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Bulova Crystal 96L280 Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch - W83149
Ref. 96L280
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Stepping up in Bulova's range
Bulova's Crystal collection sits at the point where watchmaking and jewellery overlap, and the 96L280 makes that case with 56 Swarovski crystals arranged as hour markers across the silver dial. The effect in direct light is considerable; in shade, the dial reads cleanly as a dress watch rather than a showpiece. At 28mm wide and 7mm deep, this wears much closer to a fine bracelet than to anything sporty, and the high-polished integrated bracelet continues that impression from the wrist to the hand. The deployant clasp with twin push-button release is a practical touch on a watch otherwise devoted to appearance, and it opens the piece to people who find standard fold-overs fiddly to undo.
- Reference
- 96L280
- Brand
- Bulova
- Case size
- 28mm
- Case thickness
- 7mm
- Lug width
- 14mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Silver
- Crystal
- Mineral
- Bezel
- Fixed
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- 2035
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Gem set
- Yes
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.
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 28mm wears small and slips under any cuff
- 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
Compare alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 96L280 |  RY4686 |  11028-904 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £100 | £100 | £99 |
| Case size | 28mm | 28mm | 28mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 30m | 30m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel 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?
No. At 30m it will survive rain and handwashing, but not submersion of any kind.
Will the glass scratch?
It can, over time. Mineral glass handles daily wear but will pick up fine scratches that sapphire would not.
Does it need a battery?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
What size strap does it take?
14mm. 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 women'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.
Who are F.Hinds?
F.Hinds has been run by the same family since 1856 and is now in its fifth generation, with more than 115 shops across England and Wales. They are a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and an Authorised Diamond Dealer.
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