Bulova Wrist Watch and Television's First Commercial

The Bulova Watch Company, subsidiary of Citizen Watch Co. and makers of the Bulova Wrist Watch, have a long and storied history in being first.

In 1926, Bulova pounced on the idea of advertising over the new phenomenon called “radio” and produced the first radio commercial in the history of the United States. A voice spoke out “At the tone, it’s 8 P.M., B-U-L-O-V-A Bulova Watch Time!”

Only two years later, Bulove introduced the world’s first clock radio.

By 1940, Bulova was first in national advertisements, becoming a sponsor for all of the top 20 radio shows, including Charley McCarthy, Jack Benny, and Fibber McGee.

And in 1941, 14-years after pioneering the world with radio-advertisement, Bulova became the first company to ever advertise on television.

It was the first day of July, and the Brooklyn Dodgers were hosting the Philadelphia Phillies. The baseball game was being broadcast on WNBT, the flagship station of the NBC television network. Commercial television had just been authorized earlier that morning, as it had previously been illegal.

At 2:29:10, superimposed over a test pattern, Bulova Watch Company and NBC aired the first television commercial. It was a 10-second advertisement, consisting of an image of a Bulova clock over a map of the United States. A voice-over then announced “America runs on Bulova time.”

The ad cost Bulova a whopping four dollars.

In an era where the broadcasts of sporting events are typically dominated by advertisements for light beer, sports cars and men’s deodorant, it’s almost hard to believe that it was one of the world’s oldest and most innovative watch companies that introduced a nation to the world of television advertisement.

For anyone keeping score at home, the Phillies defeated the Dodgers that day by a score of six to four.

The Ever Increasing Watch

In today’s world of technologically savvy wristwatches, there is always something to make the classic watch holder shudder. Quite different from a Concord Mariner watch or a Bulova wrist watch, the new Eleeno Ever Increasing Watch looks like it might as well hold a stock chart for a bull market.

Using rainbow colored dots, the watch has a line for the hours, the tens of minutes, and single minutes. With each passing minute, or hour, the watch’s lines increase higher and higher, making it seem like your life is building to a climax. Much like a cellphone, this watch uses a grid to allow you to see a digital readout, but it can be difficult to see the exact numbers. Eventually you would be able to read it probably just by looking at the lines.

I prefer the good old Bulova wrist watch any day. Rather than moving your expectations forward to how your time will culminate, classic styles allow you to relish the moment when you want to know the time.

Novelty watches are fun for a few hours or tens of minutes, but in the end, I’ll take a traditional watch any day of the week.

A Record Setting Gold Watch for $6M

At an auction by Christie’s, a 1943-4 Patek Philippe watch with a gold case and a perpetual calendar chronograph set a record for a yellow gold watch, selling for almost $6 million dollars. It was the second highest ever price for a wristwatch.

The winner of the watch, thought to be a private watch museum in Switzerland, must be glad with its acquisition, which Aurel Bacs, the international co-chair of watches called “the Mona Lisa of all watches.” He also said that Chinese collectors were particularly keen on the watch, with regard to the usually strong European market.

Want a nice watch but can’t afford the price tag of $6 million? I’m with you. Check out the Concord Mariner watch or an elegant Bulova wrist watch, both of which are gorgeous wristwatches to add to any collection. A Bulova wrist watch is a perfect piece if you want to incorporate jewelry into your horological style, and the Concord Mariner watch is better if you live a more active lifestyle. Either one looks classy and chic, whether you’re wearing it to work, a business dinner, or on an afternoon yachting trip. Visit www.WonderWatches.com to buy a wonderful watch today.

Technological Innovations in the Watch World

The RM 027 Tourbillon - 20 grams.

Technology is constantly improving. When it comes to wristwatches, some of the latest developments are occurring within the watch’s engineering.

