In the ranking of qualities that make a watch hype-worthy, accuracy tends to fall far behind other, sexier concerns—celebrity provenance, mechanical complexity, bezels loaded with gemstones. This is unfortunate, and not just for the countless generations of watchmakers who have dedicated their lives to the relentless pursuit of accuracy.
While it’s true that some of the genre’s most influential collectors don’t bother to set the time on their vibey vintage tickers, there’s a whole other camp of watch enthusiasts for whom accuracy remains a big part of any watch’s appeal. So, you might ask, could there possibly be a watch that combines the funky styling of an old-school grail with the kind of precision Abraham Breguet could only dream of? As a matter of fact, there is: the Bulova Jet Star. With flex-worthy accuracy and aesthetics straight out of the disco era, this vintage-inspired timepiece has something for everyone. Better still, it can be yours for just $595.
The original Jet Star was released in 1973; its “turtle”-shaped case, big rectangular hour markers, and dynamic red and black color scheme perfectly embodied the funky techno-futurism of the era. While Bulova had been a pioneer in electronic timekeeping in previous decades (its sci-fi Accutron Spaceview remains a classic of the genre), the Jet Star was powered by a Swiss-made automatic movement, which was standard for most high-end sports watches at the time.
The new Jet Star flips the script with a more angular 40mm case, a new selection of ’70s-inspired gradient dials, and Bulova’s latest NM50 quartz movement. For those who care about such things, the NM50 uses a 3-pronged quartz crystal (much like the one pictured in the Bulova logo) to oscillate at an impressive 262 kHz—or 16 vibrations per second—which is eight times faster than a standard quartz movement. This translates to impressive accuracy of +/- 5 seconds per month, which is significantly better than most quartz watches, and leagues ahead of even the most accurate mechanical ones.
It also gives the Bulova Jet Star a seconds hand that sweeps smoothly around the dial, instead of ticking as most quartz watches do. Why choose between Team Vibes and Team Accuracy when you can have both?
Read the full article here
