Bulova Marine Star 96B256 Chronograph vs Bulova Surveyor Automatic 96B469

Buy the Surveyor 96B469 if you want a mechanical watch with sapphire crystal and an exhibition caseback; buy the Marine Star 96B256 if you need a chronograph and real water resistance. The Surveyor is the more refined piece: 39mm case, sunburst dial, sapphire glass and a 42-hour automatic movement. The Marine Star is the tougher, more functional one: 100m water resistance, a six-hand chronograph and a quartz movement that never needs winding. Reviewers of both praise the finishing for the money; the common complaint on the Surveyor is the 30m rating, and on the Marine Star the mineral crystal and busy dial.

• Choose the Marine Star 96B256 if you want a chronograph, swim or shower in your watch, and prefer set-and-forget quartz.
• Choose the Surveyor 96B469 if you want a self-winding automatic, sapphire crystal and a slimmer 39mm case for daily wear.