Bulova Marine Star Chronograph 96B256
Specs, Market Price & Buying Guide
- The Bulova Marine Star 96B256 is the blue-dial, six-hand calendar chronograph in Bulova's Marine Star sport line — steel bracelet, 100m, Miyota 6S20 quartz.
- Market range: roughly $200–$330 against a $550 retail price — Bulova's own store frequently lists it at $440 (verified Aug 17, 2026 — recheck before acting).
- Availability: in current production with deep discounting; never pay full retail for this reference.
Representative photo of Bulova's steel sport-chronograph line. The Marine Star 96B256 wears a blue dial in a similar 43mm case.
Market range $200–$330 · verified 2026-08-17
$550 (often $440 direct)
Flat
Flat
Soft — chronic discounting keeps street prices low
Editorial estimate compiled from public listings (brand-store sale $440; international listings £308 / $199 observed). Ranges move weekly. Verified 2026-08-17.
Checked 2026-08-17: in current production. Bulova.com lists $550 with a standing 20%-off promotion ($440); grey and secondary supply is plentiful at $200–$330.
Full specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Case | 43mm stainless steel (some listings quote 44mm) |
| Thickness | ~12mm |
| Weight | ~123g on bracelet |
| Movement | Miyota 6S20 quartz — six-hand calendar chronograph |
| Crystal | Flat mineral |
| Water resistance | 100m / 330ft |
| Bezel | Fixed, steel |
| Bracelet | Steel, fold-over clasp with pushers, safety bar and extender |
| Dial | Blue, three subdials, date |
| Introduced | Current Marine Star generation |
How it wears, by wrist size
Wears large — 43mm plus a broad bezel. Try before buying if your wrist is slim.
Comfortable daily size with real presence.
The sweet spot; the bracelet's safety clasp suits sports use.
Proportionate; the 123g weight reads solid without becoming a burden.
Buy or skip?
Editorial take: 7.5/10 — a fine $250 watch wearing a $550 sticker.
Judged at its $550 retail the 96B256 is hard to defend — mineral crystal and a workhorse Miyota quartz do not justify it. Judged at its real-world $200–$330 street price, it is a handsome, solid, brand-name sports chronograph with 100m and a proper bracelet. Buy it at the street price and you will be happy; pay retail and you will not.
- You want sapphire — this is flat mineral.
- You want a mechanical chronograph — the 6S20 is quartz with a ticking seconds.
- You dislike brand-name premiums — microbrand chronos undercut it on specs.
Available alternatives (Amazon-priced)
If you want the steel-sports-chrono brief for similar or less money, these Amazon-priced options are the usual shortlist.
Citizen Brycen Chronograph
Eco-Drive chrono with 100m; $200–$280 and never needs a battery.
Check Amazon price ↗Casio Edifice Chronograph
The value king of steel quartz chronographs; from ~$70.
Check Amazon price ↗Pagani Design PD-1701
Sapphire, meca-quartz sweep, ~$80–$120 — the spec-sheet champion.
Check Amazon price ↗Invicta Speedway
Big steel chrono looks for ~$60–$90; polarizing brand, honest price.
Check Amazon price ↗96B256 vs. the steel-chronograph field
| Watch | Case | Movement | Crystal | Water | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulova Marine Star 96B256 | 43mm × 12mm | Miyota 6S20 quartz chrono | Mineral | 100m | $200–$330 |
| Citizen Brycen | 44mm × 12.5mm | Eco-Drive chrono | Mineral | 100m | $200–$280 |
| Casio Edifice EFV-640 | 43.5mm × 11.6mm | Quartz chrono | Mineral | 100m | $90–$130 |
| Pagani Design PD-1701 | 40mm × 13mm | Meca-quartz chrono | Sapphire | 100m | $80–$120 |
Ownership costs
| Cost item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Battery | $15–$25 every 2–3 years; the 6S20 is otherwise maintenance-free. |
| Bracelet | The safety-bar clasp is genuinely secure; extender fits over a thin wetsuit sleeve. |
| Resale | Weak — buy at the discounted price and consider it a keeper, not an asset. |
| Straps | Straight-lug 22mm-ish fit takes aftermarket rubber and NATO straps easily. |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bulova Marine Star 96B256 worth $550?
No — and you will rarely be asked to pay it. Bulova's own store runs it at $440 and grey-market pricing sits at $200–$330. At the street price it is a solid buy; at MSRP it is not.
Is the Marine Star a real dive watch?
No — 100m with a fixed bezel and no screw-down crown is a swim-and-snorkel rating, not a dive rating. The name is heritage styling, not ISO certification.
What movement is in the 96B256?
A Miyota 6S20 quartz — a proven, six-hand calendar chronograph caliber used across the industry. Accurate, cheap to maintain, and the seconds hand ticks rather than sweeps.
Marine Star vs Citizen Brycen?
Same price band and brief. The Brycen's Eco-Drive means no battery changes ever; the Bulova wins on bracelet hardware. Pick on dial preference — you cannot go wrong either way at street prices.
Where to buy safely
$550 list with a standing promotion to $440 — full factory warranty.
$200–$330 typical; verify the seller and warranty paperwork.
$250–$330 new; the honest price for this reference.
$150–$250 used; check the subdial hands reset cleanly and the bracelet clasp lock engages.