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Bulova Marine Star 96B432 "C" HPQ Precisionist Watch - EXCLUSIVE - W09337
Ref. 96B432
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The Marine Star "C" sits within Bulova's diver-oriented range but carries something the table cannot quite convey: its Precisionist movement runs at 262kHz, a frequency so far above the standard quartz oscillator that it produces a genuinely smooth sweep rather than a step, and holds accuracy to within ten seconds across a full year. That is not a marketing claim about precision in the abstract — it means the seconds hand moves like a mechanical watch while the timekeeping does not. At 43mm the case is assertive without being unwearable, and 12mm deep, which for a watch rated to 200m with a screw-down crown is restrained enough to slip under a cuff. The dial earns its depth: a textured cresting-wave pattern across the black surface catches light at an angle and gives the watch some visual movement before the red-tipped seconds hand adds its own. The ceramic insert on the unidirectional bezel resists the scratching that exposes bare aluminium on cheaper dive bezels, which matters on a watch likely to see actual use.
- Reference
- 96B432
- Brand
- Bulova
- Collection
- Precisionist
- Case size
- 43mm
- Case thickness
- 12mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Octagonal
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Unidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Quartz
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 200m
- Bracelet / strap
- Silicone strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
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 3 collections
This watch appears in Stainless Steel Watches (3,600), Sports Watches (882) and Dive Watches (634).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 200m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 43mm sits at the larger end
Bulova Marine Star 96B432 "C" alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 96B432 | T055.417.16.017.01 | 220858 41 75 50 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £379 | £369 | £279 |
| Case size | 43mm | 42mm | 44mm |
| Water resistance | 200m | 200m | 200m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Silicone strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 200m it is rated for swimming, snorkelling and recreational 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?
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.
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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