Category - Style
Bulova Is Celebrating Its 150th Anniversary, and These Are Its 5 Most Legendary Watches to Date
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This story was created by Men’s Journal in partnership with Bulova.
In order for an iconic brand to withstand the test of time and the ever-evolving cultural and trend landscape, two things must be true. First, its pieces should always be quality; they’re built to be passed down from generation to generation. Secondly, there has to be a clear narrative, one is genuine to the brand and connects to an audience. Bulova hits the mark in both areas.
Started by Joseph Bulova in New York City in 1875, the American watch company is now celebrating 150 years of detailed craftsmanship and continued innovation in the timepiece industry. Throughout its impressive history, Bulova has repeatedly shaped and refined how watchmaking is perceived. In 1917, for instance, the brand launched its first collection of wristwatches for women. Just nine years later, Bulova was behind the first national horological ad that aired on the radio. The company was also among the first to produce the clock radio — a feat achieved in 1928. From working with NASA to developing proprietary precisionist movements and the world’s first curved chronograph movement in the 2000s, Bulova hasn’t stopped pushing the boundaries of its craft.
That drive for technological advancement is just one part of the brand story, though. There’s also Bulova’s dedication to art. For decades, music has been at the center of its DNA. Frank Sinatra was known to wear several Bulova timepieces, which inspired an eponymous line of vintage-inspired watches named after his songs. During The Beatles’ first shows in the US, the band performed on a stage under a Bulova clock. More recently, singer, songwriter, and actor Marc Anthony collaborated with the Bulova team to produce a collection that feels true to his personal style and spirit.
While there have been a number of Bulova milestones and exciting successes over the last 150 years, what stands out the most are the legendary watches the brand has created. Below, discover the five timepieces that best represent Bulova’s history and commitment to perfection.
Lunar Pilot Meteorite, $1,495 at Bulova

Among the record-breaking, 107,000-pound-payload sent into space on the 1971 Apollo 15 mission was a Bulova chronograph engineered for lunar conditions. To honor that monumental occasion, the brand designed the Limited Edition Lunar Pilot Meteorite, launching an exclusive run of only 5,000 total watches. The six-hand chronograph dial, made from a 4.5-billion-year-old iron meteorite, is unique to each piece, just as no two spacefaring missions are alike. Other features include a silver-tone grade 5 titanium case, a black tachymeter ring and circular grooved sub-dials, and a NATO black leather strap. Plus, it's powered by Bulova’s high-precision quartz technology, so you’ll always be confident in its time-keeping accuracy.
Jet Star, $446 (was $595) at Bulova

As a nod to the style of the 1970s, Bulova came out with the 1973 Jet Star. It's warm in appearance — a brown leather strap, butterscotch sunburst dial, and gold-tone stainless steel case — and every single design element is thoughtful and purposeful. Not only are the brown and gold hour marks and hands, red seconds hands, and luminescent plots at each hour beautiful, but they ensure the time is always readable — no matter if you’re in the bright sunshine or sitting in a dark room. Bulova’s Precisionist movement is also accurate to five seconds per month, so you can be confident your watch is always exact (on top of being a gorgeous accessory).
Super Seville, $521 (was $695) at Bulova

Another 1970-inspired style, the Super Seville is equally retro (note the TV-shaped case) as it is modern. The three-link stainless steel bracelet, outfitted with a push-button deployant clasp, is paired with a brush blue dial, grooved coin edge bezel, and silver hands. While the Precisionist movement-powered watch may initially come across as a bold, bright accessory, its sleek look allows it to serve as an everyday piece that works with most things in your wardrobe. According to one shopper, it “looks great” on your wrist, and another noted how the “deceptively simple blue takes on different hues and depths in different lighting and viewing angles” and “the fluted bezel is more subtle in real life.”
Frank Sinatra Chairman of the Board, $1,950 at Bulova

Part of Bulova’s Frank Sinatra collection, the Chairman of the Board has an interesting story baked in history and unique design. Keen eyes may notice the vintage art deco elements and the resemblance to the brand’s 1936 “President” model — notably, the 18k gold-plated stainless steel case with stepped flanks. Other charming touches include the black dial with gold-tone hands, a calfskin leather strap, Sinatra’s fedora at the 12 marker, and a see-through case back featuring a crowned lion reaching for the star (the singer’s family crest). This particular watch is extra special as there are only 500 of them in the world, and each one comes with a lacquered box, a limited-edition card and plaque, and a Frank Sinatra storybook.
Marc Anthony CURV, $1,016 (was $1,195) at Bulova

There’s nothing subtle about the CURV, one of the pieces from the Marc Anthony collection, but that’s by design. The brand notes the watch was made to mirror “the bold rhythm of Anthony’s music,” a goal achieved with a blue silicone strap, a rose gold-tone pin buckle and stainless steel case, a translucent blue five-hand chronograph dial, and rose gold-tone markers, which highlight the 1, 3, and 5 hours (the singer’s personally significant numbers). One shopper describes the accessory as a “sculptural delight” that blends “comfort, fit, and style in one harmonic design statement.” And what more could you ask for in a watch?