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Bulova Icon 98B316 Chronograph Bracelet Watch - W09142
Ref. 98B316
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 Precisionist line is where Bulova keeps its proprietary 262kHz movement — running at eight times the frequency of a standard quartz crystal, which produces a genuinely smooth sweep rather than the stepped tick most quartz hands make, and holds accuracy to within roughly ten seconds across an entire year. At 46.5mm wide and 17.5mm through the case, this is not a watch that makes quiet suggestions. The carbon-fibre weave dial sits behind a multi-layered case architecture dressed with decorative hex screws on the bezel, giving the whole thing an industrial character that the 262 grams on the wrist confirms immediately. The 300m depth rating is serious engineering beneath what reads as a tool-sport aesthetic. The bracelet clasp earns a mention: dual push-button deployment, a fold-over safety bar, and a built-in diver's extension link mean it adjusts cleanly over a wetsuit cuff without fumbling, which is the right detail on a watch rated this deep.
- Reference
- 98B316
- Brand
- Bulova
- Collection
- Precisionist
- Case size
- 46.5mm
- Case thickness
- 17.5mm
- Lug width
- 24mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Mineral
- Bezel
- Fixed
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- NN50-Y6A
- Functions
- Chronograph, Date, Tachymeter
- Water resistance
- 300m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 53mm
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 Back in Stock (3,629), Stainless Steel Watches (3,600), Chronograph Watches (1,400), Watches 44mm and Over (977), 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
- 300m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- 53mm lug-to-lug keeps the 46.5mm case wearable
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- One of Bulova's more premium watches
Worth knowing
- 46.5mm is a large watch with real presence
- 17.5mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
Bulova Icon 98B316 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 98B316 | T1204171109101 | YA136204B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £679 | £565 | £599 |
| Case size | 46.5mm | 45.5mm | 45mm |
| Water resistance | 300m | 300m | 200m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Stainless steel 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 300m 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?
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?
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.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 53mm, which suits wrists from roughly 17.5cm (7 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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