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Bulova Watches: A Buying Guide

Bulova Watches: A Buying Guide

Bulova has spent 150 years making watches that look more expensive than they are, and a few that changed watch technology. Here is how the current range works, what is on sale, and which models are worth your money.

By Michael Chen

Watch 101 and Brands Editor

October 9, 2026·4 min read

Prices checked October 9, 2026Compared across brandsHow we choose

A black and white view over the Manhattan skyline — New York, where the story starts

Bulova was founded in New York in 1875 and spent much of the twentieth century as the most technically ambitious American watch company. Its Accutron, launched in 1960, used a tuning fork instead of a balance wheel and was accurate enough to be used in the space program, and a Bulova chronograph went to the Moon in 1971. Since 2008 the brand has been owned by Citizen, and today it sits a step above Timex and alongside Citizen in price, with a stronger taste for bold design than either. One thing to know before shopping: when we checked, almost every watch on Bulova's US site was discounted, so the prices below are the current listed prices, not the higher figures printed beside them.

Watch Index · prices checked October 9, 2026

The watches in this guide, ranked

Every watch this guide mentions, ranked by Value Score or by what one watch costs today with each store's current offer counted.

What makes a Bulova different?

Three things set the brand apart from the Japanese giants it now belongs with. First, design: Bulova leans into big cases, exposed movements, crystals and gold tones in a way Seiko and Citizen rarely do. Second, the Precisionist movement, a quartz caliber that runs at a much higher frequency than a normal quartz watch, which Bulova says improves accuracy and which makes the seconds hand sweep smoothly. Third, history: Bulova has a deep archive of 1960s and 1970s designs, and a good part of the current range reissues them.

The trade off is that Bulova's sizes run large. Many men's models are 43mm or more, which is worth checking against your wrist before you order. Our guide to choosing the right watch size will save you a return.

The main Bulova lines

Sutton: automatics with an open dial

The Bulova Sutton Automatic Skeleton at $540 is the watch many people picture when they think of a modern Bulova: a 43mm steel case, a skeletonized black dial that shows the 21 jewel automatic movement, an exhibition caseback and a steel bracelet. Bulova lists a domed mineral crystal rather than sapphire. If you like seeing the mechanism, it is one of the more affordable ways to do it from an established brand, and we cover the wider field in the best skeleton watches.

Marine Star: the sporty chronograph

The Bulova Marine Star Chronograph at $500 is a large 45mm quartz chronograph with a black dial, a rotating bezel and a steel bracelet. It is a lot of watch for the money, and a lot of watch on the wrist; buyers with smaller wrists should look at the size first.

Super Seville: the 1970s reissue

The Bulova Super Seville Precisionist at $716 brings back a 1970s day date design with a TV shaped case that flows into an integrated three link bracelet, a coin edge bezel and a Precisionist movement. At 35mm it is one of the few Bulovas sized for smaller wrists, and it is the most distinctive design in the range.

Surveyor and Crystal: for women

The Bulova Surveyor 23mm at $280 is a 23mm watch with a faceted steel case, a light blue sunburst dial and a three link bracelet; Bulova lists a flat sapphire crystal. The Bulova Crystal 32mm at $396 is the more decorative option for anyone who wants a watch that reads as jewelry.

Caravelle: the lower priced line

Caravelle is the best value on Bulova's site. The Caravelle Sea Hunter Automatic at $316 is an automatic with a 39mm 316L steel case, a black dial with a date, luminous hands and markers and a rotating 60 minute bezel, with a power reserve of 42 hours according to the listing. It competes directly with the Seiko 5 Sports, and we compare the two in our Seiko 5 Sports guide.

Bulova at a glance

Model	Price*	Movement	Case	Best for
Bulova Surveyor 23mm	$280	Quartz	23mm steel	A small, sharp women's watch
Caravelle Sea Hunter Automatic	$316	Automatic	39mm 316L steel	A first automatic
Bulova Crystal 32mm	$396	Quartz	32mm	A jewelry style watch
Bulova Marine Star Chronograph	$500	Quartz chronograph	45mm steel	Large wrists, sporty style
Bulova Sutton Automatic Skeleton	$540	Automatic	43mm steel	Seeing the movement
Bulova Super Seville Precisionist	$716	Precisionist quartz	35mm steel, integrated bracelet	A 1970s design with a smooth sweep

*as listed on each brand's US website, October 2026

Bulova's US site lists a three year warranty and returns within 30 days. For more watches at these prices, see the best watches under $500, and for the brand that owns Bulova, our Citizen buying guide.

The open dial look for less

The Sutton's exposed movement is its main attraction. If that is what draws you, the Lucky Fours Skeleton offers a round steel case, a blue skeleton dial and a steel bracelet with an automatic movement for $99.99. It is a smaller, simpler watch without Bulova's history or three year warranty, but it delivers the same pleasure of watching the balance swing, for well under half the price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bulova a good watch brand?

Yes. Bulova is one of the oldest American watch brands, has been owned by Citizen since 2008, and sells quartz and automatic watches with a three year warranty from its US site. Its designs are bolder than most at the price, which suits some buyers more than others.

What is a Bulova Precisionist?

Precisionist is Bulova's high frequency quartz movement, which vibrates far faster than a standard quartz crystal. Bulova says this makes it more accurate, and it gives the seconds hand a smooth sweep rather than a tick.

Why are Bulova watches always on sale?

When we checked, nearly every watch on Bulova's US site was discounted from its listed price. Treat the sale price as the real price, and compare it with authorized retailers before buying. Our guide to spotting a real watch deal explains why.

What is Caravelle?

Caravelle is a lower priced line sold through Bulova's site. The Caravelle Sea Hunter Automatic at $316 is an automatic diver style watch with a 39mm 316L steel case.

About the Author

Michael Chen

Michael Chen covers automatic watches, watch brands and Watch 101 for WatchesUnder: how movements work, how to size and care for a watch, and how the affordable brands compare. Prices in his guides are checked against each brand's own website.