Affordable
Is Bulova a good watch brand?
Yes, if you buy at street price. Bulova has real history and some genuinely interesting watches, like the Lunar Pilot and the 262 kHz Precisionist, but list prices are rarely what anyone pays.
Below, the numbers behind that: 9 current Bulova watches we've measured, what they use inside, and what they sell for once they're used.
What Bulova does well
- Heritage that's real: the Accutron tuning-fork watch of 1960 and the chronograph worn on the Moon in 1971
- Precisionist quartz is far more accurate than ordinary quartz
- Big discounts are common, so value at street price is good
What to watch out for
- Automatics use basic Japanese Miyota movements
- Many designs lean toward fashion watches; pick the heritage reissues
Is Bulova a luxury brand?
No. Bulova is a mid-priced American heritage brand, owned by Citizen since 2008, with most watches between $200 and $1,000.
What's inside
Of the 7 Bulova watches we've measured with a known movement: 5 quartz and 2 automatic. The movements are made by Bulova (6) and Miyota (1).
See every movement on its caliber page.
Do Bulova watches hold their value?
Across the 6 Bulova references we track on eBay every day, the median asking price is 70% of list. That puts Bulova at #15 of 18 brands we track; the typical brand is at 88%. That's typical for a watch: expect to give up about 30% if you sell.
Asking prices, not sold prices, from live eBay listings. See the market tracker for every reference.
Where to start with Bulova
- Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph 43.5mm 98K112
$895 list · $629 on eBay
43.5 mm case · 51 mm lug-to-lug · quartz
- Bulova Maquina Automatic 98A321
$950 list · $575 on eBay
40 mm case · — lug-to-lug · automatic
- Bulova Hack Watch 38mm 96A246
$495 list · $425 on eBay
38 mm case · 47 mm lug-to-lug
Questions
- Is Bulova a good watch brand?
- Yes, if you buy at street price. Bulova has real history and some genuinely interesting watches, like the Lunar Pilot and the 262 kHz Precisionist, but list prices are rarely what anyone pays.
- Is Bulova a luxury brand?
- No. Bulova is a mid-priced American heritage brand, owned by Citizen since 2008, with most watches between $200 and $1,000.
- Do Bulova watches hold their value?
- On eBay, Bulova watches are listed at a median 70% of their list price, across the 6 references we track daily. That ranks 15 of 18 brands we track; the median brand is at 88%.
- Where are Bulova watches made?
- Bulova is based in United States and was founded in 1875, owned by Citizen Watch Co. Of the Bulova watches we've measured, the movements come from Bulova (6), Miyota (1).