This sounds plausible and sort of aligns with my own theories. If I remember right, bulova was purchased in '79, and this watch has a bunch of parts similar to several models from the previous decade. The hands match several various accutrons, the dial match previous late models, if I remember correctly the case is stamped "Japan" on the inside opposite the crown tube. And the 11ao/an movement should have been out of service by then. I see more ETA, Citizen, AS, etc. in the late 70's. So in my mind this watch looks like a last ditch effort, using remaining inventory. Since it's dated '79, it would be safe to assume this was in R&D through '78, and why there was only one year of these....Or I'm way off, and this watch was a flop and simply didn't sell well so they shut it down, haha