Bulova is a brand with a long history, stretching back to 1875. You’d be forgiven for thinking that all they do these days is make fashion watches that are large and garish. What’s interesting today is that they’re mining the past catalogues for inspiration for three very cool watches, the Hack and the A-15 Pilot. Seriously, I love to see this.
The Hack comes in white or black dial variations and draws from Bulova’s vintage 3818-A military model. Either dial version is a pretty classic military-style watch, with 12 hour numerals at the outer edge, with 24 hour numerals set inside the 12 hours.
The hands are similar to cathedral hands, and don’t look out of place. They’ve got a perfect length, with their tips just reaching the numerals and minute marks they’re meant to indicate.
The movement inside is a reliable Miyota Caliber 82S0 3-hand automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve. The domed mineral crystal shows off the lumed hands and dial. Both models are housed in a 38mm case with a comfortable, large crown on either a black or green leather NATO strap.
So far, so good. The Hack is a military watch that looks like an instantly recognizable classic, and isn’t far out in any way.
The A-15 Pilot is a little more far out. The A-15 pays tribute to a watch made for pilots in 1943 for the US Army Air Force. The watch was designed to be able to help pilots navigate by radio aid, dead reckoning, or pilotage (using landmarks.)
To do that, it’s got two rotating inner bezels, operated by two crowns, at 2 and 4 o’clock. One rotating disc indicates elapsed minutes, and the other indicates elapsed hours.
If you aren’t actively timing elapsed time as you try and navigate, you could also use the hour disc as a second time zone.
The A-15 Pilot is powered by a Miyota Caliber 82S6 automatic movement, and comes on a supple top-stitched brown leather strap to complete the World War II pilot look. It’s a little larger on the wrist at 42mm in diameter.
The Hack is available in white or black, for $395 or $450, respectively, and the A-15 Pilot is $695. If you’re feeling like you’re ready to take flight, check them out at Bulova.com.