A relatively new watchmaker, Richard Mille of his eponymous company, has developed in conjunction with Rafael Nadal a watch that weighs less than one ounce. Priced at $525,000, the RM 027 Tourbillon will be worn by the tennis star when he plays his matches. 50 watches will be available worldwide.

Meanwhile, Patek Phillipe is experimenting with silicon. This metal will allow for mechanization of parts so precise that it will not require oiling. These mechanisms will be much more moderately priced, hovering in the $30,000 range, and will be available at Tiffany’s.

If you’re looking for a beautiful technologically innovative watch in a reasonable price range, the Concord Mariner watch fits the bill. These watches are more traditional in their style, meaning that they have the gold and silver that the RM 027 lacks. The Concord Mariner watch may differ in its design and weight, but to the unassuming eye, they are no more stunning than the above featured watches. The Concord Mariner watch and the Concord Ladies watch are beautiful options if you want a watch that bespeaks elegance and class.

A Watch Story

I used to have a watch. It was a nice watch. I’m not going to disclose the brand or style, for the sake of your judgment, but it was in the $500 dollar price range. I wore that watch like it was going out of style. Thing was, pretty soon it was all scratched up and I could barely see what time it was.

Whereas once people used to compliment me on my watch, after it was scratched, they barely even noticed it. I decided to take it to a watch shop for a shine and a new crystal. The watchmaker took a look and said, “Sonny, this here’s a watch that ain’t worth fixin. It’s gonna be at least a couple of hundred dollars to do so. You’re better off just getting a new watch.” Stupid old man, I thought. But I knew that he was right.

And so I waited, watchless, without a quick way of knowing the time, instead reduced to looking at my cell phone like a sap. Until my girlfriend, maybe my soon to be fiancée, (you’ll see why after I tell you how much it cost) bought me a beautiful Concord mariner watch. Silver, with a white face it’s a beaute. And with my Concord mariner watch, I am happy. Maybe if I propose, I’ll buy her a Concord ladies watch…

The La Scala Midsize Concord Ladies Watch

Do you ever wish you could travel through time with the flick of a wrist? With this midsize Concord ladies watch, you can! This luxurious timepiece features retro details straight out of the 1960s, complemented by a more modern attention to geometry. Where will you wind up? Probably 1985, if you split the difference.

The midsize La Scala is most striking for its barrel-shaped case, a creative choice that may remind you of the Bulova wrist watch collection of bangles. This unique stainless steel case is highlighted even further by diamonds embedded in the stainless steel bezel's four sides. These diamonds are arranged to fit triangular inserts arranged at random, creating a joyful pattern that would look quite at home on a 1960s shift dress.

But the diamonds don't end there. This watch also features eight diamond hour markers embedded in the mother-or-pearl dial, in addition to silver Arabic indicators at 3, 6, 9, and 12. As a final component, this Concord ladies watch features alligator leather straps available in three vibrant colors: purple, green, and blue.

Our Favorite Bulova Wrist Watch BVA Models

The Bulova wrist watch BVA series is known for blending striking design aspects with classic shapes and quality materials. Watch-wearers love the 500 Automatic, which features two tone polished stainless steel and a deep blue dial, as well as the 100 Automatic, with its luxurious brown leather strap and textured dial. Among the collection’s most memorable items are the 110 Automatic timepieces, showcasing a unique combination of skeleton windows and traditional Roman numerals.

This design juxtaposes past and present, as the Roman indexes at 3, 6, 9, and 12 evoke classic timepiece styles, while the skeletonized components showcase the Japanese automatic movement within. The duality is further showcased by the dial’s circular black ring with subtle minute indexes in white.

Shoppers interested in these Bulova wrist watch models can choose between black leather and stainless steel straps. The padded black leather strap compliments the black in the dial’s ring and hour markers, while the stainless steel strap matches the case, creating an effect similar to that of many Concord Mariner watch designs. And like the Concord Mariner timepieces, www.WonderWatches.com offers a two-year limited warranty on these Bulova wrist watch models as well.