Horological Meandering

Well my friends, first, let’s make a brief review of the Accutron system.

For some people, it’s considered the mayor advance in matchmaking since the XVI century. It was designed by the swiss physicist Max Hetzel and introduced in 1960. A revolutionary system without escapement and hairspring, which, in Hetzel’s opinion, limited other electronic design’s effectiveness. It is considered into the electronic watches category. It uses a fork that is electronically kept vibrating, and it translates those vibrations into a circular movement by an indexing wheel and a pair of almost microscopic wires and jewels.

This watch becomes a presidential gift for all leaders visiting the U.S. President L.B. Johnson declares it the “state gift” of the White House. Bulova uses this popularity to design Accutron watches for every use, from clocks to planes to satellites.

In 1969, a Bulova Accutron movement is part of the equipment placed in orbit by Apollo 11 astronauts, the first ones to step on the moon.

It would be fair to say that, given the Accutron’s complex and delicate index system (to those not in the know), it is hard to find a nice an good functioning Accutron this days.

 

Of all the Bulova Accutron models, the Spaceview are those that had no dial, sometimes only a “chapter ring” with hour and minute markings. It is not a squeleton watch, as some have said. But it lets a view of the watch’s inners.

 

Let's take a look at the one the cat brought in last week (sorry for the poor pictures, my good camera is not with me by now).

 

 

Bulova designed more than 300 case/dial combos, being the cushion shaped the one that pleases me the most. It is also the biggest case with 38mm wide. This cases lack of a conventional crown and this is a pecularity of the first Accutrons. If you turn the watch, you can see a deployant ring to set the time and a screw-in cap for the battery.

 

To know the year the watch was made, there’s a letter-number code, M means it was made in the 60’s decade and N in the 70’s, and the number is that of the year. In case of mine it is an M6, meaning it was made back in 1966.

The first ones were equipped with the 214 calibre that was made in the U.S. as well as in Switzerland, with an oscillation frequency of 360 hertz every second!

One of the nicest things about Accutrons is that, instead sounding tic-tac, they buzz like a mosquito. Allow me to make clear that in my case, you can only hear it by placing the watch close to your ear, and that while you’re wearing it, you can’t feel any vibration at all. This spaceview configuration lets a view of the watch’s inners, although it is difficult to perceive any movement besides the seconds hand continuous glide.

 

This particular watch came with a Bulova signed stretch bracelet that were very popular back at that time, but I guess it’s not the one that came with the watch originally. I’m thinking about a leather strap and any suggestion is welcome. Maybe a brown rally strap?

 

When I found this watch on a local ebay like portal, I was surprised about the apparent state of the watch, although you can never trust in the pictures of that kind of sites. I spent some time watching at it and investigating a little about accutrons and no one bought it! So I took my chances and shot. I got a reasonable but not cheap price for it.

 

When the watch arrived, I was sooo pleased! Until I open it. There are some data that worries me, and I hope some friend can help a little here:

 

1. it has a 214H calibre, which means it must be hacking, but it has no hacking lever though.

 

2. The case has a “10KT Gold Filled Bezel” inscription but, it has no bezel!

 

3. The case back is printed 2387 on the inside, but I think it corresponds to a round case model.

 

4. The case is dated back to 1966 (M6) but the movement has a M9 inscription.

 

Anyway, I will enjoy my watch since it has all the desirable features of a Bulova Accutron Spaceview from my point of view:

 

Case shape, condition and size. Gray luminous concave chapter ring. Spaceview configuration. original domed signed crystal. Original hands for this model. Swiss Brevet Movement. Keeps great time.
1. Nice and curious bracelet.

 

I hope you enjoy the reading as much as I did writing and sharing with you.

Best regards.

 

René

 

BTW, Accutron Roll Call anyone?

 

(Info source: another watch forum from Spain).

 

P.S. Greetings from my "evil cat" here

This message has been edited by renerod on 2012-03-26 12:56:37

i used to be a very big Accutron fan and had about 40 of them at one time from accutron to Zenith with many Omegas as well.

i dont own any anymore having only recently traded my last one, an original first production run 14kt gold Alpha from 1960. i've had a couple of spaceviews, but was very careful to always check the case numbers to be sure i was getting an original and not a conversion.

i once believed that Accutrons would have their day and become extremely popular and in demand, but that hasnt happened so after about 12 years from starting the theme i started to sell them off, the last 2 going in the last 6 months.

