Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

Bulova Surveyor Automatic vs Casio MTP-S120L Solar Field

Bulova's dress watch meets Casio's field watch

Quick Verdict

The Casio MTP-S120L Solar Field ($100–$150) delivers Casio Tough Solar Quartz technology in the tier below the Bulova Surveyor Automatic ($250–$500). The MTP-S120L Solar Field measures 42mm (49 x 42 x 10.9mm) and is rated 100m (10 ATM). The Surveyor Automatic justifies its premium with Made in Japan (Movement) heritage and Automatic Miyota 8215. Both represent excellent choices in the luxury watch category.

BulovaSurveyor Automatic$250–$500 Check price CasioMTP-S120L Solar Field$100–$150 Check price

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Bulova

Surveyor Automatic

$250–$500

Check Price Full Review

Casio

MTP-S120L Solar Field

$100–$150

Check Price Full Review

Specifications Compared

Feature	Bulova Surveyor Automatic	Casio MTP-S120L Solar Field
Price	$250–$500	$100–$150
Case Size	39mm	42mm (49 x 42 x 10.9mm)
Movement	Automatic Miyota 8215	Solar-Powered Quartz
Caliber Type	Miyota Automatic	Casio Tough Solar Quartz
Power Reserve	42 Hours	Months on a full solar charge; no battery replacement
Water Resistance	30m (3 ATM)	100m (10 ATM)
Crystal	Sapphire Crystal	Mineral Crystal
Case Material	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel
Origin	Made in Japan (Movement)	Casio (Japan)

Category-by-Category Analysis

🎨

Design & Aesthetics

Edge: Draw

Bulova's design language vs Casio's approach

The Bulova Surveyor Automatic features a Stainless Steel case at 39mm with Sapphire Crystal protection. The Casio MTP-S120L Solar Field offers Stainless Steel construction at 42mm (49 x 42 x 10.9mm) with Mineral Crystal. Both represent their brand's distinct design philosophy and heritage.

⚙️

Movement & Performance

Edge: Bulova

Automatic Miyota 8215 vs Solar-Powered Quartz

The Surveyor Automatic runs the Automatic Miyota 8215 (Miyota Automatic, 42 Hours power reserve) at 21,600 vph (3 Hz) frequency. The MTP-S120L Solar Field uses the Solar-Powered Quartz (Casio Tough Solar Quartz, Months on a full solar charge; no battery replacement reserve) at standard. The Surveyor Automatic edges ahead on power reserve.

📏

Wearability & Fit

Edge: Bulova

39mm vs 42mm (49 x 42 x 10.9mm) — different wrist presence

At 39mm, the Surveyor Automatic wears more compactly on smaller wrists compared to the MTP-S120L Solar Field at 42mm (49 x 42 x 10.9mm). Water resistance differs: 30m (3 ATM) vs 100m (10 ATM).

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Value & Cost of Ownership

Edge: Casio

Casio sits in the lower tier

The Bulova Surveyor Automatic sits at $250–$500 and the Casio MTP-S120L Solar Field at $100–$150. On the specs that outlast any price: the Surveyor Automatic uses Sapphire Crystal with 42 Hours, against Mineral Crystal and Months on a full solar charge; no battery replacement on the MTP-S120L Solar Field. Service intervals are typically 5-7 years for both.

💧

Water Resistance

Edge: Casio

30m (3 ATM) vs 100m (10 ATM)

The Surveyor Automatic is rated to 30m (3 ATM) while the MTP-S120L Solar Field handles 100m (10 ATM). The MTP-S120L Solar Field offers superior water resistance.

Our Verdict

Bulova

Surveyor Automatic

Choose the Bulova Surveyor Automatic if you prioritize Miyota Automatic engineering, Made in Japan (Movement) craftsmanship, and 30m (3 ATM) water resistance. At $250–$500, it delivers Automatic Miyota 8215 with 42 Hours power reserve.

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Casio

MTP-S120L Solar Field

Choose the Casio MTP-S120L Solar Field if you value Casio Tough Solar Quartz technology, Casio (Japan) heritage, and 42mm (49 x 42 x 10.9mm) proportions. At $100–$150, the Solar-Powered Quartz with Months on a full solar charge; no battery replacement power reserve makes it a compelling choice.

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The Bottom Line

The Bulova Surveyor Automatic and Casio MTP-S120L Solar Field represent two distinct approaches to fine watchmaking — the Bulova bringing Made in Japan (Movement) tradition while Casio delivers Casio (Japan) engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bulova Surveyor Automatic is the better buy if you want a mechanical movement; the Casio MTP-S120L Solar Field is the better buy if you want solar power and quartz accuracy with no servicing. For water, the Casio MTP-S120L Solar Field is rated 100 m against 30 m, which is the difference between swimming and diving on one side and splashes on the other. On price, the Casio MTP-S120L Solar Field sits a band lower ($100–$150 against $250–$500), so it is the cheaper way into the category. Neither is better at everything; the spec table above shows movement, case size, water resistance and crystal side by side so you can weigh what matters to you. We do not test units, so this is the makers' data, not a bench result.

The Casio MTP-S120L Solar Field offers better upfront value, sitting a tier lower at $100–$150. However, the Bulova Surveyor Automatic may justify its premium with superior finishing, heritage, or resale value.

Both are suitable for daily wear. The Surveyor Automatic at 39mm with 30m (3 ATM) water resistance handles everyday situations. The MTP-S120L Solar Field at 42mm (49 x 42 x 10.9mm) with 100m (10 ATM) is similarly capable. The Surveyor Automatic uses Sapphire Crystal while the MTP-S120L Solar Field uses Mineral Crystal. Sapphire resists scratches noticeably better than mineral glass.

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How This Page Was Made

Our comparisons are generated from a hand-maintained specification database and reviewed under our editorial standards. We use AI tools to assemble pages from that data. We don’t invent specs: every number traces back to the database, and when we correct an entry, the fix is applied site-wide. As an Amazon Associate, The Horologist earns from qualifying purchases.