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Bulova Marine Star 98R234 Two Tone Diamond Bracelet Watch - W8397
Ref. 98R234
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Stepping up in Bulova's range
The Marine Star sits where sport and dress overlap — a line Bulova has always treated seriously, producing pieces that can follow a wearer from a swimming pool to an evening without looking out of place in either. This 32mm case is among its more refined entries in that tradition, with 23 hand-set diamonds split between the bezel and the mother-of-pearl dial, and rose gold-tone PVD threaded through the two-tone bracelet as central links rather than a full plating — a quieter way of introducing colour that lets the natural iridescence of the dial do the work. At 98 grams the bracelet has real presence on the wrist, and the double push-button deployant clasp — designed to open from both sides without needing a nail — means it fastens and releases cleanly. The Miyota 2117 inside is a Citizen-built movement, unglamorous but honest: it holds roughly ±15 seconds a month, which is the kind of reliability that requires nothing from the wearer and asks for nothing in return.
- Reference
- 98R234
- Brand
- Bulova
- Collection
- Marine Star
- Case size
- 32mm
- Case thickness
- 10mm
- Lug width
- 16mm
- Case material
- Two-tone
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Mother-of-pearl
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- 2117
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Two-tone
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Gem set
- Yes
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 the Bulova Marine Star range (12), Back in Stock (3,629), Watches Under 37mm (1,939), Women's Watches (1,819), Two-Tone Watches (540) and Diamond Watches (123).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 32mm wears small and slips under any cuff
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Bulova Marine Star 98R234 Two alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 98R234 | H32301171 | T1222231103300 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £399 | £390 | £380 |
| Case size | 32mm | 32mm | 32mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 50m | 50m |
| 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 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?
16mm. 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 women'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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