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Bulova Marine Star 98A302 Automatic Bracelet Watch - W09311
Ref. 98A302
Sits in Bulova’s upper tier here — more premium than three quarters of the Bulova watches we list, which start at £100.
Price range £100 to £1,250 across 120 Bulova watches in stock.The Marine Star line has always sat at the sportier end of Bulova's catalogue, and this generation leans into that without apology. The open-heart aperture at five o'clock is the defining choice: rather than simply offering a mechanical movement, it frames the balance wheel as part of the dial, the orange accent on the small-seconds sub-dial pulling the eye between the two. The 82S5 inside is a Miyota — built by Citizen, Bulova's parent — and earns its reputation not through complication but through durability and straightforward serviceability over a long working life. At 45mm with a 24mm lug width and a bracelet that integrates flush with the case rather than sitting proud of it, this is a substantial watch that distributes its 218.9 grams more evenly than the raw weight suggests. The blue dial works two textures simultaneously — sunray on the outer track, sunburst at the centre — which means it reads differently depending on where the light catches it, the two zones shifting at different speeds as the wrist moves. The screw-down crown is the hardware detail that earns the 200-metre rating credibility; this is a watch that can be used in the water rather than merely tolerating a splash.
- Reference
- 98A302
- Brand
- Bulova
- Collection
- Marine Star
- Case size
- 45mm
- Lug width
- 24mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Mineral
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 82S5
- Functions
- Small seconds, Skeleton dial
- Water resistance
- 200m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 42 hours
- Origin
- Made in Japan
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), Stainless Steel Watches (3,600), Automatic Watches (1,904), Blue Dial Watches (991), Watches 44mm and Over (977) and Sports Watches (882).
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
- One of Bulova's more premium watches
Worth knowing
- 45mm is a large watch with real presence
Bulova Marine Star 98A302 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 98A302 | SRPE99K1 | GM-B2100BD-1AER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £449 | £429 | £549 |
| Case size | 45mm | 45mm | 44mm |
| Water resistance | 200m | 200m | 200m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 42 hours | 41 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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