Bulova Accutron Spaceview Watch

Bulova   
Accutron Spaceview
Stainless steel/Rosé gold
1964
17 Jewels  
Movement Tuning Fork cal. 214  
Swiss made
Ø 35.5 mm

The Bulova Accutron Spaceview with tuning fork mechanism was so cutting-edge, it was in a whole league of its own. The advanced electronic technology was simply astonishing, might it have been due to the fact that its creator was an engineer, not a watchmaker. This Swiss engineer who was responsible for the research and invention into the creation of the tuning fork was Max Hetzel, he was a brilliant engineer who would go on to score more than 20 patents. He joined the Bulova Watch Company in 1953. But the final execution was made in collaboration with the American engineer William O. Bennett, that brought forth the first caliber tuning fork movement to life, the 214. The tuning fork, was well-known for its humming but more importantly for its accuracy, it had a maximum deviation of two measly seconds per day. And unlike a mechanical movement, the second hand on a tuning fork jumps 1/360th of a second which appears to be a flowing motion to the naked eye but in actuality it jumps. The Accutron with its groundbreaking level of precision was introduced by Bulova in 1960, and the earth shook, or should I say hummed. The Bulova Accutron Spaceview at hand is humming away the time on my desk. The case has an engraved number 40 and the word SAD between the lugs meaning it has a beautiful thick 40 micron rose gold layer on a stainless-steel back. The Bulova carries its original acrylic crystal with Bulova logo, indexes and Bulova Accutron.

The Accutron/tuning fork was literally considered a ‘To-morrow’s watch’ a watch for the future, no wonder though, it was/is and always will be seen as a futuristic wonder watch...