Editor’s Note: Watches & Wonders (formerly SIHH) and Baselworld 2020 are canceled but that hasn’t stopped watch brands large and small from debuting their new wares. To stay on top of this year’s best new watch releases, visit our tag page.
Some of the funkiest chronograph watches from the Seventies featured colorful, motorsport-inspired dial patterns with stripes, checkers or oblong, surfboard-like shapes. Now, Bulova is bringing back one such rare example originally produced between 1970 and 1971 nicknamed — naturally — the “Surfboard.” Officially called the Chronograph A, Bulova is releasing a range of three affordable quartz models for $695 as well as a more exclusive, limited-edition model featuring a Swiss automatic movement for $2,950 that’s aimed at collectors.
Available in different eye-catching color schemes, both versions are moderately sized: The quartz model features a 40.5mm steel case, while the automatic version has an appropriately vintage-feeling 38.5mm steel case. Both have a box-shaped sapphire crystal and 200m of water resistance.
The limited edition Chronograph A, which is powered by the Sellita SW510 BH B movement with 48 hours of power reserve, is closest in its design to the vintage model, while the quartz watches riff on the same theme with some color changes. Die-hard Bulova fans might be ready to shell out the $3k for the limited edition on its steel bracelet with special surfboard-themed packaging, but for the rest of us, the $695 quartz version on its silicon bands is plenty cool enough.
