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Bulova Classic Sutton 96A268 Automatic Brown Leather Strap Watch - W09228
Ref. 96A268
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Stepping up in Bulova's range
The Sutton sits in Bulova's Classic line as a study in compression: a rectangular 33mm case that packs an automatic movement alongside a moonphase, power reserve indicator and day-date display into a format more often associated with dress simplicity. The open dial lets the movement show through the front rather than relying on a caseback window, so the mechanical action is part of the face rather than a private detail. At 33mm across a rectangular case, it wears closer to a vintage dress watch than anything assertive — proportions that suit a slimmer wrist and disappear comfortably beneath a shirt cuff. The white dial with rose-tone markers keeps the reading legible despite the complexity beneath it, and the brown leather strap on a butterfly clasp gives it a settled, broken-in character from the first wearing.
- Reference
- 96A268
- Brand
- Bulova
- Case size
- 33mm
- Case thickness
- 12.1mm
- Lug width
- 22mm
- Case material
- Two-tone
- Case shape
- Rectangular
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Unidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Solar
- Functions
- Chronograph, GMT, Day-date, Small seconds, Moonphase, Power reserve indicator, Tachymeter, Skeleton dial, Stopwatch, Countdown timer, Alarm, Backlight, World time, Perpetual calendar, Solar powered, Radio controlled, Bluetooth, Step counter, Heart rate, GPS, Compass, Thermometer, Altimeter, Tide graph, Dual display
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Bronze
- Clasp
- Butterfly clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 49mm
- Power reserve
- 42 hours
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 6 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (4,585), Watches Under 37mm (1,602), Chronograph Watches (1,145), Leather Strap Watches (1,007), Rectangular & Square Watches (442) and Skeleton Watches (309).
Temporarily out of stock
F.Hinds is not currently taking orders for this reference. Last listed as available on 25 October 2026. Stock is checked nightly and this page updates when it returns.
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 33mm wears small and slips under any cuff
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Second time zone for travelling
- Sits in the lower half of Bulova's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 30m means keeping it away from water
Price history
This watch is currently at its highest recorded price. It was £279 on 13 September. Prices are checked every day, and we record any changes.
Bulova Classic Sutton 96A268 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 96A268 | T1601101642300 | EG7120-51A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £299 | £325 | £219 |
| Case size | 33mm | 30mm | 30.7mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 50m | 30m |
| Movement | Solar | Solar | Solar |
| Strap | Leather strap | Mesh bracelet | Mesh bracelet |
| Power reserve | 42 hours | — | — |
| 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?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It charges from light, and the cell behind that is designed to last a decade or more.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedWhat size strap does it take?
22mm. 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.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 49mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Has the price changed recently?
It's currently at its highest recorded price. It's ranged between £279 and £299, today it's £299.
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