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Bulova 98B432 Racer Chronograph Watch - W09345
Ref. 98B432
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The Racer Chronograph draws directly from the barrel-cased racing chronographs of the 1970s — the lineage that runs through watches like the Speedmaster Mark II — and makes no attempt to disguise the reference. The contoured case, the angled lugs that pull the 42mm diameter closer to the wrist than the number suggests, the black-and-orange tachymeter ring: this is a motorsport aesthetic pursued with some commitment rather than applied as decoration. The textured light blue dial is the most distinctive element in person. Set against it, the orange-and-white checkered minute track and the matching chronograph seconds hand read immediately as period-correct without tipping into parody. The Miyota 0S21 is a competent quartz movement, though worth knowing that it drives the central chronograph hand with the standard one-tick-per-second beat rather than the smooth-sweep calibre Bulova fits to some of its other lines. The 24-hour subdial earns its place on a dial this busy. The bracelet alternates brushed outer links with polished centres, and the dual-pusher deployant fastens with more confidence than the single-pusher clasps common at this size.
- Reference
- 98B432
- Brand
- Bulova
- Collection
- Racer Chronograph
- Case size
- 42mm
- Case thickness
- 13mm
- Lug width
- 22mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Fixed tachymeter
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- 0S21
- Functions
- Chronograph, Date, Tachymeter
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- 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 4 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (3,629), Stainless Steel Watches (3,600), Chronograph Watches (1,400) and Blue Dial Watches (991).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Bulova 98B432 Racer alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 98B432 | T1254172705100 | SSB443P1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £429 | £440 | £379 |
| Case size | 42mm | 42mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Rubber strap | 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?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
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?
22mm. 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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