Bulova Men’s Automatic Watch (98A123)

A two-tone dress watch with its movement showing. The bezel is gold-tone, the case and bracelet mix steel and gold links, and the centre of the dial is cut away over the escapement so the balance wheel is visible while the watch is on the wrist. Case and Wrist Presence Round, with a polished gold-tone bezel sitting on a lighter case body. The two metals are separated cleanly at the bezel edge rather than blended, which is what stops a two-tone watch looking muddled. The crown is fluted and gold-tone to match the bezel. Dial and Legibility Silver with a guilloche-style texture in the upper section and a raised chapter ring carrying black Roman numerals. Between the numerals and the centre runs a fine printed railway minute track. The skeleton opening takes up the lower middle of the dial, showing the wheels, the balance and its jewel. Gold hands read clearly over both the silver ground and the darker movement below. Movement and Functions The dial is marked AUTOMATIC, 21 JEWELS. A rotor inside winds the mainspring from ordinary arm movement, so daily wear keeps it running without a battery or a winding routine. Set it down for a few days and it will stop; a dozen turns of the crown or a minute of shaking starts it again. The jewels are synthetic rubies acting as low-friction bearings at the points that turn fastest. Bracelet and Fit A two-tone bracelet with gold-tone centre links between lighter outer rows, on a folding clasp, sized by removing links. Two-tone bracelets show their sizing more than plain ones because the link pattern is visible, so ask for links to come out evenly from both sides of the clasp. Who This Watch Suits Someone buying a formal watch who wants a mechanical movement rather than a battery, and does not mind the watch saying so on the dial. Two-tone works with both silver and gold jewellery, which is part of the point. Care and Maintenance A mechanical watch wants servicing every few years and it dislikes magnets and hard knocks more than a quartz one does. Keep it off speaker cabinets and away from magnetic tool trays. Wipe the bracelet dry, and if the watch starts running fast by minutes a day, have it demagnetised before assuming anything worse. About the Brand Bulova has been making watches since 1875. Its open-heart automatics sit at the traditional end of a catalogue that is otherwise mostly quartz, and they use the display opening as the whole design idea rather than as an accent. Technical Specifications Attribute Specification Brand Bulova Reference 98A123 Case shape Round Case Two-tone with gold-tone bezel Dial Silver with open-heart aperture Markers Black Roman numerals Movement Automatic, 21 jewels Bracelet Two-tone 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.