Bulova Vs Tissot: Which One Outweighs The Other?

Bulova and Tissot are among the most famous watchmakers worldwide. But if you can only choose one, which will you go for?

This decision is tricky because both have fantastic features that urge you to get them straight away. To help you decide on the more suitable one, we will compare Bulova vs Tissot in multiple terms. 

You may find out that each brand shines in its own way. Let’s join us and determine the one that wins your heart! 

Bulova & Tissot Watch Comparisons

In short, Tissot watches often have a slightly superior build quality if that’s what you’re looking for. Meanwhile, Bulova gives you more choices in terms of styles and designs.

Criteria	Bulova	Tissot
Materials	Mostly leather and stainless steel	Mostly leather and stainless steel
Dial Windows	Mineral crystal	Sapphire crystal
Water resistance	30 to 100 meters	30 to 100 meters
Design	Wonderful sense of style	Excellent craftsmanship
Warranty	3 years	2 years
Battery Life	2 to 3 years	2 to 5 years
Accuracy	10 seconds a year	-10 to +30 seconds a year
Price	$300 – $2,000	$1,300 – $3,200

What Is Bulova?

Bulova is a watch brand from America. After its debut in 1875, the company became well-known for selecting men’s and women’s wristwatch designs.

A big contributor to its development is Bulova’s market strategy. It was the first firm to use radio advertising in 1926.

Bulova also achieved other great achievements. For example, the company created its first electric timepiece in history with its Accutron⁽¹⁾.

Furthermore, the firm is famous for its progressiveness since it was the first watch producer to develop a line of watches exclusively for women.

This watchmaker makes numerous barometer and altimeter watch for the US military. It showed that no one could compete with it in creating robust and resilient watches for the military.

After a while, the company began producing automatic and self-winding watches, which transformed the watch industry and rewrote history.

Bulova kept on this growing path of success. In 2007, Citizen acquired Bulova⁽²⁾. They have gained a lot of achievements in the industry.

What Is Tissot?

Tissot is the representative from Switzerland. It started as a family-run firm in 1853, operated by Charles Felicien and his son. 

Since then, both have been working hard to transform their small company into well-known watchmaker brands. They first manufactured women’s watches before introducing the Tissot men’s line.

This business has a strong emphasis on tradition, and its cutting-edge traditional designs draw the attention of watch enthusiasts crazy. Because of this characteristic, every wristwatch collector has to have a Tissot timepiece in their collection⁽³⁾. 

The company acquired considerable recognition after 1920 and kept developing its collection of high-tech products.

Tissot was the first watchmaker to mass-produce antimagnetic watches in 1930. The brand became extremely well-known then. 

By working on its innovation, Tissot demonstrates that it is the most aggressive watchmaker worldwide. Other products from this company include automatic, compass, and chronograph watches. 

And one of my favorites would definitely be the Tissot t-touch expert pilot watch.

Bulova Vs Tissot – What Is The Difference?

The competition between Tissot vs. Bulova has become so aggressive now. Both brands have earned a lot of success and recognition in the timepiece industry.

Let’s compare the brands in different factors to select the winner of each round. 

Build Quality

There are several factors to check when it comes to the build quality. The most important calls for materials. 

Tissot makes automatic, quartz, and smartwatches. Stainless steel and leather are the most commonly used materials. Yet, you can still find nylon or rubber models, especially if they are digital watches. 

Meanwhile, Bulova watches come with either a steel or leather strap. The brand provides quartz and automatic items, all of which are high quality. 

Another thing in common with products from the two brands is their water resistance. Most can handle 30 to 100 meters, depending on the product. 

And here comes the difference: dial windows. Bulova mainly uses mineral crystals, although some have sapphire windows. 

Meanwhile, sapphire crystal is a remarkable feature of Tissot wristwatches. This kind of crystal is more luxurious than regular mineral crystal.  

Design

Bulova offers every style you could ever desire in a timepiece. Its collections include sports, chronograph, luxury, and minimalist pieces.

Additionally, Bulova products have a premium appearance. But you’ll also realize that they have a wonderful sense of style. 

Some of Bulova’s timepieces are incredibly stunning with high-quality materials. So if you invest in such items, you will get the best of both worlds. 

Bulova wristwatches are also well-known for their solid bezels. Moreover, you can buy items specially designed for the US Military from this brand. 

Tissot products also drive customers crazy with their beautiful designs. You can choose from sports, luxury, chronograph, and minimalist items.

Because of its excellent craftsmanship⁽⁴⁾, you won’t take your eyes off Tissot watches. Swiss products will never let you down. 

So which is the winner of this round? It really depends on your personal taste to determine the more well-designed items. However, according to most users, they appreciate the aesthetics of Bulova wristwatches more.

Warranty

Bulova watches come with a three-year warranty, during which time the company guarantees their products be defect-free in both craftsmanship and material.

A 24-month warranty guarantee from the purchase date comes with Tissot watches bought from reliable, authorized retailers. There are terms and conditions related to the service that you have to follow. 

Tissot also covers material and manufacturing defects at the time of purchase. This policy only works if you still keep the stamped and dated warranty document. 

