Its not that often that I get so impressed by an ‘affordable’ watch that I thought this little beauty deserved it’s own little write up here!
Overview:
- Case Diameter: 43mm
- Lug width: 22mm
- Crown: Push/pulltype at 3 o’clock
- Date: Date only at 3 o’clock
- Crystal: Mineral glass
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Movement: Japanese Quartz
The first thing that struck me about the watch when I opened the box (the box by the way is a simple affair, good quality with a little storage slot to keep warranty cards and spare links etc), was the bracelet. The H link bracelet and Bulova stamped clasp just don’t feel like they belong on a watch that can be had for under £200! It has a really nice weight to it and after removing a few links is supremely comfortable on the wrist.
The 2nd thing that struck me about the watch is the face/dial. On first glance its a really well executed 3 hand watch. It has the sort of look that makes it a really versatile piece. The sort of watch that wouldn’t look out of place in the board room or at the pool. It’s when you take a closer look though that you start to notice some o the watches best features. For example, I love the way the lume filled, rectangular hour plots sit inside little recesses in the chapter ring. I also really like the hand set, the seconds hand has a little lolly pop feature at its base, and the tip is also lumed. The minute hand is lume filled and sword shaped whilst the hour hand is lume filled and also has a little lolly pop feature before returning sword shaped when pointing at the hours.
Couple all of the above with the jet black dial and signed crown, with its simple ‘BULOVA Marine Star’ text and the 100m water resistance circled by stars at 6 o’clock and this certainly looks like a watch that should be in a much higher price bracket. Granted, it’s probably not the highest grade quartz movement ticking away inside but at least I know that its going to be accurate when I take it out of the box to wear!
The bezel is of your usual dive watch style, it has a nice firm 160 click rotation with little, if any rock back, and contrary to what my photos show it can line up perfectly at 12!
The lume isn’t to shabby either.
If I were to have any reservations or anything negative to say about this watch, it would be that the name Marine Star would suggest that this was a full on dive watch in which case a higher water resistance and screw down might have been nice, but then in saying that how many people (barring professional divers) are ever going to take this watch any deeper than the deep end of their local swimming pool!
