Bulova · Oceanographer · Ref 96B350
The 1970s diver Bulova brought back, 666 feet and all.
A 41mm cushion case, a sapphire box crystal, a Miyota automatic with a 42-hour reserve and a 200m rating that Bulova describes as ISO certified. The Devil Diver name comes from the 666 feet printed on the original.
Movement
Miyota automatic
21 jewels, 21,600 vph
Power reserve
42 hours
specs.json
Case
41mm
Stainless steel cushion case
Water resistance
200m
Screw-down crown; ISO certified per Bulova
Crystal
Sapphire
Domed box crystal
Thickness
14.55mm
Bulova product page
From the archive
Bulova sold the original Oceanographer in the 1970s with its depth rating printed as 666 feet, and the nickname wrote itself. The modern 96B350 is the brand’s Archive Series revival of that watch, keeping the cushion-shaped case and the tall domed crystal that gave the original its profile.
The revival is not a loose homage. The proportions, the crystal and the 200m figure all carry over. What changes is the mechanism inside and the materials the case is made from.
A box crystal in sapphire
The crystal is a double-curved sapphire that rises well above the bezel line, the way the acrylic domes of 1970s divers did. Sapphire keeps the vintage silhouette while shrugging off the scratches acrylic collected.
It also adds height: Bulova lists the case at 14.55mm thick. That is the price of the look, and it is worth knowing before it arrives under a shirt cuff.
Certified to dive
Bulova rates the 96B350 at 200m with a screw-down crown and describes it as ISO certified for diving. That is a different claim from a 200m rating alone: it means the watch has been tested to the dive-watch standard rather than to a static pressure figure.
Inside is a Miyota automatic beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour on 21 jewels, with a 42-hour power reserve. It is a workhorse calibre, cheap to service and easy to find parts for, which is the right choice for a watch meant to get wet.
Specs
- Reference
- 96B350
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case material
- Stainless Steel
- Movement
- Automatic Miyota 8215
- Caliber type
- Miyota Automatic
- Crystal
- Sapphire Crystal
- Water resistance
- 200m (20 ATM)
- Power reserve
- 42 Hours
- Complications
- Date
- Jewels
- 21 Jewels
- Frequency
- 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
- Origin
- Made in Japan (Movement)
Specifications as published by Bulova. We research from manufacturer documentation and published sources rather than hands-on testing. Researched 2026-09-03.
Verdict
A faithful 1970s dive revival with a sapphire box crystal, a Miyota automatic and a 200m rating Bulova calls ISO certified, in a 41mm cushion case that wears tall.
Strengths
- Genuine archive design rather than a generic diver homage
- Sapphire box crystal keeps the vintage dome without the scratches
- 200m with a screw-down crown, ISO certified per Bulova
- Miyota automatic with a 42-hour reserve is simple to service
Trade-offs
- 14.55mm thick because of the domed crystal
- A cushion case at 41mm wears wider than the number suggests
- 21,600 vph is a slower beat than pricier Swiss automatics
- A loud design; subtle it is not
Buy it if
Someone who wants a real 1970s dive-watch shape with modern sapphire and a certified rating, and enjoys a watch with some presence.
Skip it if
You want a thin watch, a quiet dial or a bracelet as standard. Seiko’s Samurai and Citizen’s Promaster divers are the slimmer, plainer alternatives.
FAQ
The original 1970s Oceanographer printed its 200m depth rating as 666 feet on the dial, and the nickname stuck. The modern 96B350 revives that watch through Bulova’s Archive Series.
Sources
Researched and last updated 2026-09-03. We do not test watches in hand; every figure above is traceable to the manufacturer or the sources listed here.
Bulova Devil Diver Oceanographer 96B350
Reference 96B350 · $500–$1,000
Prices and availability change; the band above is a research figure, so check the current listing.
Affiliate Disclosure
The Horologist is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never influences our editorial recommendations — every timepiece is selected on merit alone.
Complete the look
A fresh strap changes the whole watch.
Not ready today? Adding it to your cart keeps your pick saved.
Compared Against