The Bulova Accutron watch launched in 1960, revolutionising the watchmaking industry forever. It worked on improving two particularly weak areas of a mechanical watch – accuracy and autonomy. Bulova Accutron watches were the result of a tuning fork revolution. The concept behind the Accutron watch was described as “accuracy through electronic”. The technology worked on increasing the performance of a watch by replacing the balance with a small fork-shaped piece that had only ever been used in the music industry before this point. With a frequency higher than a balance, it divided each second into a hundred equal parts. The Accutron made the already successful brand, Bulova even more famous, and was worn on the wrists of American astronauts whilst travelling to the moon.
Having developed several prototypes the Accutron watch was developed in 1954, five years before the first ever turning fork movement in 1959, the Calibre 214. It was not until 1960 however that the first Accutron watch was released. Named the Spaceview, the dials on these watches exposed the movement straight through their surface. Despite variations made in gold, steel and gold plating, the Accutron Spaceview remains one of the most sought after from the entire catalogue. Its design foregoes the crown. This intentional design feature was thought to reflect the company’s confidence in the accuracy of the Accutron. It was so precise it simply didn’t require one, hence the time adjustment feature that was relocated to the back of the case. Calendar and GMT functions of the Accutron were later revealed, modifying the Calibre 214 to offer something more complex and functional. Bulova missed the chance to equip Accutron watches to the wrists of those taking part in the 1958 Vanguard project by an inch. Instead, the role was given to Omega.
Bulova is a watch company associated with innovation and reliability. The company has a history that spans all the way back to 1875 where it was founded by a Czech ex-pat living in New York. Joseph Bulova began designing reliable and aesthetically appealing watches before opening a production unit in Bienne in 1912. Following this move, Bulova created the world’s first clock radio as well as becoming the first company to feature on radio and television ads. In 2008 Bulova was taken over by Citizen and just two years later revealed the Precisionist. The watch, powered by a quartz movement, would promise reliability of +/- 10 seconds per year. Accutron clocks also formed the dashboards to 46 special missions.
The Accutron watch has marked some major milestones in its 6 decade heritage. In 1962 it became the certified watch for American railroads, helping to improve precision on the train tracks. It was the commercial success of the cheaper, more accurate quartz watch that made tuning fork technology retreat into the shadows. That was until 1975 when Bulova released its quartz-operated Accutron watch, bringing back its recognisable style. Other popular Accutron watches include the Accutron Astronaut with a second time utilised by pilots. The second time zone hand is used in conjunction with the turning bezel graduated on 24 hours. In 2006 the model was reintroduced with a 1000 piece limited edition series, powered by an ETA movement. When Citizen took over Bulova in 2008 it marked the end of the band’s tuning fork technology for good. That said, the Accutron watch collection is now a reputable collection of quartz and mechanical watches.
In 2010 Bulova marked the 50th anniversary of the Accutron with a replica of the 1960 Spaceview watch followed by the Accutron II in 2014 which launched in Baselworld. For many devoted fans, the Accutron will always remain the revolutionary turning fork timepiece, but the transition of the collection into a versatile range of mechanical and quartz watches perhaps, if nothing else, demonstrates Bulova’s ability to continue to move along with the evolution of the watch industry.
