Bulova presented several new watches with a diving bezel at last year’s Baselworld; certainly the most eye-catching (and at the same time also the only one powered by an automatic movement) was the Bulova Sea King Limited Edition (Ref. 96B226), which features a 1,000-meter water-resistant, 50-mm-large titanium case. Most notably, it’s also got an impossible-to-overlook bezel locking mechanism at 9 o’clock — both the top and bottom pushers need to be operated simultaneously in order to unblock the bezel.
It is not the first Bulova watch to offer such a feature: At least two models Bulova released in the 1980s were equipped with bezel-locking mechanisms, albeit much simpler ones: the Sea Hunter, with its second fixating crown; and the Snorkel, with a red pusher not unlike the one found on the Omega Ploprof.
To unlock the bezel…
…both pushers need to be pressed at the same time.
An integrated helium-release valve can be found at 2 o’clock; the base caliber is the Miyota 8215, which now boasts an increased shock resistance, according to Bulova.
The Bulova Sea King is limited to 500 pieces and has a list price of $1,595.
More pictures:
I JUST BOUGHT THIS WATCH 3 MONTHS BACK FOR $800.00 BRAND NEW .I GOT A GREAT DEAL ON IT. I LIKE IT, AND IT FITS AND WEARS NICE ON MY WRIST. LOOKS HEAVY BUT IT IS NOT. I DO UNDER WATER WORK ,NOT REAL DEEP BUT DEEP ENOUGH AND NO PROBLEMS SO FAR.. I DO AGREE WITH ROB ABOVE THE MOVEMENT COULD BE BETTER. MY WATCH GAINS 1 MINUTE EVERY 3 DAYS. BUT I MUST SAY NO BATTERY TO REPLACE IS A HUGE PLUS FOR ME..
Looks nice….but poor movement choice, hideous size and ridiculously priced.
Very nice step in the right direction from Bulova, but the Miyota 8215 in it ruins it. Why Bulova did not put the 9015 in it is just beyond me. Speechless.
Very nice diving watch in a resonable price well done Bulova