If we’re being honest with ourselves, the biggest turnoff for those who look down on quartz movements–and I know because I admittedly can be one–is the jumping motion of the second hand. It just has an ick to it.
Sure, we can rationalize it by appreciating fine mechanical engineering and doing our part to keep the art alive, but deep down, most of us will admit that the sweep of the second hand makes all the difference.
Bulova has an answer for us quartz non-believers with the HPQ (High Performance Quartz) Precisionist movement series. By all quantitative metrics, they blow away every mechanical movement outside of the highest luxury tier (re: Grand Seiko and Rolex).
The HPQ Precisionist movement line has been around since 2010, most notably powering the Lunar Pilot chronograph. But it has never been put to better use than with the new Marine Star Heritage.
This aquatic chronograph is based on a Bulova fan-favorite reference from the 1970s. Its faithful dial design includes the ten-star circle logo, but adds a third sub-dial to accommodate the 1/20 of a second chronograph register.
Bulova turns 150 years old in 2025, and the crown jewel of the anniversary celebrations might be this beautiful archival chronograph turbo-charged with the world’s most underrated quartz movement.