Why We Love It

Far too often, people forget to have fun with collecting vintage watches. With a watch like the Bulova 'Stars and Stripes' chronograph strapped on, it becomes much easier to remember that this hobby - and these great vintage watches - don't have to be taken too seriously!

Featuring an oversized 43mm monocoque case, the Bulova Chronograph C - known more colloquially as the 'Stars and Stripes' for its patriotic color scheme  dates from the 1970's and has a powerful and whimsical presence on the wrist. This particular example is near-mint, showing virtually no signs of wear or use from its near 50-year life.

With its size and bright coloring, this Chronograph C is not only a perfect choice for someone looking for a fun summer driver with a little patriotic flair, but its condition stands head and shoulders above other examples we've come across.

Yes, Bulova reissued the Stars and Stripes recently - but we all know nothing beats the real deal - even if its just for fun. 

The Story

The story of Bulova is deeply entwined with American manufacturing.

Its founder, a Czech immigrant named Joseph Bulova, was inspired by the advances that Ford made in his factory in Highland Park, Michigan. Starting in 1912, Bulova built a factory in Biel, Switzerland, using Ford’s principles of mass production.

The brand was among the first to offer a wide range of wristwatches for men, with a distinctive visual style that—thanks to its innovative adoption of advertising and a relocation to Astoria, Queens—became fixed in the American imagination. Bulova took over offices in the Empire State Building and installed an observatory on the roof, in order to measure universal time.

In the workshop down below, watchmakers timed the watches they were working on to readings taken in the observatory.

The watches that Bulova produced were varied, from handsome three-handers to divers and even chronographs. Bulova produced its first chronographs in the 1940s—single-button affairs with screw-on bezels. Throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70's, Bulova honed its mastery of chronographs.