Bulova Expands The CURV Collection With Three New Chronograph Watches
Back in 2016, Bulova introduced the CURV collection, which debuted the world’s very first curved chronograph movement (quartz, mechanical, or otherwise). Having a curved case profile to better fit the wrist is hardly a novel concept, but the challenges associated with producing curved movements are significantly more involved, and those challenges only increase further with more complicated movements such as chronographs. While the inaugural CURV collection from 2016 consisted of twelve models, Bulova has expanded the series for 2023 with three new chronographs, and the new Bulova CURV watches introduce a more refined and streamlined aesthetic with a semi-integrated bracelet design.
Presented as two different stainless steel models and one two-tone version with yellow gold colored accents, the new Bulova CURV chronograph watches feature cases that are noticeably more rounded and traditional compared to previous chronograph models from the CURV series. While they are still inherently modern by design, the overall appearance of the new trio of Bulova CURV chronographs is also more classic and dressy compared to the highly angular forms of the other chronograph models, and the overall effect is a more elevated and refined overall package. While the layout remains the same as previous executions with a crown and pushers located on the 3 o’clock side of the watch, the 44mm cases on the new Bulova CURV chronographs flow outward to surround the signed crown, while, the pushers are now oval-shaped compared to the rectangular pushers fitted to the other models from the collection.
Similar to other CURV models, the top side of the cases on the new Bulova CURV chronograph watches are fitted with double domed sapphire crystals to preserve their fluid profiles, and just like previous chronographs, water resistance for the new models comes in at 30 meters to protect against daily incidental contact. Additionally, like many other current-production CURV models, the reverse side of the new watches receive curved display casebacks that are secured by four small screws and fitted with curved sapphire windows that offer a view of their similarly curved, gold-plated quartz chronograph movements. Personally, I’m a big fan of display casebacks on quartz watches, and since the curved chronograph movements that power the new Bulova CURV models are arguably their single most notable feature, showcasing them on the reverse side of the watch is something that adds quite a lot of visual intrigue for enthusiasts and collectors.
Similar to the previous Bulova CURV chronographs, the trio of new dress-oriented models also feature curved dials with transparent center sections to offer a partial view of their curved chronograph movements. With that in mind, compared to all of the existing chronographs from the series, the color-matched transparent areas on the new 2023 models are significantly smaller relative to their vertically-striped solid sections, and this results in a noticeably more traditional overall appearance. Additionally, the shape of the hands on the new models further helps them lean into a more classic and dressy design, and rather than being open-worked pencil shapes like other chronograph models from the CURV series, a pair of partially-skeletonized alpha hands with elongated tails display the hours and minutes at the center of the dial.
The two stainless steel models from the trio of new Bulova CURV chronograph watches are available with either a gray dial that has rose gold colored hands and markers as the ref. 96A298, or with a vibrant green dial that has silver-colored hands and markers as the ref. 96A297. Meanwhile, the two-tone variant with yellow gold accents is the ref. 98A301, and it is fitted with a black dial that has matching yellow-gold hands and markers. Additionally, despite their different colorways, all three of the new Bulova CURV chronograph models receive the same style of stainless steel five-link bracelet, with the two-tone variant featuring yellow gold accents on its center links to complement its gold-finished bezel and dial accents.
Despite the fact that these new Bulova CURV chronographs are described by the brand as having an integrated bracelet design, there still exists a gap between the edge of the case and the end link of the bracelet. That said, this seems to be a design detail common throughout the Bulova CURV series, and it is likely done in order to highlight their curved profiles, since the other chronograph models actually have this gap built into the shape of their cases, regardless of whether they are fitted with bracelets or straps. The five-link design of the bracelets fitted to the new 2023 models is significantly more dressy compared to the single flat-link design used throughout the rest of the series, and since the actual structure of the bracelet is the same across all three of the new models, all of them come fitted with the same double push-button style folding clasp.
Inside the new Bulova CURV watches is the same Caliber NR20 movement that can be found in the rest of the chronograph models from the current CURV series. Battery-powered, the Cal. NR20 is a 12-hour chronograph with dedicated registers for its hours, minutes, and seconds, which means that it doesn’t have a centrally-mounted seconds hand like most other chronograph watches, and it instead opts for a simplified five-handed layout without any type of additional date display. While the curved structure of the Caliber NR20 is arguably the single most interesting detail, it is also one of Bulova’s High Performance Quartz movements that features a three-pronged quartz crystal with a frequency of 262 kHz (8 times the frequency of standard quartz), which results in an accuracy rating of just five seconds per month.
Due to the more elevated designs of their cases and bracelets, the new trio of Bulova CURV chronograph watches cost a bit more than the other models from the series, with the two stainless steel references accompanied by an official retail price of $1,150 USD, while the two-tone variant comes in slightly higher at $1,195 USD. While the original chronograph models are characterized by an ultra-modern and sporty aesthetic, these new Bulova CURV models take the collection in an entirely more refined and dressy direction, while still offering the same highly-comfortable curved case profile and matching curved chronograph movement that defines the rest of the collection. For more information on the new Bulova CURV chronograph watches, please visit the brand’s website.
