Bulova Caliber 8136
Bulova 8136

Bulova Caliber 8136

Citizen Miyota Caliber 8136

Manufacturer Bulova (Citizen/Miyota)
Caliber Number 8136
Type Quartz
Lignes 15”’
Diameter
34.6mm
Height 4.9mm
Total Height
8.5mm
Battery Cell
SR927W (395)
Battery Life Unconfirmed
Frequency 262.144 kHz
Quartz Type Tuning fork type quartz crystal
Jewels 0
Hacking?
Yes
Functions Central hours; central minutes; central chronograph seconds; 1/20 seconds subdial at 3:00; small seconds at 6:00; 60 minutes chronograph hand at 9:00; some models have a date (at 4:30 or 6:00)
Country of Manufacture Japan
Known Models
Lunar Pilot Chronograph (96B258 ), Sea King Chronograph, Add your watch in the comments below…

The Bulova caliber 8136 is a quartz chronograph watch movement that was introduced in 2014. Bulova refers to it as a 3 eye chronograph movement. It is made in Japan and has 0 jewels.

In Bulova’s own words:

“Six-hand chronograph movement features proprietary high-performance quartz technology with 262 kHz vibrational frequency for precise accuracy.”

Miyota Base?

There is virtually no information about this caliber provided by Bulova, but we think we have narrowed it down to being based on a Miyota 6S20 movement.

The major difference is that the Miyota 6S20 runs with a frequency of 32,768Hz, and the Bulova is cranked up to an Ultra High Frequency (UHF) of 262 kHz as it is advertised on the dial of watches with the 8136 (similar to the P102). This would mean that it is using Bulova’s 3 prong quartz crystal that vibrates 8 times more than a standard quartz crystal (32.76 * 8 = 262).

Bulova and Miyota are both owned by Citizen.

Ultra High Frequency Technology:

Accuracy:

Bulova claims their Ultra High Frequency movements are accurate to about +/-5 seconds per month. Please share your experience in the comments below.

Battery Life:

According to Miyota, the correct SR927W battery cell should last about 4 years in the caliber 6S20, but the Ultra High Frequency movements seem to have shorter battery life than standard quartz watches. That is not to say 8 times shorter, but we need more information to confirm the expected battery life from the 8136. Please share your experience in the comments below…

What we do know is that running the chronograph means the watch is working harder and this reduces the battery life. For example, Miyota’s battery life claims are based on using the chronograph function for 60 minutes or less per day. For that reason, it is advised to only use the chronograph when you need it. If you are not going to wear your watch for a while and want to save the battery, pulling out the stem (aka hacking the movement) will reduce the battery consumption.

Resetting the chronograph to zero

If your chronograph hand is not resetting to 12:00 or “zero” position, then you can try the following steps:

  1. Pull the crown to position 2 (time setting position).
  2. Press button A to advance the chronograph hand forward until it is lined up with 12:00. If you long-press A, the hand will move forward faster.
  3. Press button B to advance the 1/20 second subdial.
  4. Push the crown back to position 0

Miyota 6s50 Reset The Chronograph To Zero

Note: if you push the crown back in to position 0 while the chronograph hand is still advancing forward, then it will stop the chronograph hand and recognize it as zero position. In this case, you will have to start over again.

Examples of Bulova watches with similar movement:

Additional Resources:

Caliber image submitted by @kafer_18

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Review Bulova Lunar Pilot – SaFonaGastroCrono
3 years ago

[…] Sin embargo, la reedición viene equipada con lo que Bulova denomina un mecanismo de precisión: el calibre 8136 de […]

MARK WOLFSON
MARK WOLFSON
3 years ago

What is the difference between “calibre” 8136 and the NP20?

MARK WOLFSON
MARK WOLFSON
2 years ago

Ok, I have the Lunar Pilot with 8136, getting 1.75 seconds fast in first 30 days. Is this caliber 10 seconds per year, or 5 seconds per month rated?

Paul
Paul
2 years ago
Reply to  MARK WOLFSON

The little booklet that came with my Lunar Pilot claims +-5 sec/mo accuracy.

MARK WOLFSON
MARK WOLFSON
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Ok, don’t know where people are getting 10 seconds per year, You tubers are bragging about this claim! Say Paul, may I ask, what are you getting? And thank you for responding.

Paul
Paul
2 years ago
Reply to  MARK WOLFSON

Maybe the 10 sec/year figure came from Bulova’s claim when the Precisionists came out. Since the Lunar Pilots use a 262 kHz movement, I suppose it makes sense to assume the same performance. One LP I have gets about 10-12 sec gain per year and the other is closer to 33 sec gain per year.

Nathan
Nathan
1 year ago
Reply to  MARK WOLFSON

Because Bulova used to claim +- 10 per year and thats how it always was for years but decided to be assholes and change it to per month.

Moreno65
Moreno65
1 year ago
Reply to  Nathan

Comprati un Casio da 30 euro per te va bene

Nathan
Nathan
1 year ago
Reply to  MARK WOLFSON

They changed it! It used to be +- 10 per year now it’s +- 5 per month!

