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Bulova Marine Star 98A227 Automatic Blue Resin Strap Watch - W09166
Ref. 98A227
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The Marine Star line has always sat at the point where sport utility and dress ambition overlap, and this version pulls that tension into sharper focus by pairing a blue dive-ready silicone strap with rose gold-tone plating and Roman numerals — a combination that reads more cocktail bar than boat deck, and is none the worse for it. At 45mm across and 13.45mm deep the case is substantial on the wrist, but the silicone strap keeps it light in wear, and the textured blue with its contrasting red underside adds a detail that only reveals itself when the buckle is undone. The Miyota 82S5 movement inside is built by Citizen — Bulova's parent company — which makes it a sensible, low-drama engine: it hacks, it hand-winds, and it keeps running reliably without demanding attention. The movement earns its presence, though, because the dial is designed around showing it: the open aperture at seven o'clock lets the balance wheel rock in plain view, the skeleton caseback does the same from the reverse, and the small seconds sub-dial between four and five keeps the mechanical character front and centre rather than decorative.
- Reference
- 98A227
- Brand
- Bulova
- Collection
- Marine Star
- Case size
- 45mm
- Case thickness
- 13.45mm
- Lug width
- 24mm
- Case material
- Rose gold PVD
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Mineral
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 82S5
- Functions
- Small seconds, Skeleton dial
- Water resistance
- 200m
- Bracelet / strap
- Silicone strap
- Strap colour
- Blue
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 42 hours
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 7 collections
This watch appears in the Bulova Marine Star range (12), Back in Stock (3,629), Automatic Watches (1,904), Blue Dial Watches (991), Watches 44mm and Over (977), Sports Watches (882) and Dive Watches (634).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 200m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 45mm is a large watch with real presence
Bulova Marine Star 98A227 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 98A227 | SRPE93K1 | RA-AA0003R39B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £399 | £379 | £385 |
| Case size | 45mm | 45mm | 41.8mm |
| Water resistance | 200m | 200m | 200m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Silicone strap | Silicone strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 42 hours | 41 hours | 40 hours |
| 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?
It can, over time. Mineral glass handles daily wear but will pick up fine scratches that sapphire would not.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 42 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
24mm. 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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