Kollektion: Bulova Sutton Watches

Bulova Sutton watches

Sutton is Bulova’s classic dress line, and it covers more ground than most: petite rectangular and round women’s watches on quartz, mother-of-pearl automatics with an open heart, and men’s skeleton automatics up to 43mm, along with a slim rectangular quartz and a chronograph. Many of the women’s models carry Bulova’s tuning fork logo and Roman numerals.

The women’s Sutton

• 21mm rectangle: a mother-of-pearl dial with Roman numerals and the tuning fork logo, on a steel bracelet in silver tone, gold tone or two-tone. The Sutton 97L177 is the gold-tone version, and the silver-tone one adds diamond accents.
• 23mm soft square: a sunray dial under sapphire crystal, on a gold-tone or two-tone bracelet.
• 25mm rectangle: Roman numerals and the tuning fork logo on a white dial, in gold tone or two-tone.
• 28mm round: a slender case under a domed sapphire crystal, either with a mother-of-pearl dial and 16 diamonds, or in brushed and polished steel with a pale blue or pink dial and diamond accents.
• 34.5mm automatic: a mother-of-pearl dial with an opening that shows the balance beating, and a glass caseback onto the movement. Calibre 82S0 winds itself as you wear it, with about 42 hours of reserve.

The quartz models are thin, about 5mm to 8mm on the rectangles. Rectangular and square cases wear larger than their width suggests because of their length; our square and rectangular watches gather the shape across brands.

The men’s Sutton

• 29mm rectangle: a slim case, 6.9mm in steel, brushed and polished, with Roman numerals and sapphire crystal on a leather strap, and a slim quartz movement with a calendar.
• 41mm chronograph: brushed and polished steel, quartz, six hands and a calendar, on leather or a bracelet.
• 40mm skeleton automatic: a sculpted case and a skeleton dial under sapphire crystal, on leather or steel, with calibre 8N26 and about 42 hours of reserve.
• 43mm skeleton automatics: open dials and exhibition casebacks, so the skeletonized 21-jewel movement shows from both sides. On calibre 8N24 they are water resistant to 100 metres; the 8N26 versions sit under a domed crystal and are splash resistant.

If it’s the open movement that appeals, compare them with other makers’ in our skeleton and open-heart watches.

Quartz or automatic?

Quartz is the most precise everyday timekeeping and keeps the case thin; it needs a new battery every few years. An automatic needs no battery at all and puts the movement on show, but it runs on its reserve when you take it off and stops after about 42 hours unused. Give it a gentle swirl and set the time to start it again. Our guide to automatic, quartz or Eco-Drive sets out the differences.

Water and care

Most Suttons are splash resistant, the 30 metre rating: fine for rain and washing your hands, not for swimming. The 43mm automatics on calibre 8N24 are rated to 100 metres, enough for swimming and snorkelling. Keep leather straps dry, and wipe the crystal and case with a soft dry cloth.

Questions

What is an open heart? An opening in the dial over the balance wheel, so you can watch the automatic movement beating as it runs. The women’s 34.5mm Sutton has one; the men’s 40mm and 43mm go further with fully skeletonized dials.

Is there a men’s Sutton automatic without a skeleton dial? In the Sutton line the men’s automatics all have skeleton dials; the plainer men’s dials are on the quartz models.

Which women’s Sutton is the smallest? The 21mm rectangle: 5.2mm thick in silver tone and about 62 g on its bracelet, by Bulova’s figures. For other petite sizes across brands, see our small women’s watches.