Bulova Men’s Watch (98B235)

A plain three-hand dial with a date, wrapped in a case and bracelet that are anything but plain. The dial itself is flat black with pale luminous batons; all the decoration is kept outside the crystal. Case and Wrist Presence Round and gold-tone, with two rows of crystals set into the bezel. The bracelet carries the same treatment in panels, so the stones appear in blocks along the wrist rather than in a continuous line. The case is slim for a watch this wide, which keeps it under a cuff. Dial and Legibility Matte black, which is the right choice here – a busy case needs a still dial. Applied luminous batons mark the hours with a small dot beside each one, an oversized applied 12 sits at the top, and the outer edge carries a fine printed minute track. Gold hands with luminous inserts. A framed date window sits at three. Black and gold gives you high contrast in daylight, and the luminous fill takes over in the dark. Movement and Functions Quartz, with hours, minutes, a sweep seconds hand and the date. Nothing else, which is a deliberate choice on a watch carrying this much surface decoration: sub-dials would have competed with the bezel. Bracelet and Fit A gold-tone bracelet with set panels among the plain links, closing on a folding clasp and sized by removing links. When links come out of a patterned bracelet the pattern shifts, so it is worth having a jeweller take them evenly from both sides so the set panels stay symmetrical around the clasp. Who This Watch Suits A wearer who wants presence from the metal and legibility from the dial. It is a dressier watch than its size suggests, and the plain black face means it still tells the time at a glance. Care and Maintenance Gold-tone plating and set stones both want the same care: keep the watch dry, wipe it after wearing, and stay out of chlorinated water. A soft brush lifts dust from the settings. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners entirely and have the settings checked whenever the battery is replaced. About the Brand Bulova has made watches since 1875 and has long run a crystal-set line beside its plainer models. Its usual approach – as here – is to leave the dial simple and put the stones on the metal. Technical Specifications Attribute Specification Brand Bulova Reference 98B235 Case shape Round Case Gold-tone, crystal-set bezel Dial Black Markers Applied luminous batons Date Window at 3 Movement Quartz Bracelet Gold-tone with crystal-set panels Gender Men’s Warranty 24 months Buying With Confidence Movement cover runs for 24 months under the international manufacturer warranty, with the battery and ordinary wear excluded. Every watch leaves us new and unworn, boxed with the manufacturer’s paperwork, and goes out by tracked courier anywhere in the country. An unworn watch in its original packaging can be returned under the Consumer Protection Act.