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BULOVA ACCUTRON

BULOVA Accutron
Steel wristwatch


No. 21212M6

Case: round, screw-down back, battery compartment with few signs of use, the battery inside has not leaked, signed
Dial: silvered extended dial with applied baton hour markers, luminescent hands, outer minute track, central seconds hand, signed
Movement: electromechanical, one of the first of its kind, a technological feat at the time
Diameter: 35 mm
Provenance: Flory Van Donck estate


The Bulova Accutron represents a fascinating chapter in watchmaking history, marking a technological revolution in the 1960s.

Launched in 1960, the Accutron was the first electronic watch for the general public, using a 360 Hz vibrating tuning fork rather than a traditional balance wheel. This innovation enabled a remarkable level of accuracy for the time: a deviation of just one minute per month, ten times more accurate than a conventional mechanical watch.

The development of this technology was closely linked to the American space programme. NASA adopted Accutron movements for its on-board instruments, and these mechanisms were notably used on the Apollo missions to the Moon. This association with the space race greatly contributed to the brand’s prestige.

The Accutron also stood out for its futuristic design and characteristic humming sound, replacing the traditional mechanical ticking. The dials, often devoid of numeric hour markers, and the bold shapes reflected the aesthetic of the space age.

Although the advent of quartz in the 1970s gradually supplanted this technology, the Accutron remains an important milestone in watchmaking innovation, bearing witness to an era when the industry was exploring new technological avenues.
Condition report: Sold as is, visible signs of wear throughout, movement does not work, requires a full service, no warranty.

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