Racer Chronograph 98B432 ice-blue quartz chrono with racing roots

What is new about the Bulova Racer Chronograph 98B432?

The Racer is a new collection rather than a reissue. Bulova introduced it in September 2024 with three references: the 98B427 on brown perforated leather, the black-cased 98B428, and this 98B432, which pairs a steel case with a light blue dial and a three-link bracelet. The UK RRP is £429.

The design leans on Bulova's motorsport history. WatchTime reports that the brand became NASCAR's official timing partner in 1957 and sponsored a Canadian Formula Ford championship from 1972 to 1976. Worn and Wound adds that the Bulova name appeared on Formula One cars in 1989. None of that is copied directly here. Instead, the Racer borrows the general vocabulary of 1970s racing chronographs: a contoured case, big pushers, a two-tone tachymetre and a bright chronograph hand.

The dial on the 98B432 is textured light blue with an orange and white racing pattern around the edge. An orange and black tachymetre ring frames it. The chronograph seconds hand is orange, so it stands out clearly from the silver-tone time hands.

How big is it, and how will it wear?

Bulova lists the case at 42 mm across, 13.1 mm thick and 48 mm from lug to lug, with 22 mm lugs. Those are sensible numbers for a chronograph. Worn and Wound points to the short lugs as the reason it wears smaller than its 42 mm suggests.

It is still a broad, sporty watch. The wide tachymetre ring and light dial make it look larger than a dark-dialled 42 mm watch would. On a smaller wrist, the 98B427 on leather will feel lighter, but the bracelet version is the one to pick if you want a single watch for every day.

The bracelet closes with a push-button deployment clasp. Bulova does not publish a micro-adjustment figure, so fit may depend on removing links.

What movement does it use, and how accurate is it?

Inside is calibre 0S21, a Japanese quartz chronograph movement. Bulova quotes accuracy of 15 seconds a month, which is typical for standard quartz and far tighter than any mechanical watch at this price. WatchTime's German listing gives a looser plus or minus 20 seconds a month, so treat 15 seconds as the brand's headline figure.

The chronograph times up to 60 minutes in one-second steps. The sub-dial at 9 o'clock counts the chronograph minutes, the sub-dial at 3 o'clock shows 24-hour time, and the date sits at 6 o'clock. There is no running small seconds, so you can't see at a glance that the watch is running unless the chronograph is on.

This is not Bulova's high-frequency Precisionist movement. If accuracy and a sweeping seconds hand matter most, the Precisionist chronographs are worth a look. The Racer is about style first.

How well is it built?

The specification is strong for the money. The crystal is sapphire with an anti-reflective coating, which is still not a given on quartz chronographs at around £400. Water resistance is 100 m, enough for swimming and snorkelling according to Bulova. The hands and markers are applied and filled with luminous material.

The tachymetre ring is aluminium, which can scratch or fade over time. The case is assembled in China with a Japanese movement, according to Bulova's own product data. Neither is unusual at this price, but buyers who care about provenance should know.

Owner feedback on the 98B432 is still thin. We could not find enough independent owner reports to summarise fairly, so judge finishing for yourself at a retailer.

Is it good value against its rivals?

The obvious rival is the Tissot PRS 516 Chronograph, another racing-themed quartz chronograph, which Tissot lists in the UK at £435. The Tissot is Swiss made and carries a famous motorsport name, but its case is 45 mm, a lot more watch on the wrist than the Bulova.

Within Bulova's own range, the leather-strap 98B427 and black 98B428 cost less and share the same case, movement and sapphire. You pay a little extra for the bracelet and the distinctive pale blue dial here.

At £429, the Racer is fair value for a sapphire quartz chronograph with a properly designed case. It is not a bargain, and the movement is the same kind found in much cheaper watches.

What is the catch?

The catch is the movement. Calibre 0S21 is a reliable, accurate quartz chronograph, but it is a workhorse calibre. Most of the £429 goes on the case design, the dial and the sapphire crystal. If you love the pale blue dial and the racing look, that is a reasonable trade. If you want something mechanically interesting, look elsewhere.

The colour scheme is also loud. Light blue, orange and black will not suit every outfit, and the 98B432 is more weekend watch than boardroom watch.

“A properly designed racing case and sapphire crystal, wrapped around a workhorse quartz movement.”