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Bulova Sutton 96A330 Automatic Blue Leather Strap Watch - W09395
Ref. 96A330
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Stepping up in the same dial colour
The Sutton collection is where Bulova explores the skeleton format without the theatrical excess that too often accompanies it. This model opens the dial in layers — the silver-toned wheelwork visible through the front, the oscillating weight through an exhibition caseback behind — while keeping the applied blue indices and matching hands in clear register, so the watch remains readable rather than purely decorative. The movement inside is the Miyota 8N26, which carries a quiet logic: Citizen owns both Miyota and Bulova, so the calibre is drawn from within the same group rather than bought in from outside. It runs for 42 hours between winds and has earned its reputation as a dependable workhorse across a long production history. At 40mm with a 12mm profile, the case sits neutrally on the wrist — present without bulk, dressed by the alligator-embossed blue leather without demanding a particular occasion for it. The domed sapphire crystal arches slightly above the case edge, adding a period-correct curvature that suits the overall tone. Luminous fill on the hands means the time remains legible in low light, though the rating here covers splashes only, and the watch should be kept out of water beyond that.
- Reference
- 96A330
- Brand
- Bulova
- Collection
- Sutton
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 12mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Silver
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 8N26
- Functions
- Skeleton dial
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Blue
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 42 hours
- 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 Sutton range (14), Back in Stock (3,629), Stainless Steel Watches (3,600), Automatic Watches (1,904), Leather Strap Watches (1,191), Silver Dial Watches (816) and Dress Watches (618).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 40mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 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 Sutton 96A330 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 96A330 | TAC00009N0 | 010-02665-00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £279 | £275 | £280 |
| Case size | 40mm | 40.5mm | 40.4mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 30m | 50m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Leather strap | Silicone strap |
| Power reserve | 42 hours | 40 hours | — |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
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 is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 42 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What 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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