Mesmerizing. That’s the best word to describe the sweep of the mighty Bulova Precisionist. It’s a quartz watch with an insanely smooth second hand, only bettered by the 50x more expensive Grand Seiko Spring Drive movements.
While it does reduce battery life, resulting in a larger battery required to power it, it does provide insane levels of accuracy, only surpassed by smart devices or radio-controlled timepieces. I’d love to see this type of movement feature in more affordable watches in the future.
The movement alone is impressive enough, though the 96B158 also has a captivating, swirling pattern that draws your eyes in a way that few rivals do at this price.
As a result of the above inclusions, Bulova did cut some corners. The case finishing is underwhelming, and the crystal is only mineral, which will accrue scratches. Additionally, the stock leather strap is suspiciously plasticky. Still, if you can handle the size of this 42mm Bulova, it’s a truly distinctive piece to add to your collection.
Bulova Precisionist 96B158 Specifications:
42mm diameter
49mm lug to lug
9mm thickness (including domed crystal)
Stainless steel case
Precisionist hi-beat movement
30m water resistant
Mineral crystal
Leather strap
