A review of the reissue model of the legendary chronograph that was only sold for two years / Bulova "Chronograph A "Surfboard""

Bulova once developed a chronograph watch, codenamed "Chronograph A," at the request of NASA. Nicknamed "Surfboard" due to its distinctive coloring in the center of the dial, this timepiece is being relaunched in 2020. WatchTime's Mark Bernardo reviews the limited edition Bulova "Chronograph A 'Surfboard'" model, equipped with the Sellita SW510 movement.

Bulova "Chronograph A "Surfboard""

　Bulova's Archives series unearths some of the brand's cult classic pieces, from the pioneering digital watch, the Computron, to the signature deep-sea diver, the Oceanographer "Devil Diver." I recently had the chance to spend some time with the collection's most colorful, playful, and heavily retro-inspired addition: the Chronograph A "Surfboard."

　The "Chronograph A" was given the unusual nickname due to its design, in which a blue oval reminiscent of a surfboard connects the subdials at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock. This chronograph was produced for only two years, from 1970 to 1971.

　The market for vintage-look models is booming, but what's interesting is that a reissue doesn't necessarily need to have been a huge commercial success when it was first released. The retro appeal of the Chronograph A "Surfboard" is undeniable, and the limited edition of 350 pieces I had the opportunity to review is the only one of the three new models being released in Japan this time that is equipped with a mechanical automatic movement (the other two models use quartz movements, have a case diameter 2mm larger, and feature modern colors).

　The Chronograph A "Surfboard" features a stainless steel cushion case with a diameter of 38.5 mm and a striking, colorful bezel that gives it a strong personality. The entire case surface is satin-brushed, with only the curved lugs being polished. Viewed from the side, the case is clearly thick (16.7 mm), and the bezel is covered by a slightly domed, anti-reflective sapphire crystal.

　The crown and chronograph pushers also have a high-gloss polished surface. The crown is knurled and screws down into the case. It's a little small to grip with your fingers, but that's not a problem. The pushers are mushroom-shaped, as was common when the original model was released, and require a soft, firm push with your finger. The pusher at 2 o'clock starts and stops the orange central chronograph hand, and the pusher at 4 o'clock resets it to zero.

Dial details with many highlights

　The distinctive cream-colored dial, described by Bulova as beige, is dotted with details borrowed from the original 70s model. Starting around the outer periphery of the dial, there's a black-printed tachymeter, a feature found on many vintage chronographs of the time, but it's very small due to the dial and case size. The applied indices are rectangular, with a slightly raised center filled with Super-LumiNova. The 12 and 6 o'clock markers are slightly elongated, and the 3 and 9 o'clock positions are absent, as they're overtaken by the dark blue "surfboard" and two smaller dials.

　The use of various colors, such as orange hands on an off-white dial, small white hands with unusual shapes on a blue surfboard, a bezel that combines red, white and metallic, and bright green luminous paint, make the head truly attractive.

　The hour and minute hands are white bar-shaped, with orange tips like the aforementioned chronograph hands and the same luminous stripes as the hour markers. The subdial at 9 o'clock is the seconds hand, and the subdial at 3 o'clock is the chronograph's 30-minute counter. Both subdials feature white numerals and indices and are paired with unusual white bottle- or paddle-shaped hands. Again, due to the compact size of the watch, legibility isn't the best, but the key to this watch is its vintage aesthetic, and that quality is clearly conveyed throughout the design.

Equipped with Sellita SW510

　The screw-down solid caseback, unadorned except for a sunburst finish, is engraved with the Bulova logo and the limited edition number, and inside is the automatic caliber SW510 BH b, based on the Sellita SW500-1. The SW500 and SW510 were designed as replacements for the ETA 7750, a well-known general-purpose chronograph movement.

　The retro-inspired bracelet features satin-finished links on the front and polished sides, and is secured to the wrist with a stainless steel double folding clasp that opens with secure buttons on both sides.

　Like the rest of Bulova's archive collection, the Chronograph A "Surfboard" is remarkable in every detail, demonstrating Bulova's continuity in unearthing timepieces from its rich history to appeal to an entirely new, modern customer base—in this case, like waxing up an old surfboard and riding a whole new wave.