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Bulova Jet Star 96B415 Bracelet Watch - W09357
Ref. 96B415
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The Jet Star name goes back to 1973, and this Archive Series piece reproduces the original "F" model's case architecture with close fidelity — the angular, cushion-shaped form with its broad faceted planes is not a loose interpretation but a deliberate reconstruction. What sits inside, however, is not a period movement: the Miyota NM10 runs at 262 kHz, far above the standard quartz frequency, which produces the sweeping seconds hand the dial deserves and holds accuracy to ±5 seconds per month. The grey sunburst dial shifts with the light in the way that finish is supposed to, and the gold-tone applied indices and baton hands give it a period warmth that suits the case. On the bracelet, alternating brushed and polished links pick up the same contrast the case plays between its finished surfaces. The butterfly clasp sits low, and quick-release spring bars mean the bracelet can be changed without tools — practical without being showy about it.
- Reference
- 96B415
- Brand
- Bulova
- Collection
- Jet Star
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 13mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Grey
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- Miyota NM10
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Butterfly clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Strap
- Interchangeable
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 2 collections
This watch appears in Stainless Steel Watches (3,600) and Grey Dial Watches (283).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
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
- 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
Bulova Jet Star 96B415 Bracelet alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 96B415 | TW2Y24600 | T1434101104100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £319 | £280 | £280 |
| Case size | 40mm | 40mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 50m | 50m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Showering yes, swimming no. 50m covers splashes and brief immersion, but a swimming stroke generates well above the pressure that figure describes.
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?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
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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