I Bought The World's Cheapest Bulova...But Is It Any Good?

In this Bulova watch review video, I showcase the cheapest Bulova watch available in the UK. I got this one for a ridiculous £30, but is it any good? Let's find out together! The codename for this watch is 96B276.

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#cantpronounce #tigerking

The watch featured was purchased with my own money. The Argos listing is no longer available.

Ben's Watch Club tends to cover affordable watches like Seiko, Timex, Casio, Citizen, MVMT, Vincero, Bulova, Orient, Hamilton, and more. We rarely feature luxury watches like Rolex, Patek Philippe, Breitling, Tag Heuer, Tudor, Grand Seiko, Cartier, Omega, Audemars Piguet, or Hublot due to their price.

[BensWatchClub]

The original Argos UK listing is no longer accessible, so other retailers won't match that price without a heavy discount or sale. Nevertheless, my opinions on appropriate pricing for the watch are later in the video, so keep watching!
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[tungstentickler]

This where people dipping their toes into watches need to be. Bulova citizen seiko orient Casio timex Hamilton tissot are all excellent and watches worth every penny. Much better than getting burned by a fashion brand or a micro.

[viddykhaos]

"Most YouTubers, don't go outside", said Dumbledore calmly

[speedmastermarkiii]

I found a 1951 stainless steel "selfwinding" Bulova in a charity shop for 8 dollars about ten years ago. I bought it for parts but when i wound it, it starting running and it hasn't given up the ghost yet. The thing probably hasn't been serviced in decades.

[jabezhane]

I got my first Bulova this time last year. A black Lunar Pilot. A really tough build for a chrono and probably the most accurate watch I have. I set it to my PC and it gains like 2 seconds A YEAR! Makes mechanicals look like crude toys. However, not for those with marmoset wrists, though mine is only 6.5" and I wear it on a black Pebro Bund strap. A mate of mine that owns a Speedmaster Pro was so impressed he bought the same one too. Would like to check out an original Accutron so I can hear the hum rather than a tick.

[novaonyt]

30 pounds! Sounds like a bargain. Good thing we have Ben to review this.

[ronaldwilliams]

I bought one in August of 2019 and I am still running on the original battery. I like the size because I can read it without using reading glasses. I personally like the styling and it is comfortable to wear. It has the quartz accuracy and for me it is the perfect watch. Also an excellent value.

[galil_]

Hey you should check out a Bulova with the "262 kHz movement". I feel like these watches don't get enough attention dispite having some of the smoothest sweeping seconds hands in the world (over 57 000 beats per minute) for really cheap prices. You can find models like the Precisionist 96B158 for way under 200$

[peakrider]

Hi Ben. Thanks for the mention and the review is pretty consistent with my impressions of the watch as well, and I certainly wouldn't put this down as a watch that is "worth" over £50-60, but I'm glad I made the suggestion and you got to pick it up and review it. I've added a couple of further watches to my collection, both of which I think are very good and represent excellent value for money. They are at higher price points, but the Heimdallr Monster/Sharkey is now my daily wearer and I picked it up directly from their store for about £120. The other which I think is outstanding is my Phoibos Wavemaster; up again in price, but my goodness what a watch. I got the date version with a green dial, and it's beautiful and so solidly built. Great engineer bracelet, lovely smooth bezel action, and the NH35 hits +\- 0 seconds a day. It is a little on the heavy side, but as I said it adds to the feeling of solid build quality.

[ktanner]

Can we ever get a review of a middling brand? Not meming either I want to see some 1k Swiss thing compared to 200 Chinese watches whose fit and finish has improved

[stevefox]

35 quid is a bargain - damn shame it's so big, it'd be an excellent introduction to watches for kids otherwise.
Cheers Ben 👍🏻👍🏻

[GinkgoJoe]

Good to see a 0 instead of the usual 24 on the inner dial markings -- nice touch.

[MrCwdawg]

Fair review! Post college Bulova became one of my first go-to watch brands when I had a tighter budget. The value amongst their lower priced watches and the higher price watches is pretty good.
The company was bought out by Citizen in 2008. The design still carries a classic element Americana to them, but Citizen is still trying to figure out how to market it into their whole collection. I think Citizen's original intention was to make Bulova be the more budget brand of Citizen, so they wouldn't dilute the brand recognition of Citizen. However, Bulova has a small following and they already started development of high frequency quartz movements. Since then, they seem to have used the brand to occasionally sell some watches with Swiss movements and created the Caravelle sub-brand to capture a cheaper market.

What I really wish is if elements of the two-companies could marry together. I'd love to have a Bulova designed watch with a 262 kHz movement and a seconds sweep with an Eco-Drive and Citizen's time-zone changing models.

[SoCalWatchReviews]

Ben, you can make any watch look great with the high quality of your production! Keep it up 😊

[daniellondon]

Great video, Ben. Below 75 Pounds that watch is OK. The Bulova I like is the Chronograph A "Surfboard" 98A252. But at 449 Pounds is extremely expensive for a Quartz watch. If it were 200-250, it would be great.

[lucafwn]

A bit like a Lorus or a Pulsar for Seiko. Which is a compliment. At €60 or around, I would buy and enjoy it.

[notyourgrandadswatch]

I really really like the simplicity of this dial. Those sword hands work well... as well. Great review.

[larryfromwisconsin]

A nice "easy reader" watch for the elderly -- who remember when Bulova was a true luxury brand. I had a family heirloom 1947 Gold Bulova that I have already passed down to my son. But for a night time easy reader I will probably be getting a Timex Weekender with the Indiglo backlight. Keep the low and moderate price content coming. Actually there is a high price watch program I want you to look into, the Breitling Watches Leasing Program.

[jamesmustin]

Frankly speaking these watch companies are missing out on a lot of sales by making the watches to damn big. I am like you with a thin
Wrist. I wear vintage Omega watch’s. I am wearing a 1949 Omega Tressor in 18k rose gold with a black face. I have 2k in it.
It is pristine shape. A modern version of the this watch is $16, 500. I believe mine is a 34mm. The watch is 72 years old and runs everyday. So since I have small wrists, I wear Omega vintage watch’s. I have a collection of them!

[jezzareid]

A Bulova on the wrist for 30 quid. Bargain!