Bulova 1969 Accutron Calendar

Submitted by withoutremorse42 on
Manufacture Year
1969
Movement Model
2181
Movement Jewels
15
Case Serial No.
-
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Has "1-993964" on the outside of the cap.

Alaskan gold nuggets encrusted around the 18K case and the band.

Face is Alaskan jade with more jade on the band.

Band itself is 10K gold, has "LJH" on it.

Has "Swiss" on it, as well as "115" inside of an upside-down anvil shape.

I do not know the approximate weight of the gold nuggets used

1969 Bulova watch
1969 Bulova watch
1969 Bulova watch
1969 Bulova watch
Reverend Rob
Posted March 21, 2019 - 12:24pm

Almost looks like a custom watch, but I suspect it is factory. If you do a search for "Accutron Gold Nugget" you will see quite a few watches like this, some have matching rings.

It is possible an Alaskan jeweller was doing this, or having it done. The dial looks 100% like a Bulova factory dial, so these watches may be stock or they may have had help in getting these made from Bulova themselves. You can still buy nugget jewellery in Alaska of course, it's a big touristy thing. Not all of them were solid gold, which this one is at 18K. These were and are known as 'Pipeline Watches.'

Not sure how we can identify it beyond being an Accutron Date. 

 

Kathy L.
Posted March 21, 2019 - 1:00pm

I think you are spot on Reverend Rob.  Here is an ad from 1969 that seems to be the band.

Kathy L.
Posted March 27, 2019 - 9:56am

1969 Bulova Accutron Calendar

 

withoutremorse42
Posted March 21, 2019 - 2:42pm

Thanks for the info!  I appreciate the help in identifying this.  Trying to figure out the approx weight of gold in this is proving a bear

Reverend Rob
Posted March 22, 2019 - 10:09am

In reply to by withoutremorse42

Ideally you want to remove the movement from the case and weigh the case and bracelet only. I strongly recommend getting a watchmaker to do this, as Accutron movements can be damaged easily. 

neetstuf-4-u
Posted March 23, 2019 - 6:19am

 Can't say as I have ever seen one of these before, very cool indeed.

 

1969 Bulova Accutron Calendar

mybulova_admin
Posted March 22, 2019 - 11:29pm

Correct ID for this would be an Bulova Accutron 'Calendar'.

Note that the case is also nuggeted. That's a whole lot of gold!!!

Geoff Baker
Posted March 27, 2019 - 6:46am

I call these nuggeted watches "oil field" watches. In the late 60's and early 70's thousands of Americans and Canadians went to Alaska to build the Trans Alaska Pipeline. It seems that one of the cottage industries that popped up was he sale of these gold nugget encrusted watches. The more a fellow had to spend the more gold the watch had. It seems this one would have been of the highest tier, having the jade dial AND the amazing jade and gold band. At the heart of it all is, of course a Bulova Accutron. I think it best categorized as 'Calendar' as the case is obscured and the dial is a replacement.

1969 Bulova Accutron Calendar

jabs
Posted March 27, 2019 - 6:51am

1969 Bulova Accutron Calendar