to yourself and your PURPLE PEEPLE EATER...and MISTER JINGLES with his ZENITH PW MOUNTED @ the 2...

BUT YOUR DRIVER WATCH TUTORIAL WAS ERUDITE SIR...CHOCK-A-BLOCK HORO FACT HISTORY....

- i like big butts & I can not lie...NO... I MEAN I LIKE TO TAKE A BIG WATCH AND WRAP IT AROUND A JACKET CUFF TO...DRIVE...HIKE...DO NOTHING BUT LOOK LIKE I AM ACTIVE...now taking off all them clothes and forgetting about the watch...another thread...

short story long...OUTSTANDING SIR...WATCH & WIT-
 
A marvelous addition to the collection, and an outstanding review, and photos, Bill. A big congratulations, 360, my friend!:good::applaud:
 
A very unique design profile. I agree, different always wins in my book when it comes to collecting. Congrats!
 
Now that's different! Great pic's and review Bill. I can't wait to see this live... very unique. Congrats my friend.
 
That one is super cool. You know I like different watches so this one is a stunner for me. As far as putting things straight up your weird alley......


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That one is super cool. You know I like different watches so this one is a stunner for me. As far as putting things straight up your weird alley......


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Yeah, I arrested him once. How do you know him? :)

(After posting, I knew someone would make that reference, Brad. But I thought it'd be Bob! :D)
 
I love it! I like watches that veer off the traditional copy cat styles. I bought my first Harding because it was laid out like that. Crown and pushers at the top pof the watch so you can use it like a stop watch.
 
Bill, another grand slam out of this Forum. Your descriptive use of words knows no bounds.
I can see why you plunked $$'s for the Bomberg-1968-Bullhead. Stellar pics are appreciated
by all us WITs here also. Just a pleasure to enjoy your reviews !!!
 
Bill, another grand slam out of this Forum. Your descriptive use of words knows no bounds.
I can see why you plunked $$'s for the Bomberg-1968-Bullhead. Stellar pics are appreciated
by all us WITs here also. Just a pleasure to enjoy your reviews !!!



Thanks, Gregg! I made a fairly decent living by writing marketing crap, for more than a quarter-century. Any advertising copywriter would recognize the style immediately as being that of a fellow B.S. artist. :grin
 
We need another WGT just to see your new watches you got since the last WGT a few weeks ago.

That's knocked out of the park, Bill!
 
What a great read on a unique piece. The photos really bring out the detail in your descriptions.
Well done sir and a pleasure to read. Very cool Bomberg!
 
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