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Skeleton watches are some of the most popular watch styles on the planet.
This should come as no surprise as they are simply stunning and are something I always wanted to have.
Which is how I came across the Bulova 96A135, a watch I instantly fell in love with.
While the transparent dial is great, this piece is much more than just a skeleton watch.
When researching the details and specifications of the watch I found a great number of different reasons to love this Bulova watch.
From the movement to the functions, to the dial design, I’ll share some of my favorite details of this model and more in this short Bulova 96A135 review.
- Bulova's Men's Classic Automatic Collection features meticulously crafted beautiful timepieces with self-winding movements that...
- 4 Hand, Automatic, Heartbeat Skeleton, Sub Second Hand, Hack Feature, 24 Hour Time
- Silver-Tone Stainless Steel
Pros:
- The iconic skeleton dial design
- Bold and manly build
- Reliable automatic movement
Cons:
- The leather strap might not be ideal for some people
A Premium Skeleton Watch
By far the most appealing factor of this model has to be its skeletal design.
From the first time that Andre-Charles Caron debuted the skeleton watch in the 1760s, the design became an instant favorite.
Stripping away the window dressing allowed wearers to witness all the gears working together.
Bulova took the concept and truly made it their own.
Now, the watch doesn’t have a full skeleton dial, but the 21-jewel movement of the piece is fully visible in the bottom left side of the dial.
This isn’t just a neat feature that is fun to look at, but it also elevates the watch’s style to a completely different level.
(Related: Read reviews about the most famous Bulova watches here)
A Decently Designed Timepiece

While the gears that are visible on the dial serve as the anchor for the watch’s design, it’s evident that the designers also focused their attention on the other features as well.
One of my favorite things about this model is how the simple dial design not only compliments the exposed inside of the watch but also allows for easy reading of the time.
The silver-colored Roman Numeral markers stand out and harmonize perfectly with the sub-dials to control the chronograph function.
The entire dial is then held together by the textured detail below the 12 o’clock position that houses the Bulova logo.
The case which is made of stainless steel contrasts perfectly with the watch’s black leather strap.
That makes this piece a perfect dress watch that will surely go with your nicest suit.
No-Wind Automatic Movement

While mechanical timepieces are considered the most luxurious of movements, they require constant rewinding to keep ticking.
However, the movement used in this watch takes the smooth timekeeping of mechanical movements while eliminating the need to rewind.
The movement of this watch is an automatic movement, which is simply powered by movement.
Yep, you read that right.
The movement of your arm is enough to power your watch and keep it ticking all day, every day.
This will completely eliminate the need to visit your local watch shop constantly.
Customer Scores And Reviews
Doing my research on the specs and features of this piece wasn’t enough for me, which is why I chose to check out customer reviews.
Luckily for me, I saw that the majority of the people who bought this watch were happy and satisfied customers.
A couple of reviewers called this watch a piece of art, applauding Bulova’s design.
One reviewer was so satisfied with this model that he said that he prefers this Bulova piece over other watches that cost him over three times more.
However, there was one review that wasn’t so positive, and it came from a customer complaining about the latch mechanism on the strap.
While the strap is leather, it latches on much like a metal bracelet.
While it may take some getting used to, it wasn’t enough to tarnish my opinion of this watch.
Conclusion
It’s no secret that I really like this timepiece and would recommend it to a lot of people.
But what’s not to love about this piece?
It has a great design, looks great with my best suit, has an accurate movement, along with a chronograph function.
There isn’t much to hate about this piece, which is nothing short of expected from a quality brand such as Bulova.