The Dive Watch Connection

I pulled these from a thread posted on SCWF and I thought there may be some interest. Citizen announced at Basel 2010 that they would be releasing a line of high end quartz under the Bulova brand. Accuracy is to be +/- 10-15 seconds per YEAR and will also feature a second hand movement at 16 beats per second. 18 models are to be released starting at $300.

posted by watches4me. Source is Watch Time Magazine.



video posted by minidriver





I suspect the designs may not be everyone's cup of tea. It is Bulova, remember. But I think the technology is the exciting part and hopefully these modules may find their way into other styles.

Very cool. Is that a reissue of the Accutron space view!?

Well I like the smoother seconds hand idea, but isnt 10-15 seconds per month what most quartz are now?

Still, a sweeping seconds hand on a quartz watch for around $400. I think that could be a problem for some auto makers out there.

Thanks for the post up!

Cool, I may get one.

+1 to that!

great pricing, cool cases, and a smooth sweep? where do i sign up?


ill be waiting for the used ones on WUS soon.

Interesting. 57600vbh . Most solid. This will be a big hit with wiss.

moishlashen wrote:Interesting. 57600vbh . Most solid. This will be a big hit with wiss.

SCM64 wrote: Well I like the smoother seconds hand idea, but isnt 10-15 seconds per month what most quartz are now?

That is a typo. It shouldn't read +/- 10s per year instead.


* Quartz frequency is 262,144Hz (versus 32,768 Hz on a standard quartz.

That is pretty damn cool. I got nothing against quartz right now and do own a few, but this makes it even more appealing. Greater accuracy and a sweeping seconds-hand. Cool innovation.

Those watches are REALLY ugly though.....

matt.wu wrote:Those watches are REALLY ugly though.....

We'll see.... haven't been released yet.

Now that is cool. Thermocomp Quartz accuracy with the smooth sweep of an auto (actually much smoother than an auto), hell yes. NOw if they'd just incorporate that technology into some really nice cases (read that: diver cases), I'll be getting one. +/- 10 seconds a year?! DAMN!!

vbuskirk wrote:

SCM64 wrote: Well I like the smoother seconds hand idea, but isnt 10-15 seconds per month what most quartz are now?

That is a typo. It shouldn't read +/- 10s per year instead.


* Quartz frequency is 262,144Hz (versus 32,768 Hz on a standard quartz.

Per year is correct. All fixed now.

BSears wrote:Now that is cool. Thermocomp Quartz accuracy with the smooth sweep of an auto (actually much smoother than an auto), hell yes. NOw if they'd just incorporate that technology into some really nice cases (read that: diver cases), I'll be getting one. +/- 10 seconds a year?! DAMN!!

I don't think these are thermocopensated. From what I have been able to put together is that these are the high frequency quartz and the quartz has a three pronged fork shape as opposed to the more typical 2 prong which supposedly enhances stability to temperature changes (I think). I just read that the frequency in this model is even higher than what is used in the Seiko 8F which has a frequency of 192 kHz.

You're right it will be the designs that will sell this one. These Bulovas look too much like Invicas to me. Hopefully we will see somthing more reasonable.

So does anyone want to take a stab at how this technology will affect or challenge automatic movements?

f4nt0m4s wrote:So does anyone want to take a stab at how this technology will affect or challenge automatic movements?

Initially, it may make a minor dent and very temporary scare if any splash at all. It'll only make a difference to non-WIS. Those truly interested in mechanical watches are not in it for either accuracy or the smooth sweeping seconds hand. The automatic/mechanical movements will still continue to thrive......


....... at least until the wrist cell phone becomes popular - then we may be in trouble.

matt.wu wrote:

f4nt0m4s wrote:So does anyone want to take a stab at how this technology will affect or challenge automatic movements?

Initially, it may make a minor dent and very temporary scare if any splash at all. It'll only make a difference to non-WIS. Those truly interested in mechanical watches are not in it for either accuracy or the smooth sweeping seconds hand. The automatic/mechanical movements will still continue to thrive......


....... at least until the wrist cell phone becomes popular - then we may be in trouble.

I honestly think there is a market here selling these Quartz watches to the low-end diver crowd. If it came down to a 200~300 dollar automatic vs. a Quartz with a sweeping second hand....I dunno, I think you might see some competition.

I agree this won't make a dent in the serious Automatic watch market. The technology is still really cool though...everyone's gotta have one or two Quartz. Unless you are hardcore.

f4nt0m4s wrote:...everyone's gotta have one or two Quartz.

EXACTLY.... If given the choice, I would pick a better Q engine. Breitling's SQ are cool, but 2K to get one is a joke IMHO.


I pray for a reasonable design.......

f4nt0m4s wrote:So does anyone want to take a stab at how this technology will affect or challenge automatic movements?

Probably depends on marketing. Based on price, I think it won't touch the luxury mechanical market. Besides, the luxury market is pretty much safe from everything except itself. Different story for the affordable mechanicals (say below $500-1000). I think a lot depends on some of the unknowns of the technology, namely IMHO the charging mechanism and the length of power reserve. Solar charge with a 3 month reserve and this will be huge. Kinetic with a power reserve less than a week and it will stay in a niche market. Again, JMHO.

That would be incredible if they combined this with Citizen Eco-Drive. I'd buy a couple.

I think I saw an oscillating weight through a clear back on one of the models, so I'm thinking a kinetic type movement. Also, the shiny black one with white dial looks to be a GMT. The models they showed didn't do much for me, but in the right watch I could be all over one.

You guys don't think they copied the Seiko Spring Drive, do ya? Maybe a variation?

Tank wrote:You guys don't think they copied the Seiko Spring Drive, do ya? Maybe a variation?

I don't think so. But if they did, they made it better....and a whole lot cheaper.