Tap the image to enlarge
Bulova Icon 96B416 Black Strap Watch - W09317
Ref. 96B416
See more premium optionsHide
Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
98A178 Maquina Automatic Gold Tone Bracelet Watch - W09356£359
98A291 Modern Millennia Ceramic Bracelet Watch - W09249£359
Marine Star 98A272 Automatic Black Silicone Strap Watch - W09354£399
98A177 Classic Automatic Black Resin Strap Watch - W09131£419
98A224 Stainless Steel Automatic Skeleton Dial Bracelet Watch - W09165£419
The Icon line exists to give the Precisionist movement a home that fits a normal wrist. Earlier Precisionist watches ran large — 45mm and beyond — which put the movement's party piece, that 262 kHz frequency producing a genuinely fluid sweep rather than the usual quartz tick, on a case too wide for many to wear. At 40mm with a 47mm lug-to-lug span, this reference corrects that, though 14mm of thickness means it still carries weight and presence; it is not a dress watch wearing a sporty movement, but a deliberate object that happens to have become wearable. The multi-level dial and sloped bezel give the black face a sculptural quality that shifts with the angle of light, and the curved crystal follows the case geometry rather than sitting flat across it. The double-deployant clasp on the leather strap is a practical choice that reduces the daily stress on the leather at the buckle hole, keeping the strap in better condition over time — a small decision that matters more than it first appears.
- Reference
- 96B416
- Brand
- Bulova
- Collection
- Icon
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 14mm
- Lug width
- 22mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Fixed
- Movement
- Quartz
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 47mm
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 4 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (3,629), Stainless Steel Watches (3,600), Leather Strap Watches (1,191) and Dress Watches (618).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 40mm suits most wrists
- 47mm lug-to-lug keeps the 40mm case wearable
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 14mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
- Leather does not suit regular contact with water
Bulova Icon 96B416 Black Strap alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 96B416 | T137.410.16.041.00 | SUR375P1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £299 | £299 | £320 |
| Case size | 40mm | 40mm | 40.2mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Leather strap | Leather strap | Titanium bracelet |
| This watch | Closely matched | Closely matched |
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
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?
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 47mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16cm (6¼ 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, 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.
More Bulova watches like the Icon 96B416 Black Strap
In stock, and close on style and price
