Bulova

Bulova Men's 98C62 Marine Star Watch

• Quality Japanese-quartz movement
• Mineral crystal
• Stainless-steel case; blue dial; day-and-date functions
• Water-resistant to 660 feet (200 M)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Outstanding performance and rugged good looks distinguish this masculine-looking watch from Bulova's Marine Star series. The attractive navy blue dial features three-hand function with luminous hands and markers for easy reading in the dark. It also offers a red-tipped sweep second hand and a day/date window at the three o'clock position. The dial is housed in a generous solid steel case and framed by a unidirectional rotating bezel for measuring elapsed time. The bezel has a blue enamel surface with a dive time scale and attractive and coin-edge detailing. The watch presents on a rugged link bracelet of brushed and polished steel fastens with a foldover buckle and safety clasp. Other notable features include precise quartz movement, a screw-down crown, and a scratch-resistant mineral crystal. Water-resistant to 200 meters, this watch is suitable for swimming and recreational scuba diving.

The Bulova Story

In 1875, a young Czech immigrant named Joseph Bulova set up shop in New York City, and a legendary American watch brand was born. Bulova was trained as a jeweler, and his expertise carried over into his watchmaking career, which began around 1911 with boudoir clocks and pocket watches, and soon evolved to include what was then one of the latest and most fashionable technological innovations: the wristwatch.

Bulova introduced its first line of wristwatches in 1919. The company grew and prospered, and soon early radio and television ads were declaring, "America runs on Bulova time." In the 1950s, continuing its legacy of innovation, Bulova introduced Accutron, the first electronic watch, and the first breakthrough in timekeeping technology in over 300 years. The Accutron timing mechanism was later adapted for use by NASA computers and a Bulova timer was even placed on the moon to control transmissions of data. Bulova timepieces have kept official time aboard Air Force One and have also served as official timepieces for U.S. Olympic teams.

Today, Bulova maintains its tradition of excellence in technology and design, offering a diverse collection of beautiful precision timepieces for every occasion.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.6 x 3.5 x 3.1 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007QMBBS
• Item model number: 98C62
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #567 in Watches (See Top 100 in Watches)
  • #71 in Watches > Dress Watches

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Watch, Excellent Vendor Service, August 4, 2008

By 

Roger Keeling (Portland, OR.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bulova Men's 98C62 Marine Star Watch (Watch)

I purchased this watch after rather exhaustively reviewing the many, many offerings at Amazon.com. When it first arrived, I found myself vaguely let down. Somehow, it didn't seem quite as striking as in the photos. But as the weeks have gone by, my opinion has completely turned around on that. This watch is really very beautiful, and the numerous compliments I've now received serve as confirmation. It also appears to be extremely accurate and, contrary to some other reviews, setting it (including day and date) was not at all difficult. Do remember that it has a screw-down crown; you need to unscrew it before actually pulling out the stem. That is NOT explained, at all, in the (very inadequate) instruction manual.

Is this equal to an Omega automatic diver's watch, which has a similar appearance? I'm sure it's not. But, then, it only costs about 1/10th as much. It very likely equals or exceeds similar Invictas as well as any similar Citizen or Seiko watch.

I've not owned it long enough to speak of its durability. But I tend to be hard on watches, and I've already subjected this one to some small abuses. So far, it remains flawless, suggesting that they've really used top-rank materials in its construction.

Sadly, one reason I bought this watch no longer holds true. I knew it was made overseas (Japan, I believe), but that's true of virtually all watches. I am not sure, in fact, if a single watch (including movement) is still made here, and certainly nothing that's affordable. But I was under the impression that Bulova remained a U.S.-owned company, and that they still at least designed all their offerings here. And they may indeed still do that. But earlier this year the company was purchased by Citizen Watch Co. of Japan. No more U.S. involvement save for whatever facilities the new owners decide to keep here.

Note that I purchased this directly from Amazon.com. Shipping was as promised, with it arriving a few days sooner than I expected. I have had no occasion to test their warranty service or return policies. I could have saved $10-$15 by buying from one of the other vendors at Amazon. But that vendor had a significant number of poor reviews (I think running over 10%), and I didn't think saving a few bucks was worth dealing with a dubious vendor.

Update on 7/24/2010: I've now had this watch almost two years. The accuracy has continued to be exemplary. I did have to change the batteries once; I had it done at a fine jewelry store in California, and they warned me that unless I returned it directly to Bulova the water resistance would no longer be guaranteed. But it seems fine on that score, too, although I rarely take it into the water anyhow. The appearance remains almost pristine. Even though I've historically been hard on watches, this one shows virtually no wear. It still looks new. That's impressive to me. So if I could, I'd add a star to my review. Much recommended!

