WHILE ITS 1970S COMPUTRON RE-ISSUE GARNERED MUCH-DESERVED
attention at Baselworld last month, Bulova’s new Joseph Bulova collection is
an equally impressive look back at the watchmaker’s rich history.
The high-value collection includes sixteen limited edition watches
designed to echo three Bulova models sold from 1928 to 1935. Those orig-
inal watches, the Commodore, the Banker and the Breton, today appear as
the round, tonneau and rectangular-cased models in this Joseph Bulova
collection.
Updated with automatic movements with a date, as opposed to the
manual-wind movements used in the originals, the new collection celebrates
its inspiration, but also offers nods to modern styles, including a half-covered
exhibition caseback and a ‘Joseph Bulova’ signature on the back.
Bulova notes that each watch is designed in New York, Bulova’s home for
140 years. While Citizen now owns the company, Bulova has opted to use
Swiss-made Sellita movements rather than Citizen movements inside each
watch in the Joseph Bulova collection. This choice is meant to recall Bulo-
va’s own Swiss manufacturing facility. In 1912, Joseph Bulova established the
first manufacturing plant committed to the total production of wristwatch
– not pocket watch – components in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, which Bulova
utilized until 1985.
Dial details on each watch echoes the past, especially the hands and the
numeral fonts. The railroad-track minute markers are especially well done on
the tonneau models. Sizes are also somewhat retro as the collection is being
offered in 34mm and 38mm diameters.
On the wrist, these watches are distinctive, dressy, and even elegant. Their
Art Deco appearance and thin cases represent an antidote to large-sized
sport watches found everywhere else on the market (including Bulova of
course). Even better, the Joseph Bulova Collection is ‘affordably’ priced $995
to $1,495. Even with an attractive price, you won’t find these on everybody’s
wrist: each watch will be limited to 350 pieces.
SUMMER 2019 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 123