Bulova 1968 Accutron Calendar

Submitted by Wynot on
Manufacture Year
1968
Movement Model
218D
Movement Jewels
15
Case Serial No.
D88396
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Accutron Calendar - I picked this up a few days ago in an estate lot with 7 other watches.  I'm guessing the previous owner was having trouble seeing the hands.  The hands were painted black, I'm guessing felt tip marker.  I removed the hands and gently cleaned them, removing most of the black.  There are still specks of black on the lume and a little hole in the lume of the minute hand.  I tossed in a battery and it runs.  The bracelet is interesting.  It's turquoise stones with 12K GF over sterling silver.  

1968 Bulova Accutron Calendar watch
1968 Bulova watch
1968 Bulova watch
1968 Bulova watch
1968 Bulova watch
mybulova_admin
Posted February 18, 2017 - 8:01pm

Accutron Calendar. Being Australian I've always been fascinated by these bracelets and their significance to the owner. Would they have been custom made or were they a common add-on?

Wynot
Posted February 19, 2017 - 1:35am

I don't know if you see personalized bracelets like this in Australia or if they are particularly an American thing.  They may just be a human thing.  It seems to me that people across the globe seek ways to express their individuality.  I think this bracelet was either custom made expressly for the prior owner or was a unique piece he just came across.  In my experience, this is not a common add-on.  Although,  this style may be more common in the American Southwest.

Geoff Baker
Posted February 19, 2017 - 7:46am

In reply to by Wynot

The Navajo and Zuni are two first nation (native) tribes in the American southwest (Arizona and New Mexico) that are the originators for much of the turquoise, coral and silver jewelry. Necklaces, pendants, rings and watch bands are all common. The design themes are often cultural representations from their heritage. These items are quite popular, my father owned several rings and bolos but I don't recall him ever having one of the watch bands. I can't recall ever seeing one of these bands in gold but it is possible it was Navajo or Zuni made.

The other American phenomenon around watch bands I often see on eBay are the watch bands covered with unprocessed gold nuggets. During the oil boom in the 1960's and 1970's there was in influx of highly paid worked to the Alaska oil fields. These workers often came back with watch bands heavily encrusted with gold nuggets. I've also seen them with animal figures cast from solid gold.

mybulova_admin
Posted February 24, 2017 - 6:07am

In reply to by Geoff Baker

I've also wanted one of those nugget watches....way out of my price range though :-)

Great info!

mybulova_admin
Posted February 24, 2017 - 8:19pm

In reply to by Geoff Baker

...but then I'd have to walk to work....in bare feet... :-)

JEV1A
Posted March 10, 2017 - 12:56am

In reply to by Geoff Baker

The Zuni Native American Nation is most known for their incredible Silversmiths. Such as the Azteca of Taxco Mexico. Rarely do I see gold used with The Zuni. 

Geoff Baker
Posted February 19, 2017 - 7:48am

And now on the the watch.....I can see why the owner blacked the hands, between the dial color and all that gold it's difficult to see them!

I'm in for Accutron Calendar, cool watch.

jabs
Posted February 19, 2017 - 10:03am

Accutron Calendar