Bulova Precisionist 96B158 Review - This Watch Has An Incredible Secret
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Take a look at this watch. How much do you reckon it costs? I bet you're a good way off.
You see, this watch is far more affordable than you might think. It's not perfect, but I believe Bulova has created something you need to know about.
Indeed it is the classically American brand responsible for this timepiece, known as the Precisionist for reasons I'll soon get into. I've looked at two previous offerings from this Citizen subsidiary. I thought both offered solid value for money and pleasing, original designs but this one truly takes things up a notch. Thanks to Amazon for covering the cost of this piece; it's affiliate linked throughout this article if you want to check current prices.
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Dial Design
Ok, the packaging is just your standard Bulova packaging, nothing out of the ordinary there. You're quickly met with one of the most captivating dials I've ever seen.
The backdrop is constituted of a swirling backdrop of alternating dark and light lines that combine to create a compelling undulating illusion. At first, I thought these were ridges, but you can see the clever trickery in play at a macro level. The pale sections accommodate an additional sunburst effect that boots the intrigue even further, creating a glorious whirlpool of light that is a joy to mess around with.
The complexity is exaggerated by the faceted hour markers, which mystifyingly straddle across two grey rings on either side, allowing them to cast shadows on the dial beneath, something I've not seen on a watch before. As if there wasn't enough going on here, there's a raised minute track encircling everything with luminescent squares present at each hour, stacking on an extra layer of depth.
This is the most intricate dial that I've seen on an affordable watch that simultaneously manages to avoid looking cluttered. I'm generally a minimalist guy, so it's still a little busy for my taste. However, unlike such pieces as the clumsily thrown together Spinnaker Fleuss chronograph, each fragment of this Precisionist has been carefully considered to ensure it contributes to the final look and theme.
Handset & Movement
That includes the handset and movement. The main hands are very classy alpha pointers, with a dash of lume in the middle and a central strip extending into a slight rear overhang for added flair.
While they are appreciated, the standout is the sensational sweeping second hand. The Precisionist name is well and truly earned here, as the high-performance P102 quartz movement delivers a buttery smooth motion that blows everything else at this price point out of the water. This far exceeds most hi-beat automatics and is only topped by the considerably more expensive Grand Seiko' Spring Drive' in terms of fluidity. At an insane 262kHz or 16 beats per second, this Precisionist is essentially perfectly smooth to the naked eye, gliding along at an other-worldly rate. Not only does it offer one of the cleanest sweeps, but also incredible accuracy of within 10 seconds per year.
When combined with the slim construction, this movement perfectly encapsulates the benefits that quartz can offer when executed at a high level. The infinity symbol counterweight on the hand is perhaps a little gimmicky, but overall, this is still a unique inclusion on a watch at this price.
This mechanism isn't particularly glamorous under the hood, possibly highlighted by the snap-back case, which seals it off from the world. I tried to remove the rear, to get a better view; however, it's fixed so tightly that I was forced to give up to avoid scratching it.
Watch Crystal
Of course, for under $300 at the time of publishing, there have to be some cut corners, right?
There are definitely some aspects that reveal that this is, in fact, not a true luxury watch. The most obvious of those is the crystal choice. There's a basic flat mineral crystal with no decent anti-reflective coating, which is tremendously underwhelming. Frankly, there are no excuses for this when a switch to the far harder sapphire would have cost a fraction more and would have kept this Bulova looking better for longer. I think most consumers would happily pay that marginal increase at this price point.
Case Construction
Secondly, there's the case. By no means is this a hideous case; if anything, it's pretty interesting with many varying surfaces and a twin chassis effect showcased on the flanks. It looks like a case upon a case, rather like the unusual Lotus 88 F1 car from the early '80s.
Left: San Martin Watch Right: Bulova Precisionist
Nevertheless, the finishing is sub-par for the money, with a series of rounded edges where more precise ones would have been preferable and an overall standard of brushing and polishing that looks like it's been done on a budget. From range, you wouldn't notice, but alongside some less expensive Chinese-brand watches, this disparity is immediately apparent.
Drawbacks
There are a couple of other minor things. The crown showcases a wavy texture that replicates the dial but is slightly offset with the guards, and the strap, while comfortable, is also quite plasticky. This band may degrade quicker than you'd like, but it's not the worst. Additionally, all dial text is just stamped on in a rudimentary fashion.
Quality
Despite these flaws, I can honestly say that this Bulova looks more luxurious than most luxury watches that I've seen in jewelers' windows over the years, at least at the distance you'd be viewing a wrist from. The quality control on this unit seems fine, with no apparent flaws. Therefore, if you're shamelessly after an expensive-looking watch to flex with, then this Precisionist is quite frankly a no-brainer.
Dimensions
If it fits you, that is. While thin, this remains a large watch at 42mm across, and with a lug to lug of 49mm, it won't be viable if you've got thinner wrists. It also won't be any good if it disappears entirely...
Final Thoughts
You see, the final caveat is availability. Many sites have this model down as discontinued, meaning that availability could be limited. I'll try to keep the product links updated, though you may have to explore some of the other precisionist watches to fill that expensive-looking void.
If none tickle your fancy, then the elusive Casio Oceanus collection could be a viable alternative for a slight price increase.
