Bulova
Citizen Watch · United States
Bulova is an American watch brand founded in New York City in 1875 by Joseph Bulova. Owned by Citizen Watch since 2008, it makes watches, clocks and accessories.
| Founded | 1875, New York City |
|---|---|
| Founder | Joseph Bulova |
| Parent | Citizen Watch (since 2008) |
| Known innovation | Accutron tuning fork watch (1960) |
| Website | bulova.com |
What is Bulova?
Bulova is a watch brand founded in 1875 as the J. Bulova Company in New York City by Joseph Bulova, an immigrant from Bohemia. It is still based in New York and has been owned by the Japanese group Citizen Watch since 2008, when Citizen bought it from Loews Corporation.
History
Bulova has a long record of firsts in American watchmaking and marketing. In 1926 it ran a national radio advertisement that introduced the time signal "At the tone, it's eight o'clock, Bulova Watch Time", and on 1 July 1941 it aired what is recognised as the first television advertisement.
- 1960: the Accutron, regulated by a 360 Hz tuning fork instead of a balance wheel
- 1971: a Bulova chronograph worn on the lunar surface by astronaut David Scott during Apollo 15
- 1976: the Computron, the brand's first LED digital watch
Products and positioning
The company makes watches, clocks and accessories. Over the years it has run several sub-brands, including Caravelle, Wittnauer and Marine Star, while Accutron was spun off as a standalone brand in 2020.
Distribution
Bulova grew from jewellery stores and chains into general merchandise outlets, and by 1968 it had more than 20,000 distributors in the United States.
Why it matters
Bulova shows how a heritage watch name can combine technical milestones with mass marketing, and how such brands now sit inside larger international watch groups.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Bulova?
Bulova has been owned by Citizen Watch since 2008, when it was bought from Loews Corporation.
Who founded Bulova?
Bulova was founded in New York City in 1875 by Joseph Bulova.