Bulova 96B104 Review & Complete Guide
There are dress watches, and there are dress watches.
Dress watches are supposed to be simple, clean, and elegant. But if you have been looking at the market for dress watches, you’re probably well aware that there is plenty to choose from. Some watches have followed the concept of keeping the case refined, but have busy dials containing everything from moon phases to power reserve indicators.
The Bulova 96B104, however, is a dress watch in its simplest form. It is small, elegant, simple, classic, and minimalistic. In design, it is in fact one of the simplest watches out there, but that doesn’t stop it from being beautiful. In fact, there is a saying that ”Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”, and this is a quote that fits perfectly with the Bulova 96B104.
If you want a simple and classy timepiece that works perfectly on those formal occasions, the Bulova 96B104 is definitely a watch to consider. Not only is it everything that has been mentioned above, but it is also affordable – without compromising on quality. Just as we have come to expect from Bulova.
Without further ado, let’s review the Bulova 96B104 and see why this roughly 100 USD watch is so popular.
Bulova 96B104 case
What may first catch your attention about this watch is its simple and slim case design. Measuring 37mm in diameter and with a thin profile of only 6mm, this is unarguably a small watch. But historically, that’s exactly what a dress watch should be. They should be elegant and complement your style but in a discreet way.
With that said, it will look good on most wrists, both large and small. And even if you have wrists that are a bit on the larger side, don’t let the smaller size scare you, because that’s exactly how it is supposed to be. Paired with a suit, this watch will look just perfect and elegant.
The case is round and the bezel is thin and polished. The lugs protrude straight from the case and have a rectangular shape, whilst being very slim. These are of course polished.
At 3 o’clock on the side of the case, it has a small, discreet push-pull crown. Just as you would expect.
There’s really not much to say about the case other than that it puts most focus on the dial.
Sitting on top of the case, the watch has a flat mineral crystal. At this price point, we cannot expect sapphire crystal.
The case has a water resistance of 30 meters, which essentially just means splash-proof. But for this type of watch, water resistance isn’t really a big deal since you’re not going swimming with it anyways.
Turning the watch around, you’ll notice its flat solid case back with a circular brushed finish.
Bulova 96B104 dial
Simplicity is key for this watch, and that is exactly what the dial delivers.
The dial has a silver/pearl color with a beautiful sunburst finish. This means that whilst it is very simple, it will reflect the light beautifully and change appearance depending on how the light hits it. At this price point, this finish is really nicely done.
For the sake of simplicity, this watch does not have any luminescent material. This could also be a strategic decision from a production cost standpoint. But at the same time, many dress watches neglect luminescence. This means that legibility can get a bit more difficult in low-lit conditions.
The only thing ”cluttering” the dial is its date window at 3 o’clock, which I am sure some people wouldn’t mind losing for an even cleaner dial. But at the same time, the date is a practical thing that can come in handy for everyday wear, so I can’t complain about it.
The dial has applied polished rectangular hour markers that match the hands very well and go well with the minimalistic look, without compromising on the impression of quality and finishing.
There’s a fine balance between simplicity and practicality, and something that can be debated is the watch’s lack of seconds markers. Having said that, the reading of the seconds (as well as the minutes) can be a bit more difficult than if the dial would have seconds markers printed between each hour marker, but it does achieve a clean look without them.
The watch is equipped with thin polished metal hands in a pencil shape. Again, because they are so thin, legibility can get a bit poor, but at the same time, it achieves perfect simplicity and elegance. Again, it’s a balance. The watch also features a seconds hand so you can keep track of the seconds.
Bulova 96B104 movement
The watch is powered by a quartz movement. It would have been difficult for Bulova otherwise to achieve its slim profile of 6mm. The accuracy of this movement is about +- 15 seconds/month, and in this type of watch, functionality is key, so the most devoted mechanical watch nerds may be able to overlook this. Especially considering its price.
With its quartz movement, this watch is ready to go whenever you need it.
Bulova 96B104 Strap
As a classic dress watch should, the 96B104 is presented on a classy black embossed leather strap.
The strap has received some critique that it feels a bit cheap (which may not come as a surprise considering its price), but the good news is that with its 20mm lug width, there are plenty of straps to choose from, shall you wish to do so.
Specifications
- Water resistance: 30m
- Diameter: 37mm
- Lug-to-lug: 42.5mm
- Thickness: 6mm
- Crystal: Mineral
- Accuracy: +- 15 seconds/month
- Crystal: mineral crystal
- Lug width: 20mm
Conclusion
The Bulova 96B104 is the perfect dress watch if you are looking for classy and understated simplicity. The watch is extremely affordable for what you are getting and is, in my opinion, everything a dress watch should be. It is timeless, classic, classy, and minimalistic. You simply cannot go wrong adding it to your collection.
The Bulova 96B104 is available to order from Amazon.