Update on 8/22/2011: Over three years, now, and my Bulova remains magnificent. I had to have the battery replaced last month. And I did have a problem with the clasp on the band, quickly fixed for under $6 by my local watch repair. But the watch keeps splendid time, and still looks nearly-new! (Indeed, I am sure that if I paid to have it cleaned, it would simply look "new.")

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous timepiece!!!, June 28, 2005

By 

J.S. Clements (Ramona, CA United States) - See all my reviews

If the Omega Seamaster is just out of your price range, the Bulova Marine Star will get the job done. It rivals most watches in beauty and dependability. Made specifically for the adventurous diver, this watch has both style and class. This piece of jewelry goes with any outfit, and you will have it for a long time. It can be taken down to 660 feet, which is deeper than many divers will ever go. If you have a slightly limited budget, but you still want to achieve that "Bond look", this is the perfect watch to get you there in style!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Good Value with a Few Rough Edges, September 9, 2010

By 

The Customer (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bulova Men's 98C62 Marine Star Watch (Watch)

The Bulova 98C62 Marine Star watch is diver's style quartz/electronic watch rated water resistant to 200 meters. It has a blue face with large, luminous hour and minute hands, a red-tipped second hand and a day/date feature. The dial itself has large luminous dashes at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions, an inverted luminous triangle at the 12 o'clock position and large luminous dots at the other positions. Marker luminosity fades rapidly, though, and becomes ineffective after about 20 minutes in the dark. Surrounding the dial is a classic unidirectional timing ring (rotates CCW) calibrated in increments of 10 with 60 click-stops per revolution (most diving watches have 120). The ring presents very legible chrome figures on a blue background. Overall the watch is very easy to read (except in the dark after 20 minutes), even for those with poor close-up vision. The screw-down crown with raised guard ridges to either side provides robust protection for this critical seal and helps assure the watches water resistance. A hefty double-foldover stainless-steel bracelet with a built-in, deploy-able wet suit extension completes the package.

I purchased this modestly priced watch for general use during an extended summer water-centric vacation at several East Coast lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. I needed a dependable yet expendable timepiece that was presentable enough to be worn in the water or out to dinner, and that could survive shallow diving, wake-boarding, tubing, swimming and rough physical labor. Since I had destroyed or damaged a number of other watches on similar vacations, the Bulova was to be my "beater". I'm happy to say that it came through this test with flying colors, and now two months into ownership it looks as good as new, and works even better. How could it work better than new? Ah! There's the catch with this product. It's not built with any particular precision, from its timing to the smoothness and alignment of its moving parts. For example, when received, the rotating ring was so stiff I had to put on a pair of mechanics gloves and apply major force to rotate it at all. After deliberately rotating the ring over 300 times, with it clacking loudly at every click-stop, the ring became (almost) manageable. Paradoxically, I found the ring's slight bevel and serrated, yet glossy sides made it very hard to turn when gripping it from the edge. The fix? Place the entire palm of you hand over the watch face and ring, squeeze with your palm and rotate. Now, two months later, the ring has lost more of its stiffness and is more user-friendly, but I would never depend on it in a serious dive - its too hard to use, making it too easy to make a mistake at a critical time. And if you fuss with it in an office meeting, it will announce your boredom with pronounced clacking that has to be heard to be believed.

Hand alignment is another issue. The second hand is not aligned with the tick marks on the inner chapter ring on the watch face, and the amount of misalignment changes as the hand rotates (how Do they do that?) - it is greatest between 7 and 11 and minimal between 2 and 5. The minute hand does not align well with its markers, either, when the second hand is in the 12 o'clock position. While not visible from a distance, this lack of mechanical precision became annoying after awhile.

Concerning timing accuracy - compared to a mechanical watch, any mechanical watch, it is outstanding. But as a quartz watch it is adequate yet unremarkable, gaining the equivalent of 70 seconds per year - twice as much as my plastic Timex Expedition.

In summary, this is a modestly priced watch with modestly good looks and rather poor mechanical precision. It has several key features that enhance its value: 1. A protected screw-down crown that provides real and reliable water resistance, 2. A double fold-over bracelet that prevents accidental loss, 3. A deployable wetsuit extension built into the clasp, 4. A day/date display. On the other hand, the need to break in the timing ring was just plain annoying. A good value? Yes. A great value? You be the judge.