The Bulova Curv finally hugs smaller wrists

Russell Sheldrake

It’s been ten years since Bulova first stepped out and showed the world how to bend a watch movement to the contours of the wrist. To celebrate its first decade, they are addressing one of the biggest issues people have had with this watch, reducing the case size. While the original Curv was an incredible feat of product design and development, it was seen by those of us with smaller wrists as still unwearable, as it measured a staggering 44mm across. While this played into fashions that were still around at the time, today, the trend for smaller watches is undeniable, and even Bulova has seen the appeal of opening this curvy chronograph up to a wider, yet smaller-wristed audience.

So let’s dive into this new release and see exactly what Bulova has done to celebrate the first big anniversary of the Curv.

The case

Obviously, there was only one place this review could begin, and that’s with the case. The way that this case not only curves to form around your wrist, but also the movement inside it is the first thing you notice the second you pick this watch up. The new size of this anniversary Curv is now 41mm across, bringing that diameter down by 3mm to make this a much more wearable option and opening it up to a wider market. I believe this smaller size is also more aesthetically pleasing as well, as it looks to be more in proportion than before.

Of course, this watch maintains those futuristic design elements that helped the original stand out in 2016, such as the elongated and skeletonised lugs, which visually amplify the curvature of this case. The shape of the case itself is made more angular by the straight sides it’s been given that match the straight pushers for the chronograph. It feels like every design choice here has been made to accentuate the curve of the case, so adding straight edges offers a vast expanse from which you can see how much of a bend there really is.

The bezel is kept thin to allow the dial to be as open as possible, and this is reflected on the case back as well, with a large, and of course, curved piece of sapphire crystal to show off the groundbreaking warped quartz movement inside. Most of this case is finished with a straight line brushing with a few highlight elements, such as that bezel, which has been given a full polish.

Let’s be clear about this size reduction, though. The Bulova Curv is not being turned into a dainty dress watch here; the size is still significant enough that it maintains an impact on your wrist and offers plenty of presence as well. From what I can tell, the idea of shrinking this watch was not to transform it into something it is not, but rather to give more people the option to wear it without compromising its founding principles.

The dial

The dial is where this watch really comes alive for me, as Bulova has continued this theme of modernisation and executed it extremely well with this brown, semi-transparent look. Instead of going for a straight open dial, which can look a little silly on a quartz movement that isn’t something like the Bulova tuning fork movement, they have given this watch character by displaying just enough of the movement without it dominating the look of the watch, and more importantly, losing the legibility of the chronograph counters.

Having this dial tinted brown means that you maintain a good level of contrast between it and the markers, hands, and scales on the dial, with the partially skeletonised hands and applied markers being treated with lume to give that added level of legibility when it’s needed most. While the case size may have changed, the layout of the dial is still very familiar, with the classic 3-6-9 sub-dials that are very much the standard when it comes to chronographs. Thanks to this translucent dial, you also get to see the striping that has been applied to the top of the movement that takes up the edge of the dial. This offers a bit of visual distinction that open dial watches can often fall foul of not producing.

The movement

Inside this watch is the eponymous curved chronograph movement. It hums along at an insanely high 262 kHz, which allows the seconds hand to have a smoother tick than you would expect in a standard quartz watch. Of course, this movement curves around your wrist, as the name suggests, an advancement that was made possible 10 years ago and still remains a speciality at Bulova today. The movement is really the star of the show here, and everything else that is going on with this watch comes from this movement and its Pringle-like shape. Curved movements are not easy to produce because the transfer of energy in a watch only wants to travel in a straight line, as that is always the path of least resistance. Add on top of this a chronograph, and you are adding layers of complexity that could be seen as unnecessary, but only go towards showing the talent of the team at Bulova.

The strap

Keeping up with the times, this new Curv also comes with a quick change strap system that allows wearers to go between the solid link, stainless steel bracelet to a flexible rubber strap in a mere moment. Both options offer fantastic levels of comfort while complementing different design elements on the watch. That metal bracelet with its straight end links highlights those long, curved lugs, while the rubber strap comes with a texture that plays off the dial perfectly. You just have to choose which one you want to put on that day.

The verdict

Maintaining the relevancy of an innovation like this can be difficult, and while we have seen other variations of the Curv over the years, having it now in this smaller size shows that the brand is giving the people what they want and doing so without compromising on the core elements that made it a fan favourite. This new update walks that delicate line of ensuring the watch feels new enough to be news-worthy while also staying true to the original that made so much noise when it was first released.

I was just getting into the watch industry at this time, and I actually sold these watches in my retail job at university, so seeing how far both this watch and I have come in that time means a lot to me. And while my diameter is only increasing, it’s great to see the Curv coming down to a size that feels fitting for 2026. I can tell you from first-hand experience that when clients held the original watch for the first time, it was a moment of awe, and this latest model will hopefully generate those same sensations for even more people.

Bulova Curv 10th Anniversary pricing and availability

The new Bulova Curv 41 is now available for the brand and its retailers. Price: £995/US$1,450

Brand	Bulova
Model	Curv 10th Anniversary
Case Dimensions	41mm (D)
Case Material	Stainless steel
Water Resistance	30 meters
Crystal(s)	Sapphire front and back
Dial	Brown translucent
Strap	Stainless steel bracelet, deployant clasp Black rubber, pin buckle
Movement	NR20 HPQ CURV, high-frequency quartz (262 kHz)
Functions	Hours, minutes, chronograph
Availability	Now
Price	£995/US$1,450