Bulova Watch (96B221)

Crystals set across the bezel and down the bracelet, with a plain grey dial in the middle of them. The restraint on the dial is what makes the rest of it work – put a busy face behind that much sparkle and the watch would have nowhere to rest. Case and Wrist Presence A round stainless steel case with a bezel paved in small clear crystals, so the front of the watch is ringed in light before you reach the dial at all. The crown sits at three. Because the stones cover the bezel and the bracelet links but not the case sides, the watch keeps a normal steel profile from the side and only shows what it is doing from above. Dial and Legibility Charcoal grey with a subtle sunray finish that lightens near the centre and deepens at the edge. A large Arabic 12 sits at the top with applied polished batons at the other hours, and there is a framed date window at three. The hands are polished steel, the minute hand long enough to reach the track at the rim. Grey is an underrated dial colour: it gives high contrast against silver markers without the glare of a white dial or the flatness of a black one. Movement and Functions Hours, minutes, seconds and a date set from the crown. Nothing else, and on a watch carrying this much decoration that is a sensible division of labour – the bezel and bracelet are the ornament, the dial is the instrument. Bracelet and Fit A steel bracelet with crystals set into the outer link sections and polished steel centres, on a folding clasp. It is sized by removing links, which needs a jeweller. Fit matters more than usual here: a stone-set bracelet left loose slides against itself constantly, and that is exactly how set stones work free over time. Who This Watch Suits Someone who wants an evening watch that still reads the time properly. The grey dial and the date keep it usable; the stones make sure it is not mistaken for a plain steel watch. Care and Maintenance Check the settings occasionally by running a fingernail across them – a stone that has begun to move is easy to catch early and expensive to replace late. Clean the bezel and bracelet with a soft dry brush; hand cream and soap residue dull set stones faster than anything else. Rinse and dry after contact with salt or chlorine. A watchmaker should handle the battery and reseat the gasket. About the Brand Bulova was founded in 1875 as a jewellery house before it became a watchmaker, which is worth remembering when you look at a piece like this. Stone setting is not a late addition to what the brand does; it is where the brand started. Technical Specifications Attribute Specification Brand Bulova Reference 96B221 Case shape Round Case Stainless steel Bezel Crystal-set Dial Grey Markers Arabic 12 with applied batons Date Window at three Bracelet Crystal-set stainless steel 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.