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Bulova 96A190 Stainless Steel Automatic Bracelet Watch - W09300
Ref. 96A190
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Bulova's Classic line has long leaned into visible mechanics as a design choice rather than an engineering footnote, and this piece makes that argument clearly. The open-heart aperture sits in the lower-left quadrant of a multi-textured grey dial — concentric rings and a sunburst finish working together so that angled light never quite lets the surface read the same way twice. Through the front you watch the balance wheel beat; turn it over and the exhibition caseback shows the rotor in motion. Two windows onto the same movement is a coherent point of view. At 40mm with a 12mm profile, it carries none of the bulk that skeleton dials sometimes invite. The case clears a dress cuff without forcing the issue, which suits what the watch actually is: something mechanical and visually active that still reads as appropriate in formal settings. The movement comes from Miyota, part of Citizen's manufacturing operation, and is chosen for exactly that context — steady daily accuracy, low maintenance overhead, long service intervals. The deployant clasp releases through side pushers and the bracelet adjusts by removing links, both of which are unremarkable in the best sense.
- Reference
- 96A190
- Brand
- Bulova
- Collection
- Classic
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 12mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Grey
- Crystal
- Mineral
- Movement
- Automatic
- Functions
- Skeleton dial
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Origin
- Made in Japan
Learn more about Bulova
Joseph Bulova, a Bohemian immigrant, opened a jewellery shop on Maiden Lane in New York in 1875 and moved into watch manufacturing in the early twentieth century, building a plant in Sag Harbor and later a substantial operation in Queens.
Bulova's instinct for firsts was commercial as much as technical. It ran the first national advertisement for a watch brand in 1926, broadcast the first radio commercial in American history — a time announcement — in 1926, and aired the first television commercial ever broadcast in 1941, paying nine dollars for the slot.
The engineering came too. The Accutron of 1960 replaced the balance wheel with a tuning fork vibrating at 360 Hz, driven electronically. It was accurate to within a minute a month, far beyond mechanical watches, and it hummed rather than ticked. NASA used Accutron timing mechanisms in spacecraft, and one was left on the Moon in the equipment package of Apollo 11.
Bulova also made an enormous contribution to American war production, supplying military timing devices, and founded a school of watchmaking for disabled veterans.
The company was acquired by Citizen in 2008. Modern collections include the Precisionist, with a high-frequency quartz movement producing a smooth sweeping seconds hand, and reissues of the Accutron and the 1970s Computron.
- 1875
- Joseph Bulova opens his New York shop.
- 1941
- Airs the first television commercial in history.
- 1960
- The Accutron tuning fork movement is released.
- 1969
- An Accutron timer is left on the Moon by Apollo 11.
- 2008
- Acquired by Citizen.
Also in 7 collections
This watch appears in the Bulova Classic range (11), Back in Stock (5,018), Stainless Steel Watches (3,307), Automatic Watches (1,811), Automatic Watches Under £500 (355), Skeleton Watches (322) and Grey Dial Watches (254).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 40mm suits most wrists
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Bulova's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 30m means keeping it away from water
Bulova 96A190 Stainless Steel alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 96A190 | RGS10081/04 | MBM3177 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £170 | £189 | £149 |
| Case size | 40mm | 40mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 50m | 50m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
No. At 30m it will survive rain and handwashing, but not submersion of any kind.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
It can, over time. Mineral glass handles daily wear but will pick up fine scratches that sapphire would not.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedWhat size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 40mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
F.Hinds is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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