Bulova Expands The CURV Assortment With Three New Chronograph Watches

Again in 2016, Bulova launched the CURV assortment, which debuted the world’s very first curved chronograph motion (quartz, mechanical, or in any other case). Having a curved case profile to raised match the wrist is hardly a novel idea, however the challenges related to producing curved actions are considerably extra concerned, and people challenges solely enhance additional with extra difficult actions reminiscent of chronographs. Whereas the inaugural CURV assortment from 2016 consisted of twelve fashions, Bulova has expanded the sequence for 2023 with three new chronographs, and the brand new Bulova CURV watches introduce a extra refined and streamlined aesthetic with a semi-integrated bracelet design.

Offered as two totally different chrome steel fashions and one two-tone model with yellow gold coloured accents, the brand new Bulova CURV chronograph watches function instances which can be noticeably extra rounded and conventional in comparison with earlier chronograph fashions from the CURV sequence. Whereas they’re nonetheless inherently trendy by design, the general look of the brand new trio of Bulova CURV chronographs can also be extra traditional and dressy in comparison with the extremely angular types of the opposite chronograph fashions, and the general impact is a extra elevated and refined general bundle. Whereas the format stays the identical as earlier executions with a crown and pushers situated on the three o’clock aspect of the watch, the 44mm instances on the brand new Bulova CURV chronographs stream outward to encompass the signed crown, whereas, the pushers at the moment are oval-shaped in comparison with the oblong pushers fitted to the opposite fashions from the gathering.

Just like different CURV fashions, the highest aspect of the instances on the brand new Bulova CURV chronograph watches are fitted with double domed sapphire crystals to protect their fluid profiles, and similar to earlier chronographs, water resistance for the brand new fashions is available in at 30 meters to guard towards every day incidental contact. Moreover, like many different current-production CURV fashions, the reverse aspect of the brand new watches obtain curved show casebacks which can be secured by 4 small screws and fitted with curved sapphire home windows that supply a view of their equally curved, gold-plated quartz chronograph actions. Personally, I’m a giant fan of show casebacks on quartz watches, and because the curved chronograph actions that energy the brand new Bulova CURV fashions are arguably their single most notable function, showcasing them on the reverse aspect of the watch is one thing that provides various visible intrigue for fanatics and collectors.

Just like the earlier Bulova CURV chronographs, the trio of recent dress-oriented fashions additionally function curved dials with clear middle sections to supply a partial view of their curved chronograph actions. With that in thoughts, in comparison with the entire present chronographs from the sequence, the color-matched clear areas on the brand new 2023 fashions are considerably smaller relative to their vertically-striped strong sections, and this ends in a noticeably extra conventional general look. Moreover, the form of the fingers on the brand new fashions additional helps them lean right into a extra traditional and dressy design, and reasonably than being open-worked pencil shapes like different chronograph fashions from the CURV sequence, a pair of partially-skeletonized alpha fingers with elongated tails show the hours and minutes on the middle of the dial.

The 2 chrome steel fashions from the trio of recent Bulova CURV chronograph watches can be found with both a grey dial that has rose gold coloured fingers and markers because the ref. 96A298, or with a vibrant inexperienced dial that has silver-colored fingers and markers because the ref. 96A297. In the meantime, the two-tone variant with yellow gold accents is the ref. 98A301, and it’s fitted with a black dial that has matching yellow-gold fingers and markers. Moreover, regardless of their totally different colorways, all three of the brand new Bulova CURV chronograph fashions obtain the identical fashion of chrome steel five-link bracelet, with the two-tone variant that includes yellow gold accents on its middle hyperlinks to enhance its gold-finished bezel and dial accents.

Although these new Bulova CURV chronographs are described by the model as having an built-in bracelet design, there nonetheless exists a spot between the sting of the case and the tip hyperlink of the bracelet. That mentioned, this appears to be a design element frequent all through the Bulova CURV sequence, and it’s seemingly accomplished with a view to spotlight their curved profiles, because the different chronograph fashions even have this hole constructed into the form of their instances, no matter whether or not they’re fitted with bracelets or straps. The five-link design of the bracelets fitted to the brand new 2023 fashions is considerably extra dressy in comparison with the only flat-link design used all through the remainder of the sequence, and because the precise construction of the bracelet is identical throughout all three of the brand new fashions, all of them come fitted with the identical double push-button fashion folding clasp.

Inside the brand new Bulova CURV watches is identical Caliber NR20 motion that may be present in the remainder of the chronograph fashions from the present CURV sequence. Battery-powered, the Cal. NR20 is a 12-hour chronograph with devoted registers for its hours, minutes, and seconds, which signifies that it doesn’t have a centrally-mounted seconds hand like most different chronograph watches, and it as a substitute opts for a simplified five-handed format with none kind of extra date show. Whereas the curved construction of the Caliber NR20 is arguably the only most attention-grabbing element, it is usually one in every of Bulova’s Excessive Efficiency Quartz actions that contains a three-pronged quartz crystal with a frequency of 262 kHz (8 occasions the frequency of normal quartz), which leads to an accuracy ranking of simply 5 seconds per 30 days.

As a result of extra elevated designs of their instances and bracelets, the brand new trio of Bulova CURV chronograph watches value a bit greater than the opposite fashions from the sequence, with the 2 chrome steel references accompanied by an official retail value of $1,150 USD, whereas the two-tone variant is available in barely larger at $1,195 USD. Whereas the unique chronograph fashions are characterised by an ultra-modern and sporty aesthetic, these new Bulova CURV fashions take the gathering in a completely extra refined and dressy course, whereas nonetheless providing the identical highly-comfortable curved case profile and matching curved chronograph motion that defines the remainder of the gathering. For extra info on the brand new Bulova CURV chronograph watches, please go to the model’s web site.