To Bulova or Not to Bulova....that is the question!

A vintage Bulova vintage can be something special, whereas most of the modern ones (sorry) are mall watches. I say that as the owner of a Bulova hack. If you can find a quality local maker that can properly sort a vintage one, that would be where I spend my effort. There are some far more knowledgable Bulova fans that can weigh in. My take to your questions:

1. Both? Technology has improved and they will likely last longer, but the craftsmanship is likely down.

2. The value is in the owner. Having a vintage prime Bulova is cool.

3. Likely a money-in and money-out situation. They have probably settled on a price at this point.

4. Not an expert, but I love the original Accutrons.

Bulova is owned by Citizen and they do not correct anyone from thinking they get Swiss like the old days. Still a quality product though.

I am no way a seasoned Bulova owner. My only experiences are with my father-in-law's Bulova watch (90s?) and my own Bulova Lunar Pilot.

1. I'm not necessarily impressed with my father-in-law's watch. Then again, I think the Lunar Pilot is the best watch from Bulova, so I may be biased.

2. The old school military watches like the Hacks and the old Accutrons are really cool. I don't think there are any good examples from the 90s or the early 2000s, but I am open to being corrected.

3. I don't think you'd buy a Bulova because you're thinking the used price will go up or even hold - just like any other watch companies not named Rolex, AP, or Patek.

4. The best men's watch from Bulova is still Bulova Lunar Pilot - the new blue version looks great. I like the Precisionist movement, but I personally think they're ugly. (My personal opinion only.) I have no idea about the women's watches.

Absolutely love my Bulova Lunar Pilot!

Vintage is my recommendation (surprise). They are affordable, watchmakers can work on them, and there are endless styles to choose from.

Modern Bulova under Citizen is like a great old rock band who continues to tour and play their greatest hits. It's not like seeing them in their prime.

Very good points. I wish they had more for automatic movements. I do see they are a myiota quartz so it isn't the worst but I don't think I will pay retail I will find one that is half off and go that route.

I just learned that last night. I didn't realize how much citizen bought up. Explains why it's all Japan movements now.

I am more looking at the value from a common sense take. If you buy a rolex you know there is always a market and it will be appreciated and may appreciate more as time goes on. I also find the words affordable and $300 price tag for a small accessory laughable but I come from humble beginnings in life. I however am more curious is it even worth that $300 price tag or is it of $30 ligie quality hiding under a high price point. Buying a longines was a no Brainer but paying over $100 for something that is just going wear out and break down is just not in my mindset. Every watch I have is well thought out and isn't purchased in the moment. I think it out and search high and low before I bust my wallet out.

I don't think the watches will break down. My father-in-law's watch, although unimpressive, is still ticking (quartz). He just replaces the battery on it. My Lunar Pilot is going strong, and it's ... 3 or 4 years old. I did replace the battery just now. All that to say, they don't seem like disposable watches.

If you're getting a new Bulova, to the chagrin of @Aurelian , my recommendation is to get a piece that sets Bulova apart such as the Precisionist movement watches where the second hand sweeps like a high beat mechanical watches (almost like a GS Spring Drive) or the Lunar Pilot watches. Also, you should take a look at the Archive Series watches like the Chronograph A (aka the Surfboard).

To @Aurelian 's point, though, I think all the cool watches are in the Archive Series of the Bulova catalog, which are all revivals of their prime year watches. As for me, after dealing with one vintage Omega (from my dad) where I spent way too much money to restore, I'm staying away from all vintage watches until I know how to service watches myself, which may or may not ever happen.

Godspeed with your shopping.

• I love Bulova but they are hit or miss. Some stuff they put out is like past-peak Movado, that'll end up in the jewelry section of TJ Maxx. Other times, they crush it. When they are right on, they hit it right out of the park.

I love my devil diver, but it is a reissue of an old model. I feel like they're mostly meh but there's some diamond in the rough. I saw one of these bad boys in person at a local AD and became obsessed with it. The Sinatra line is cool, I'd say avoid paying full price and it's worth it.

Many vintage Bulova watches are lovely, newer models, well..., not so much IMO.

It's worth remembering that Bulova used to be a huge thing in the past with models spanning every genre and style so it's relatively easy to find a watch that will fit you perfectly. The modern models are definitively not the same, which is why they spun out the Accutron brand to promote higher tier models.

Vintage ones are definitely worthwhile.

Modern Bulova... Oh, how low the mighty have fallen! Most of them look like fashion watches, and those that don't...there's always something wrong with them. The Lunar Pilot has a great base calibre, but an under-engineered Miyota chrono module with snail-slow reset. Lunar Pilot money can buy a nice Certina Precidrive chrono, which outclasses the Lunar Pilot in every way, if we're talking of specs alone.

They also didn't get the "we don't want hockey pucks anymore" memo. The Lunar Pilot is 45mm, with a lug-to-lug like that 43mm "Small Big Pilot" from IWC, and the call to shrink that dinner plate they answered with a 43.5mm saucer.

The recent Astronaut "reissue" was absolutely cringe to me. I mean, a bog-standard SW-330 in a watch branded as Accutron, which name already should oblige it to be electronic/quartz. And the price tag... I wonder what psychotropic stuff are the people at Bulova taking, but if that watch and its price aren't a wake-up call for them to go to rehab, I wonder what is... Then there are the absolutely horrible 8-series Miyotas for Powermatic 80 money, and above that, Bulova graciously offers a bog-standard SW-200 for Longines money. How about no, dear Bulova?

Bulova no longer has a design language to speak of, it's a brand that's confused beyond measure, and they seem to have made a habit of not even trying to do right by their past glories, which they revisit with insipid and under-engineered toys.

Bulova is dead to me.

what he said 👆