Brilliant when working and being worn, but expensive to repair with parts getting harder to access.

best

Graham

I also think that Bulova Accutron is a must for a collection, given it's provenance and technologycal advances.

I also love it's looks, in particular the spaceview.

I would have liked to see your collection, do you have any pics of it?

My watch has details, but anyway I'm glad I got it.

It's a keeper for me.

I think I was lucky given the rarity of this watches.

Best regards.

René

I also like the speedsonic, but it's so rare and hard to find here.

I'm amazed I could find a spaceview in good condition even!

Good to know it was on the concorde flight deck too!

Thank you Graham.

René

Quite a stunning collection you had!!!

Of all your watches, the three I like most are the Accutron Snorkel 666 with two crowns,

with a similar case shape than mine,

the round spaceview and the speedsonic.

Speedsonics are rare here, but I would like to get one some day.

Best regards.

René

Something that not many of us can or know how to do,

most of the times I make buys from the eye and the heart, not planning at all.

That makes me stand away from important pieces I would like.

But been lucky anyway

My best.

René

I received my first Accutron as a gift in the early seventies.  I now own several, including a Spaceview from the mid 60's that I believe is original but only an expert might be able to tell for sure.  There are several websites devoted to Accutrons and you might be able to find some info that will help you learn more about your particular watch; I encourage you to seek them out.  One or two of them lists serial numbers.

FWIW this link will take you to an image of my Accutrons:

home.watchprosite.com

Once you have seen one in the flesh, and once you learn more about them,

they are fascinating!

The humming I can only hear at night or when I place it close to my ear, but I love it!

By the way, I know where to find an accutron 666 diver nearby

Best.

René

i know the name Accutron, but very few on the model...

Thanks to you, I learnt something, today.

Muchas gracias!

Un abrazo,

Nicolas

Glad to share, my pleasure!

I know there's still much to learn about these watches.

Besides, you always teach us many important things.

Thanks to you!

Recibe un fuerte abrazo mi Hermano.

René

Thank you for sharing your 3 significative Accutrons:

Spaceview, Astronaut and Deepsea, the most desireables from my humble point of view.

I think maybe mine got an "overhauling", but as I said, it pleases me a lot and has all the features I wanted on an Accutron.

Thank you and long live the Accutrons! (He he... sounded like a phrase from Transformers)

Indeed I think the Accutron technology came from the Autobots 

Best regards.

René

They're probably my favourite of  the lot.

One of my Accutrons (photo from an earlier thread)....I can't handle the buzz, it messes with my tinnitus even when in another room, so they usually have their batteries pulled out.

It is from an Australian Accutron Forum, it says:

"Bulova had a policy of stamping a date code on both movements and cases. However, on some later Swiss-made Bulova cases, there is a date code stamp and also a serial number stamped on the case (see pic above). As no records of these serial numbers appear to exist, this number can be disregarded as being of no help anyway".

If anyone has a similar cushion shaped Spaceview, please, share!

Best.

René

I did search into their database, but the caseback number of mine doesn't appear in it.

I'll continue searching until I can find something, nice detective work uh?

In the meantime, I hope some othes purist shows up with a similar model.

Best regards.

René

You've got the full set!

Now you need the instruction

Learning to fiddle successfully with your watches must be a BIG SATISFACTION, uh?

Love your 214, one of the most classic accutron spaceviews!

As you get your f300 back, post pics, please?

Best regards.

René

P.S. Accutrons United We Stand!

Glad you enjoyed the reading.

Have you noticed that they have started makin silver oxide bateries with the right 1.35 voltage?

So go get one and join the club (Happy Accutron Owners Club)!

Best regards.

René

There's a BIG accutron followers community out there!

Sometimes one doesn't dare to show a particular piece thinking it's very humble,

or maybe the rest of the community will not appreciate the watch.

But what I've learn here at the PuristS is that our love for timepieces makes us appraise an original and interesting watch.

And this Accutros are a milestone in horlogerie.

Please share your F300 if you like

Best regards.

René