Bulova Skeleton Watch Review: What Models are the Best?

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Skeleton watches need almost no introduction.

They’ve been a staple in the world of horology since its inception.

This can easily be attributed to the unique style that these watches have.

Having the gears and mechanisms visible provide a completely different look that “normal” watches can’t emulate.

These great timepieces were usually reserved for only the most luxurious brands, but recently, Bulova released a line of inexpensive, high-quality skeleton watches.

You can usually only get one of those criteria right, but Bulova has a reputation of releasing incredible timepieces in more accessible price ranges.

And in this Bulova Skeleton Watch review, we take a look at the details of 7 of these watches:

1. Bulova 96A187

If you’re looking for an introduction to this collection, you’ve found the right model.

The large 43mm dial on this watch houses bright blue hands and markers that not pop out, making it easier to read, but they serve as a great highlight to this mostly silver watch.

The stainless steel case and bracelet allow the watch to shine, which makes the watch look great with a suit, but they also complement the skeleton dial, the main feature of this collection.

By far the fact that you can see the gears and jewels of the watch working together is what makes this a great piece.

On top of all that it has an automatic movement, meaning you won’t have to manually rewind your watch as long as you have it on your wrist every now and then.

Pros:

-Skeleton dial makes the watch very attractive

-Self-winding movement

-100-meter water resistance

-Blue highlights make reading the time much more convenient

Cons:

-The watch only has a mineral crystal

2. Bulova 96A120

It’s completely understandable if you aren’t a fan of full skeleton dials.

They can be a bit overwhelming, and if you aren’t used to the look, you may have to put in a bit more effort to read the time.

But if you still want to have that skeleton feel, I highly recommend you check this model out.

It definitely has a more vintage feel to it, with its brown colorway and leather strap.

The skeleton window is placed on the lower left-hand side so as not to distract too much from the dial.

Another cool detail is the textured brown background on the upper half of the dial.

Like most of the watches in this collection, this model has a Swiss Automatic movement.

So if you want the unique look of skeleton watches without it being too overpowering, this might be the model for you.

Pros:

-Semi-skeleton dial

-Swiss automatic movement

-The strap is comfortable right out of the box

-24-hour subdial

Cons:

-It doesn’t have luminous hands

3. Bulova 98A179

A lot of skeleton watches available today are inspired by the past.

That is not the case with this model.

It has a very sleek and futuristic look, with its gunmetal case and black skeleton dial.

It still employs an automatic movement with a 40-hour power reserve, but it has a sapphire crystal instead of a mineral one.

The durable sapphire crystal is perfect for a watch with a look this tough.

It has a large case, measuring in at 46mm, so it’s more recommended for those with larger wrists.

However, it’s easy to see this watch going very well with a suit or a casual outfit.

Pros:

-Gunmetal case

-Sapphire crystal

-Swiss automatic movement with a 40-hour power reserve

-100m of water resistance allows you to wear it while swimming

Cons:

-Might not work well with smaller wrists

4. Bulova 98A165

This is yet another watch in the collection with classic influences.

With a brown leather strap and brown details on the skeleton dial, it’s easy to see why this is loved by enthusiasts.

The large Roman Numeral markers and the hands with white details make reading the time very easy despite the visible movement of the watch.

Add to that the great automatic movement that Bulova used in the collection and stainless steel rose gold case, and you have a truly classic piece.

This would look great with a nice brown suit, or even your everyday casual wear, so if flexibility is what you’re looking for, this piece is worth checking out.

Pros:

-It has a great looking alligator-grain leather strap

-100m of water resistance

-The automatic movement needs to manual rewinding

-The dial is easy to read even with the skeleton feature

Cons:

-It only has a mineral crystal

5. Bulova 98A177

Finding a watch with a unique air of class can be a troubling task.

If you’ve been struggling with that, then this watch may deserve some attention.

It uses the incredibly classic color combination of gold and black.

The contrast these two shades provide is as sleek as it is classy.

The way the gold-colored hands and markers pop out of the skeleton dial is truly unique.

This is a watch that would complete a look with your best suit while also being able to add a touch of prestige to the outfit you wear on casual Fridays.

Pros:

-Sleek and clean design

-Swiss automatic movement

-Comfortable silicone strap

-100m of water resistance

Cons:

-The watch may be too heavy for some

6. Bulova 96A135

This watch from the Skeleton collection is reminiscent of something James Bond would wear.

It’s sleek, with a black leather strap, a silver-toned stainless steel case, and a silver skeleton dial.

