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Bulova Marine Star 98B466 Automatic Bracelet Watch - W09404
Ref. 98B466
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Marine Star name goes back decades in Bulova's catalogue, and the Series B redesign was an effort to keep that heritage while shedding the bulk that older references carried. At 47.5mm lug to lug the case sits closer to the wrist than most dive watches at 41mm manage, which means it reads as a serious tool watch without dominating a medium-sized wrist or catching on a cuff. The blue sunray dial fades toward black at the edges, an effect that changes character entirely under different light — flat indoor light flattens it out, but angled sun pulls the gradient apart. The bi-colour aluminium bezel insert, split between blue and black, picks up that same contrast rather than fighting it. The Miyota 8215 inside is a Citizen-built movement, which matters here because Citizen is also Bulova's parent company — the choice is not a compromise but a deliberate use of in-house supply. It runs at 21,600vph and keeps going for 42 hours unworn. The bracelet repays attention. The H-link alternates brushed and polished finishing, and the clasp carries both a dive extension and three micro-adjustment positions, so fit stays correct across a wetsuit sleeve or a bare wrist without tools.
- Reference
- 98B466
- Brand
- Bulova
- Collection
- Marine Star
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 13mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Unidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- Miyota 8215
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 200m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 47.5mm
- 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), Stainless Steel Watches (3,600), Automatic Watches (1,904), Blue Dial Watches (991), 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
- 47.5mm lug-to-lug keeps the 41mm case wearable
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Bulova Marine Star 98B466 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 98B466 | RA-AA0003R39B | HDB006K1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £369 | £385 | £360 |
| Case size | 41mm | 41.8mm | 41mm |
| Water resistance | 200m | 200m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 42 hours | 40 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?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
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?
20mm. 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 47.5mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ 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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