Bulova is returning to one of its World War II-era military designs with the new A-11 Jimmy, a 37mm automatic field watch based on the Type A-11 watches the company produced for the U.S. military beginning in 1942. It arrives in early October and coincides with Jimmy, the upcoming Jimmy Stewart biopic for which Bulova served as a material-heritage partner. The movie connection isn’t really what I care about, though.
At $795, this Bulova lands remarkably close to another military reissue I purchased earlier this year: the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 250 (check out my hands-on review here). That watch basically won my year. After spending years looking at Khaki Field models without buying one, the 36mm Mechanical 250 finally gave me the proportions, simplicity, and historical details I wanted. So when a buddy texted me about this Bulova, my mind went there almost immediately.
Bulova has the history to make the comparison interesting. The company was one of the American manufacturers producing watches to the U.S. military’s Type A-11 specification during World War II. These were compact, legible watches with hacking seconds that allowed servicemen to synchronize their watches before an operation.
I think Bulova made a smart decision by keeping this one at 37mm with an 18mm lug width. The matte black dial, white Arabic numerals, luminous hands, and straightforward layout also keep the design close to its source material. To me, this is exactly where Bulova’s heritage catalog works best.
The modern updates are pretty straightforward, too. Bulova uses a double-domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating, 50 meters of water resistance, and a beige nylon strap. Inside is the Miyota 9039, a 24-jewel automatic movement with hacking seconds and approximately 42 hours of power reserve. And this is where I keep thinking about the Hamilton.
Hamilton equipped the Mechanical 250 with its hand-wound H-50, which offers an 80-hour power reserve. After owning that watch, I’ve come to appreciate how much the manual-winding experience contributes to it. The original Bulova A-11 was hand-wound as well, so I think a manual movement here could have given the new watch another layer of personality. The automatic 9039 is arguably less fussy… sure. I just wonder if ease was the most interesting choice for this particular watch.
Price makes the comparison even harder to ignore. The Bulova costs $70 more than the Hamilton Mechanical 250 did at launch. Bulova gives you sapphire where the Hamilton uses acrylic, while the Hamilton offers 100 meters of water resistance compared with the Bulova’s 50. On paper, I think $795 is still reasonable for what Bulova is offering.
My bigger question is whether the A-11 can deliver the same sense of purpose. The Hamilton has become one of those watches I reach for without thinking about it. I know that from actually owning it. I haven’t handled the Bulova, so I’m not going to pretend I know how this comparison ends.
But Bulova caught my eye. And at this price, the A-11 Jimmy is walking straight into territory occupied by one of my favorite watches of the year.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.