Just a few words about the Accutron historically speaking.
The Spaceview & Beyond - by John E Vizzusi (as published in part by NAWCC 2025)
The patent started by Max Hetzel in 1953. The movement was not ready for commercial sales until 1960.
Bulova announced it created the first true electronic watch and most accurate in the world.
The movement running from 1.35 volts from a custom-made button cell mercury battery delivered energy to 2 matching coils wound with copper strands thinner than a human hair. But the most amazing part of the movement was it used matching tuning forks which vibrate at 360 beats a second or 360hz which creates a F or F sharp audible hum in Western Musical terms.
The tuning forks eliminates the need for a balance wheel and traditional manual movement gearing.
Customers were so amazed they wanted to see the movements inside. So, jewelers decided to pull the dials and show customers the incredible engines of these watches.
Jewelers taking the dials off reinstalled the hands and inner ring was put inside the bezel to show the minutes and hour markers.
As display models The Accutron 214 Spaceview was born. Bulova released The Spaceview to the public in 1960 in a 14k Gold case and matching bracelet.
Several other watch brands attempted to copy Hetzel's tuning fork movement including Omega.
But nothing was more accurate than the Bulova 214. NASA used Accutron movements first for early missions and then incorporated Accutron into every Apollo Lunar orbit and landings. Accutron was used in Telemetry gauges and other critical timing devices. Although Omega was the first watch worn on the Lunar surface, the command modules and landers installed Accutron master clocks for flight timing.
For the first Moon Landing Apollo 11, a Accutron Electric Timer was left on the Lunar surface by Lunor Lander Pilot Buzz Aldrin in The Sea of Tranquility.
Bulova today is owned by giant Citizen Watch Group of Japan. They have gone back in time to reproduce The Spaceview Model. www.bulova.com
It's truly a one-of-a-kind watch, and invaluable in horology history.
TIME & AGAIN
Specializing in Vintage Accutron
centralhsd@eartjlink.net
John V.