The Buser Frères Marine 38 is a compact, classically styled marine-inspired dress watch with a 38 mm case and a hand-wound Sellita movement. Worn & Wound reviewer Niels Pedersen wore one for a month and praised its proportions and case feel, but found the supplied strap stiff and heavily padded. Its reported 18 mm lug width makes strap choice an important practical consideration.
What is the Buser Frères Marine 38?
The Marine 38 is a German-made watch from Stuttgart-based Buser Frères, presented in a marine-inspired dress-watch style. Worn & Wound’s November 2024 hands-on review says German watchmaker Dekla revived the brand. The present-day framing is German; the historic identity should not be taken to mean this contemporary model is Swiss Made. Buser’s website describes its watches as Made in Germany.
The review describes gold and sunray-blue dials, each available with Arabic or Roman numerals. The brand’s catalog, accessed October 7, 2026, also lists white-dial versions. The variants displayed there are Arabic White, Roman Gold, Roman White and Roman Blue.
How does the Marine 38 wear?
Pedersen reports a 38 mm case, 45.5 mm lug-to-lug length and 10.5 mm thickness. Those dimensions suggest a relatively compact footprint, though wrist fit also depends on wrist shape and personal preference. He found the proportions and sloping, compact lugs comfortable on his wrist during his month with the watch.
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- OFFICIALLY LICENSED US MARINES WATCH: Show your Marine Corps pride with an officially licensed men's watch featuring the iconic Eagle, Globe and Anchor emblem and authentic military styling.
- DURABLE STAINLESS STEEL CONSTRUCTION: Built with a stainless steel link bracelet, scratch-resistant crystal, and durable alloy case designed for everyday wear and long-lasting performance.
- PRECISION JAPANESE QUARTZ MOVEMENT: Powered by reliable Japanese quartz movement for accurate timekeeping with a convenient date display and easy-to-read analog dial.
- PERFECT GIFT FOR MARINES & VETERANS: An ideal gift for active-duty Marines, veterans, retirees, military families, birthdays, Father's Day, holidays, and retirement celebrations.
- QUALITY YOU CAN TRUST: Backed by a 3-year limited manufacturer warranty. Designed for everyday wear while proudly honoring Marine Corps service and tradition.
The reviewer describes polished lugs and bezel paired with brushed case sides, and says he liked the case feel. These are his impressions, not independent measurements or a universal comfort assessment.
Dimensions at a glance
| Specification | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Case diameter | 38 mm (Worn & Wound, November 21, 2024) |
| Lug-to-lug | 45.5 mm (Worn & Wound, November 21, 2024) |
| Case height | 10.5 mm (Worn & Wound, November 21, 2024) |
| Lug width | 18 mm (Worn & Wound, November 21, 2024) |
What movement is in the Buser Frères Marine 38?
Worn & Wound identifies a Sellita SW216-1M manual-winding movement with hacking seconds, which lets the seconds hand stop when setting the time. The watch therefore requires hand-winding rather than relying on wrist motion to keep it running.
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- From Bulova's Men's Marine Star Collection, live and play in maritime watches that feature bold accents, iconic patterns and innovative materials inspired by the sea.
- 3 Hand, Automatic, Sub Second Hand, Hack Feature
- Two-Tone Stainless Steel
- Mineral Crystal
- 200M Water Resistant and 3 Year Limited Warranty
Pedersen reports that Buser promised accuracy of ±7 seconds per day. That is the brand’s stated tolerance as relayed in the review, not a separately verified guarantee. The reviewer also wrote that the watch performed within COSC specifications during his time with it; that is a single reviewer’s observation, not evidence of certification or a broader accuracy test.
What are the crystal, caseback and water-resistance details?
The review lists a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides, heat-blued steel hands, a solid caseback depicting John Harrison and water resistance of 100 m. The water-resistance figure is a reported specification; it does not by itself make the Marine 38 a purpose-built dive watch.
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- Stainless Steel Metal Back
- 47mm face with Luminous Hour Markers and Luminous Hands
- Polyurethane Rubber Strap
- Water Resistant up to 50 Meters
- U.S. Marines Insignia
Is the Buser Frères Marine 38 available in blue or gold?
Yes. Worn & Wound’s review describes sunray-blue and gold dials, each with Arabic or Roman numeral options. The official catalog accessed October 7, 2026, displays Roman Blue and Roman Gold, as well as Roman White and Arabic White. Catalog listings establish the variants shown, not whether a particular option is currently in stock.
What should you know about the strap?
Pedersen found the supplied straps too stiff and padded for his preference, despite liking the watch’s proportions. That is his personal experience rather than a guarantee that every wearer will find them uncomfortable. The reported 18 mm lug width gives buyers a standard sizing reference when looking for alternatives; check a replacement strap’s fit and end shape against the watch before ordering.
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Is the Buser Frères Marine 38 worth it?
The value question turns on what you want from a dress watch. The Marine 38 combines a compact 38 mm case, a hand-wound Sellita movement, multiple dial-and-numeral combinations and reported 100 m water resistance. Pedersen’s favorable impressions of the case and proportions are balanced by his criticism of the supplied strap, which may matter if you prefer a softer or less padded fit.
The official Buser Frères catalog displayed a price of €1,050 for each listed Marine 38 variant when accessed October 7, 2026. The November 2024 review also gave a price of €1,050. The current catalog price is not confirmation of stock, shipping charges or local taxes. Buser’s site lists a two-year warranty; review the seller’s current terms for the purchase region.
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- From Bulova's Men's Marine Star Collection, live and play in maritime watches that feature bold accents, iconic patterns and innovative materials inspired by the sea.
- Calendar
- Two-Tone Stainless Steel
- Mineral Crystal
- 100M Water Resistant and 3 Year Limited Warranty
Sources: Worn & Wound’s November 21, 2024 hands-on review and the Buser Frères Marine 38 catalog, accessed October 7, 2026.
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