By putting the silver markers on the outer ring, Bulova not only made reading the watch easy, but they also gave the watch a unique and classy look.

Powered by a Swiss Automatic movement, this watch also has a 24-hour sub-dial that sweeps, along with a chronograph and luminous hands.

Which is just proof that this watch has as much function as it has style.

Pros:

-Simplistic design that would look great with any outfit

-Luminous hands allow for time reading in various conditions

-100m of water resistance can withstand light water activities

-Skeleton dial is very attractive

Cons:

-The watch only has a mineral crystal

7. Bulova 98A166

The last watch we have on the list is a true beauty.

It’s two-toned, with rose gold and silver highlights.

This colorway is shared with the skeleton dial, the only difference being the black band on the outer ring of the dial.

This is to give the watch a bit of contrast and to allow the minute markers to not distract from the main dial.

This is a full skeleton watch, so all the jewels and gears of the watch are visible.

They paired this with an exhibition case back that shows the Swiss automatic movement of the watch.

With its unique colorway and high-quality movement, this watch will attract a lot of attention while also keeping you on time.

Pros:

-The unique two-toned movement truly stands out

-Swiss automatic movement keeps the watch ticking as long as you wear it

-100m of water resistance

-Skeleton dial

Cons:

-It only has a mineral crystal

As you could see, the pros of all these watches outweigh the cons.

This is simply because of how solid the entire collection is.

And when you consider the price, design, and functionality of all these watches, you’d be asking yourself why you didn’t hear of the collection before.

So if you’re on the hunt for a new watch, I highly recommend you check out Bulova’s Skeleton Watch collection.

Top 7 Reasons Customers Love Bulova Skeleton Watches

Skeleton watches have been at the top of the horology world since their inception by Andre-Charles Caron in the 1700s.

Watch enthusiasts and casual wearers alike have shelled out extra cash to get a quality watch with a transparent dial.

But Bulova has released a collection of high-quality skeleton watches that don’t leave a gaping hole in your bank account.

But that isn’t the only reason why the collection is loved all around.

Below, we take a look at the top 7 reasons customers love Bulova Skeleton watches.

1. Variety

Sometimes, a full skeleton dial can be a bit too much.

If you aren’t the biggest fan of that, there isn’t any reason to worry.

This collection consists of watches with full or semi-skeleton dials.

So whether you’re a fan of the grandiose full skeleton designs or if you prefer the more subtle aperture dials, you’ll surely find a watch that’s your speed in this collection.

2. They’re Inexpensive

Skeleton watches don’t come cheap.

It wouldn’t be far-fetched to expect a price north of $500 for a quality skeleton piece.

However, Bulova has totally shattered that barrier.

The prices in the collection vary, but they don’t require you to save up too much to get one.

And while these watches are far from expensive, they also perform great, but more on that later.

3. High-Quality Automatic Movement

The pieces in this collection use a Swiss Automatic movement.

It’s one of the worst kept secrets in the world that Swiss-made watch parts are some of the highest quality parts in the world.

The same is true for their movements, this self-winding movement loses or gains about 5 seconds a day, which is on par with some of the best automatic watches out there.

4. Classy Designs

A lot of times watches with skeleton dials only focus on the skeleton aspect in their design.

Not in this collection though.

Bulova paid attention to all the tiny details when releasing this line, and it shows.

Not only do the watches have killer skeleton dials, but they have classy and cohesive details that make the watch look complete.

5. They’re Flexible

It’s already been established that these watches have classy designs.

However, that doesn’t mean that they’re strictly dress watches.

It would be very easy to style these watches with a casual outfit.

These models will add a touch of class to any casual get-up, while perfectly complementing a suit.

6. Modern Watches With Classic Influences

The reason these watches are so flexible is because of how they merge the old and the new.

Skeleton dials have been around for more than a century already, so a touch of modern design would help it look more up-to-date.

And that’s what Bulova did. Some designs lean more to the old-school while some lean towards modern design.

So you can easily find the one for you.

7. Incredible Value

As mentioned earlier, these watches are much less expensive than other skeleton dials.

And the ones they share a price range with are of much lower quality.

Customers all over were taken aback by how well the watches perform even though they stay within a practical price range.

All this is great, but it should come as no surprise since Bulova has been releasing high-quality yet affordable pieces for decades.

Conclusion

Skeleton watches take some confidence to pull off.

This is because they have a pretty bold and eye-catching design, even if the dial isn’t full skeleton.

But if you’re a person who loves the look of skeleton pieces as much as I do, then this collection is definitely worth checking out.