No matter which watchmaker you buy your wristwatch from, you must have a verified warranty to claim the product’s warranty. Also, try to buy watches from authorized retailers to receive everything you have paid for.  

Battery Life

The battery life is a part of the quality. Tissot is the winner in this round because its products have an average battery lifespan of two to five years. 

Bulova watches have batteries that can last for two to three years. Once you notice your watches don’t display accurate time, consider replacing their battery. 

Accuracy

Accuracy is important⁽⁵⁾ when choosing a timepiece. Luckily, big brands like Bulova and Tissot both share impressive numbers regarding this topic.

Watches will degrade over time, no matter how good they used to be. On average, a Bulova watch may be off for about ten seconds per year, a very good number, especially with the Precisionist series. Meanwhile, an average Tissot watch can be ten seconds late to thirty seconds early per year. 

Having your watches serviced is the best way to keep them showing the accurate time. But the gap won’t cause a big problem as they are wristwatches. You can’t pay attention to every second easily. 

Price

The costs of Bulova and Tissot products are in the middle range since they are entry-level luxury watches. Gold and diamond models will be more expensive. 

You will need to prepare your budget to purchase one of the watches from either of the brands. Also, do not save your money by buying the less expensive versions because you will soon notice the difference. 

Pros And Cons Of Tissot And Bulova Watches

Bulova and Tissot are famous watch brands, but it doesn’t mean that they are perfect. We will discuss the pros and cons of each so you can easily determine the better one for your wrist. 

Bulova

Pros:

• Bulova makes many unique collections for certain segments of customers. For example, they design many sophisticated items, especially for the military and ladies. 
• The three-year warranty is impressive, proving this brand has good customer service. 
• Compared to Tissot, Bulova products are more cost-effective.
• The accuracy is impressive. Those watches only lose about ten seconds per year. 

Cons:

• Their batteries can last long, but they won’t defeat Tissot in this regard. 
• The mineral crystals are not as durable as the sapphire found in Tissot models. 

Tissot

Pros:

• The craftsmanship guarantees that every detail in a Tissot watch is as flawless as possible. 
• The dial windows made from sapphire crystals are more luxurious and sturdier than the windows of Bulova watches. 
• You don’t have to replace the battery every year because it can last up to five years, depending on the model. 
• Tissot also provides smartwatches and other high-tech products. 

Cons: 

• The two-year warranty doesn’t sound as impressive as the three-year policy offered by Bulova. 
• Tissot items are more expensive than their competitors. The price varies depending on the material, design, and construction. 
• Tissot timepieces don’t degrade easily, but their accuracy needs improvement to compete with Bulova. 

Which Should You Choose?

Have you chosen the one for your needs? Both Bulova and Tissot have good products. The difference in warranty policies and battery life spans is minimal. 

You will find it harder to make up your mind when considering the price. The gap between those brands is minor because none of them sell luxurious items. 

Hence, we recommend choosing the wristwatch based on two factors:

• Build quality: Tissot should be your way to go if you prioritize quality. The meticulous and sophisticated construction will ensure a reliable item. 
• Design: Although this factor seems personal, Bulova is a winner because it gives you more options in designs and styles.  

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Bulova a luxury watch brand?

No. Even with its sophisticated designs, Bulova is not a luxury brand. Its products, which start at $100, struggle compared to other firms’ high-end watches. But Bulova still maintains a strong quality-price relation in its series.  

2. Is Tissot a high-end watch?

No. Officially, Tissot is not a premium watch company. The Swatch Group, which operates Tissot, categorizes its watches as being in the “medium range.” 

3. Who wears Tissot watches?

Thanks to the excellent design and quality, Tissot watches are famous worldwide. You can easily find Tissot customers everywhere.

Celebrities that wear these items include Primož Roglič, Damian Lillard, Liu Yifei, Huang Xiaoming, Tony Parker, and many more.  

4. What are the big three watch brands?

We call the most luxurious watchmakers in the world the “Trinity,” or “big three.” They are Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Audemars Piguet. 

All three brands employ only the best materials and craftsmanship, and all have a lot of watchmaking expertise.

Final Verdict

Overall, the result of this competition is a draw.

Tissot watches often have a slightly superior build quality if that’s what you’re looking for. Meanwhile, Bulova gives you more choices in terms of styles and designs. 

Bulova offers you the best and most excellent value for your money, while Tissot focuses on making minimalist and sleek watches.

So, you won’t go wrong with either brand because they have pros and cons. It’s your personal preference to determine your favorite. 

Thank you for reading!

References:

1. Reinventing Time: The Original Accutron: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/reinventing-time-original-bulova-accutron
2. Citizen HoldingsTo Acquire Bulova: https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119155661837650026
3. Tissot Watches Ultimate Buying Guide: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/buying-guides/tissot-watches-buying-guide.html
4. Accuracy: Understanding What To Expect From Modern Mechanical Watches: https://www.ablogtowatch.com/accuracy-understanding-what-to-expect-from-modern-mechanical-watches/
5. The craftsmanship of mechanical watchmaking and art mechanics: https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/craftsmanship-of-mechanical-watchmaking-and-art-mechanics-01560