Pip
Pip
1 year ago
Reply to  MARK WOLFSON

quartz movements gain seconds in warm weather and loose seconds in could weather, you would need to test it over a one year period to get an accurate result.

Harpo Marx
Harpo Marx
2 years ago

Before claiming that 262kHz is “ultra high frequency”, you would do well to consult the internet and learn the frequency bands. It is, in fact, the LOW FREQUENCY band (30kHz to 300kHz). UHF spans 300mHz to 3gHz. Bulova lied and you repeated it.

Paul
Paul
2 years ago
Reply to  Harpo Marx

I suppose that depends on what kind of frequency band or spectrum we’re talking about (sounds, light, radiation, radio waves, etc.). In watches, we’re dealing with a physical oscillation or vibration and when compared to other watches, 262kHz is pretty high! That’s how I take their marketing at least.

Harpo Marx
Harpo Marx
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Show me these new, separate frequency spectrums, Paul. Provide the link. Is there one for chocolate ice cream, for example … or one for fluttering your tongue when speaking German?

C’mon .. time to show me what you’re talking about, Paul.

Paul
Paul
2 years ago
Reply to  Harpo Marx

Bulova eventually changed the 262kHz marketing to High Performance Quartz so maybe they came to think as you do about the UHF claim.

OBW
OBW
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul

More likely they did it to prevent people associating their with the outdated and obsolete UHF TV transmission system.

OBW
OBW
2 years ago
Reply to  Harpo Marx

No lie on Bulova’s part. If the watch was designed for transmitting Radio Frequency energy, you’d be correct. Note that watch oscillators are not classified into bands. Radios are. The only “band” relevant to these watches, attach it to your wrist. It is designed for telling time, not communication.

Harpo Marx
Harpo Marx
2 years ago
Reply to  OBW

There is only one frequency spectrum … and Bulova falsely claimed their frequency as “UHF”, which is 300 Megahertz to 3 Gigahertz. That pertains to everything that vibrates in the universe. They have since abandoned that lie, just as they have abandoned their 10 seconds per year accuracy claims. I own two Sea Kings, so I know their accuracy is more like 20 seconds per year on the shelf and around 15 on the wrist.

Now go ahead and tell me there are more than one frequency spectrum … and then go show it to me.

OBW
OBW
2 years ago
Reply to  Harpo Marx

Again, you are perfectly correct, there IS only one frequency spectrum, it goes from DC to light. Within that spectrum, there are various “bands”. Bands are determined by many different factors. Governments, International organizations, usage etc And they change. Shortwave used to be considered very high frequencys. Not anymore, but the name remains. Bulova is not required to follow a band allotment, they claimed 262Khz, and whether they choose to call that performance UHF, or MHF (Mega High Frequency, which I just made up), or in parts per million, it makes no difference, 262Khz, is all that matters and the… Read more »

Harpo Marx
Harpo Marx
2 years ago
Reply to  OBW

I’ve had a rubidium and a cesium in my radio shack before; later those were swapped out to two O-1695/U cesium beam frequency/time standards. My radio shack was on board various submarines. Those ran on 9,192,631,770~ per second and I went to school to learn how to maintain and repair them; I know exactly how they work.

And yes, I love my Bulova 262s … but I am finding that my new Seiko Flighty is just as accurate, losing just one second per month while both my Bulovas gain a second. Go figure …

Moreno65
Moreno65
1 year ago
Reply to  Harpo Marx

Te ne intendi più di orologi da taschino sicuramente..

Nicholas Cristella
Nicholas Cristella
2 years ago

I have an ultra high frequency precisionist Bulova watch after 8 months of continuously running(through daylight savings time) it was exactly +3.7 second off from it’s original Zero’d time. I use watch check app to test it every month.

Wibowo PR
Wibowo PR
2 years ago

Citizen only provided 262 khz technology specifically for the Bulova product line a few years after the acquisition

even Citizen and Miyota who produce it don’t sell it for their own brand

Trevor Eatson-Smith
Trevor Eatson-Smith
2 years ago

Do you know where I can buy this movement?

Enrique Santacruz
Enrique Santacruz
1 year ago

I´m concern about 0 jewels on a high frequency movement, does it will wear and tear faster than a normal frequency movement? What do you think/know about it?

Enrique Santacruz
Enrique Santacruz
1 year ago
Reply to  calibercorner

Thank you very much.

Enrique Santacruz
Enrique Santacruz
1 year ago
Reply to  calibercorner

I have some knowledge about that matter. Still, my doubt is specifically about a high frequency quartz movement. I will really appreciate if you have some information about it on the future.

Terry Steiner
Terry Steiner
1 year ago

I recently sold a watch with this movement. Granted, I did not use the Chrono much but it ran for 4.5 years on the original battery. It was still running, I just decided to put a new battery in before I sold it.

I had the black Sea King Chrono picture in the article. I believe they only made it 2016-2017.

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