Okay, so let’s talk about this Bulova MIL-SHIPS watch. You know, I’ve been eyeing this thing for a while now. I finally decided to give it a try.
First off, I gotta say, I was digging the whole retro vibe. Turns out, this watch is actually based on some prototypes Bulova made for the U.S. Navy way back in 1957. It’s a tribute to the MIL-SHIPS-W-2181 military spec, which I found out was for those early frogmen types. Pretty cool, right?
So, I did some research, ordered it, and when it finally arrived, the first thing that struck me was the size of the lugs. They’re 16mm, which is kinda narrow by today’s standards. But, I learned that the original from the ’50s also had 16mm lugs, so I guess they were just staying true to the original design. It’s not a big deal, just something I noticed.
I flipped the watch over, and the case back had “Bulova” marked on the inside, which is apparently typical. Some of these watches also have markings on the outside of the case back, like a date code or something. They are marked as “Bulova”.
The hands on this watch are called “cathedral-style,” which I thought was a fancy name. But yeah, they look like the hands on the original model from back in the day, which is a nice touch. I mean, Bulova made this 3818-A military model, and they used these same hands for their military diver in 1957. More than 60 years later, these cathedral-style hands are still cool.
The watch itself has a 41mm matte black dial, which I like. And you gotta press down on the bezel to turn it, which is a bit different, but it works. I found that the case is stainless steel, and the strap is this 16mm NATO strap. Oh, and it’s water-resistant up to 200 meters, so that’s pretty solid.
I read somewhere that this 2021 Bulova MIL-SHIPS-W-2181 thing is like a nod to Bulova’s history with the U.S. Navy. It says “Bulova MIL-SHIPS-W-2181,” “United States Navy,” and “Bulova Mil Ships W 2181” on it, which is kinda cool if you’re into that military history stuff.
Honestly, one of the main reasons I went for this watch was because it looked so much like those original 1950s prototypes. I have to give Bulova props for sticking to that design. I’m happy with it. I’ve got to say, it is a new Bulova that I actually like.
It’s wild to think that 64 years after the first prototype, they’re still making watches inspired by it. It’s been a fun experience, from ordering the watch to wearing it around. Overall, I’m pretty happy with this Bulova MIL-SHIPS. It’s a cool, retro piece with a bit of history behind it.
