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Bulova Marine Star 96B433 "C" HPQ Precisionist Watch - W09334
Ref. 96B433
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The Marine Star line has always sat at the sportier end of Bulova's range, but the 96B433 makes a particular case for itself through its movement. Bulova's Precisionist calibre runs at 262kHz — roughly eight times the frequency of a standard quartz oscillator — which produces a continuously sweeping seconds hand and accuracy within ten seconds per year. That is a claim most mechanical watches cannot match and many quartz movements do not bother to pursue. At 43mm across with a 50mm lug-to-lug span, this reads as a substantial sports watch on the wrist, though at 12.1mm thick it carries less bulk than its 200m rating might suggest — the case profile is closer to a daily wearer than to something purpose-built for depth. The dodecagonal ceramic bezel insert is closely matched in colour to the wave-textured blue dial beneath it, which gives the watch a coherent, considered look rather than the mismatched layering that catches out some sport watches at this size. Crown guards add to the angular character without making the case feel oversized. At 188 grams the bracelet's weight is part of the wearing experience. The links are solid and sit flush against the case, though micro-adjustment on the deployment clasp is limited, so getting the fit right depends more on link removal than on the clasp itself.
- Reference
- 96B433
- Brand
- Bulova
- Collection
- Precisionist
- Case size
- 43mm
- Case thickness
- 12.10mm
- Lug width
- 22mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Octagonal
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Unidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Quartz
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 200m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 50mm
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 5 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (3,629), Stainless Steel Watches (3,600), Blue Dial Watches (991), 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
- 50mm lug-to-lug keeps the 43mm case wearable
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 43mm sits at the larger end
Bulova Marine Star 96B433 "C" alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 96B433 | T1144171705700 | 220858 41 75 50 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £399 | £445 | £279 |
| Case size | 43mm | 43mm | 44mm |
| Water resistance | 200m | 200m | 200m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Rubber 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?
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 50mm, 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.
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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