Review: the Bulova A-11 “Jimmy”
As decades march on, no conflict has captured and maintained as much attention globally as World War II. Sure, that sounds like a dry opening statement for an AP History exam, but it’s hard to deny the pervasive influence of WWII on world culture, national identity, and yes, even horology. Eighty years on, we keep making movies about the conflict, keeping the 1940s and its aesthetic surprisingly prime in the cultural zeitgeist. Jimmy is one of those movies, due in theaters in November, and featuring a smattering of real Bulova timepieces from the period, courtesy of the brand’s museum. In celebration of the iconic Type A-11 watch that Bulova provided to the United States military starting in 1942, a re-release called the Jimmy A-11 Hack is ready for deployment. I have long been a fan of mil-spec field watches, though not because I am some sort of military history buff or avid outdoor enthusiast. No, the main appeal for me—and I think for many folks, especially non-watch nerds—is the simplicity. No date window, no chronograph subdials, no functions other than the absolutely vital. It’s kind of refreshing in 2026 to wear a purpose-built piece of machinery that does one thing very, very well, and a classic field watch is the epitome of that catharsis. Of course, hacking seconds is one of the most historically important features of a proper WWII-era design, allowing for soldiers to sync their watches to time operations, but for the average horology enjoyer of today...
Fratello
