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The story of Bulova dates all the way back to 1875 when Joseph Bulova, a Czech immigrant, founded the J. Bulova Company in Queens, NY. By 1912, the Bulova company opened a manufacturing plant in Switzerland for the purposes of mass production, and the company quickly became known for their technological advancements and innovations in timekeeping. Their achievements didn’t stop on the watchmakers bench however, as Bulova ruled the airwaves through the early and mid 20th century. Their radio ad proclaiming “Bulova time” and their involvement in creating the first ever television commercial solidified Bulova as a household name. While their achievements through the 1950’s were already enough to earn them a spot in watchmaking history, the creation of the Accutron movement in 1959 would become their greatest achievement to date.
Hot on the heels of Elgin and Seiko who were already making advancements in electronic watches, Bulova knew they needed to lay their claim in the market. Electronic watches would run longer, and more accurately than traditional mechanical watches, and watch brands were quickly recognizing this as the way of the future. In 1950, Max Hetzel, a Swiss inventor, came aboard at Bulova to spearhead their electronic movement project. What he and his team came up with made history. The Accutron caliber 214 was the first tuning fork electronic watch movement.
As the Space Race intensified, Bulova partnered with NASA to supply timekeeping instruments inside NASA spacecraft. The 1958 Project Vanguard I, the first NASA mission to send a satellite into orbit, was fitted with Accutron timekeeping technology. Even the famous Apollo 11 module was fitted with Accutron powered instruments. Accutron models were awarded by President Lyndon B Johnson and, by 1967, were fitted into Air Force One.
Bulova and Accutron have an indelible place in not only horological history, but the history of America as well. This once-great brand, responsible for so many firsts in the watch world, earned their spot as one of America’s great companies. While the brand exists to this day, their acquisition by the Citizen group in 2008 has left their current catalog feeling rather uninspired. While special edition watches exist to invoke the name of the Accutron Spaceview, or other iconic models, the true greatness of the brand lies, to this enthusiast at least, in their vintage models.
Here at The Watch Preserve, I’ve been fortunate enough to handle some incredible Accutron watches. While their catalog is nearly endlessly full of interesting cases and designs, these are just a few of my personal favorites:
No list of Accutron models would be complete without the Spaceview. The OG, original Accutron models are some of the most beloved by vintage watch collectors. These two examples from 1966 and 1972 possess that original design that shocked the world on debut. If you really want to connect to the history of Accutron, these are the models you should pick up.
The history of Bulova and Accutron is as rich as it is inspiring. I knew the brand was rooted in American culture, but the extent to which it ingrained itself into the American psyche in the middle of the 20th century is still amazing to me. It’s often said that owning a vintage watch is like owning a piece of history, and rarely is that more true than when you own a Bulova Accutron.
