Bulova Marine Star Men’s Chronograph Watch (98B127)

The steel version of Bulova’s Marine Star chronograph, with a black ring set into the bezel and a black rubber strap. Everything about the case is built around keeping the crown and pushers out of harm’s way. Case and Wrist Presence A round polished steel case with a scalloped bezel, a black insert running around the inside of it, and black screw heads at the quarters. On the right, a raised shoulder shields the crown and the two chronograph pushers, which is why the watch looks asymmetric from above. The case is thick and it wears its full size. Dial and Legibility Black with a fine radial texture. Large white Roman numerals ring the dial, with the twelve and six oversized. The two upper registers are ringed in white and the running seconds sits low at six, drawn as a plain cross. A date window in a white frame sits between four and five. The central chronograph hand is tipped red at the tail; the hour and minute hands are broad, filled and outlined, which is what keeps them separate from the numerals on a busy dial. Movement and Functions Quartz chronograph. Start, stop and reset with the two pushers: the central sweep hand counts seconds, the upper registers collect the minutes and hours. Running seconds sit in their own small dial so the timing hand can rest at zero without leaving you wondering whether the watch has stopped. Date set from the crown. Strap and Fit Black rubber on a pin buckle, moulded with a slight taper. Rubber suits a heavy case: it grips the wrist rather than sliding, and it does not soak up sweat the way leather does. Adjust it in whole holes, and if the case rocks when you turn your hand over, go one hole tighter. Who This Watch Suits Someone who wants a chronograph that reads as a tool rather than as jewellery. Steel, black and rubber is the most neutral combination in the range, and Roman numerals give it a bit more formality than a numeral-free sports dial. Care and Maintenance Rinse and dry after swimming, and never work the pushers or unscrew the crown while the watch is wet. Steel scratches and it polishes back; rubber perishes slowly in strong sun, so store the watch out of a window. Have the seals seen to whenever the battery is changed. About the Brand Founded in 1875, Bulova reserves the Marine Star name for its water-resistant sports models. The guarded crown and screwed bezel on this case are the line’s signatures. Technical Specifications Attribute Specification Brand Bulova Collection Marine Star Reference 98B127 Case shape Round Case Stainless steel with black bezel ring Dial Black Markers Roman numerals Functions Chronograph, date Movement Quartz Strap Black rubber Gender Men’s Warranty 24 months Buying With Confidence The watch carries a 24-month international manufacturer warranty on the movement; the battery and normal wear fall outside it. It ships new and unworn in its original box with the manufacturer’s paperwork, travels on a tracked nationwide courier, and the Consumer Protection Act gives you the right to return an unworn watch in its original packaging.