This Bargain Chronograph Has a Smoother Sweep Than Most Automatics

Bulova revived the Marine Star chronograph and equipped it with the ultra-high-beat Precisionist movement.

the crown and dial of a Bulova Marine Star chronograph

Published April 17, 2025

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Updated April 17, 2025

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If we’re being honest with ourselves, the biggest turnoff for those who look down on quartz movements–and I know because I admittedly can be one–is the jumping motion of the second hand. It just has an ick to it.

Sure, we can rationalize it by appreciating fine mechanical engineering and doing our part to keep the art alive, but deep down, most of us will admit that the sweep of the second hand makes all the difference.

a Bulova chronograph with a black dial — The Marine Star Heritage runs on an HPQ Precisionist movement with a smooth sweeping second hand.

Bulova has an answer for us quartz non-believers with the HPQ (High Performance Quartz) Precisionist movement series. By all quantitative metrics, they blow away every mechanical movement outside of the highest luxury tier (re: Grand Seiko and Rolex).

The HPQ Precisionist movement line has been around since 2010, most notably powering the Lunar Pilot chronograph. But it has never been put to better use than with the new Marine Star Heritage.

a black dial chronograph watch on a man's wrist — The Marine Star Heritage has a 43mm case.

This aquatic chronograph is based on a Bulova fan-favorite reference from the 1970s. Its faithful dial design includes the ten-star circle logo, but adds a third sub-dial to accommodate the 1/20 of a second chronograph register.

Bulova turns 150 years old in 2025, and the crown jewel of the anniversary celebrations might be this beautiful archival chronograph turbo-charged with the world’s most underrated quartz movement.

A clean sweep

Quartz crystals occur naturally, but the kinds that regulate watches are industrially grown. Bulova’s parent company, Citizen, grows its own crystals, giving the watchmakers exceptional quality control and the ability to innovate new designs.

the engraved case back of a Bulova Marine Star watch — The case back is marked with the Marine Star logo in the center and Bulova’s 150th anniversary around the edge.

Without getting into the weeds, HPQ Precisionist movements utilize a specially developed three-prong quartz crystal that vibrates at 262 kHz, eight times faster than standard quartz movements. Faster vibration creates better accuracy and, crucially, more beats per second.

For reference, the second hand on Grand Seiko’s universally revered Hi-Beat movement beats ten times per second. On the HPQ Precisionist caliber NP20 found in the Marine Star Heritage, it beats 20 times per second.

a Bulova chronograph — The chronograph dial at nine o’clock counts minutes elapsed, and the dial at three o’clock counts 1/20 of a second.

This exceptional frequency creates a perfectly smooth sweep to the naked eye. It is pleasant, even mesmerizing, to look at on a three-hand watch, but it is also incredibly effective when applied to a chronograph.

When the stopwatch function is engaged, the central chronograph hand glides like a boat on water, while the 1/20 second register at three o’clock spins wildly, making a full rotation every second.

Time and tide…

Bulova’s Marine Star collection has been around for decades, but the most celebrated examples date from the 1970s. As one of the brand’s most sought-after vintage references, it was an obvious choice to bring back for the big anniversary celebration.

a Bulova chronograph with a black dial and steel bracelet — The Marine Star Heritage comes on a three-link “President-style” steel bracelet with a safety clasp.

The Marine Star Heritage is based on a surviving example with a black dial and bezel. All of the dial markings and the hands are identical, especially the pointed central chronograph hand.

The only two significant visual changes are moving the ten-star circle above the hands to make room for the running seconds register and adding a red 15-minute track on the bezel.

The case, case back and three-link bracelet are stainless steel and the AR-coated sapphire crystal is framed by a ceramic bezel. A screw-down crown and screw-in case back ensure a 200m water resistance rating.

a Bulova watch in its decorative box — The Marine Star Heritage comes in a showcase box.

Bulova’s HPQ Precisionist movements have flown under the radar for well over a decade. The Marine Star Heritage packs a combination of looks and performance that should garner some much-deserved respect for this elite quartz movement.

Maybe it will even convert some non-believers.

Availability and pricing

The Bulova Marine Star Heritage is available now from Bulova for $995.

The most impressive aspect of Bulova’s HPQ Precisionist caliber NP20 movement is being able to acquire that astonishing level of horological performance for under a grand.