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Bulova Marine Star 96P248 Series "B" Bracelet Watch - W83213
Ref. 96P248
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Stepping up in Bulova's range
The Marine Star line has long been Bulova's argument that a watch built for water needs no visual compromise on land. The 96P248 makes that case with particular ease: 100m rated, yet at 9mm it sits flat enough against the wrist to disappear under a cuff, and the 36mm round case reads as jewellery without abandoning its brief. The mother-of-pearl dial does what that material does best in different light — shifting between near-white and a cool, faintly iridescent blue depending on the angle — while four diamonds set into the notched bezel give the whole thing a quiet formality. The butterfly clasp on the bracelet opens cleanly and closes flush, which at this water rating is the right way to do it.
- Reference
- 96P248
- Brand
- Bulova
- Collection
- Case Size
- Case size
- 36mm
- Case thickness
- 9mm
- Lug width
- 18mm
- Case material
- Two-tone
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Unidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Solar
- Functions
- Chronograph, GMT, Day-date, Small seconds, Moonphase, Power reserve indicator, Tachymeter, Skeleton dial, Stopwatch, Countdown timer, Alarm, Backlight, World time, Perpetual calendar, Solar powered, Radio controlled, Bluetooth, Step counter, Heart rate, GPS, Compass, Thermometer, Altimeter, Tide graph, Dual display
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Mesh bracelet
- Strap colour
- Bronze
- 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 6 collections
This watch appears in Watches Under 37mm (1,656), Women's Watches (1,575), Chronograph Watches (1,258), Mesh Bracelet Watches (242), Skeleton Watches (220) and GMT Watches (199).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 36mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Second time zone for travelling
Compare alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 96P248 | BM8180-62E | SNE525P1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £195 | £149 | £175 |
| Case size | 36mm | 36.5mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Solar | Solar | Solar |
| Strap | Mesh 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?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It charges from light, and the cell behind that is designed to last a decade or more.
What size strap does it take?
18mm. 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, though at 36mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
F.Hinds is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference new, at £195. 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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