![]() In comparison, the Accutron had a frequency of 360Hz, which quite frankly, was astonishing technology. When the Accutron was released to much fanfare in 1960, the most accurate mechanical watches (watches that you wind-up), had a frequency of 2Hz (beats a second). To cement the Hamilton Ventura’s iconic status, this highly distinctive watch was famously worn by Elvis Presley in 1961 movie, Blue Hawaii.īulova can claim a first though as the Accutron was the first electronic watch to be controlled by a transistor.Ī watch’s accuracy is determined by how fast it’s time base element moves. That honor goes to Hamilton, with their Ventura model. The Power Behind The Anti-Tick Movementīulova didn’t produce the first electronic watch. The new purpose-built Spaceviews also came with a chapter ring (a built-in metal minute scale running around the inside of the watch face) and the crystal had the Accutron name and tuning fork logo printed straight onto it. While the original Accutrons came in a 14k gold watch case, the new models were produced in cheaper stainless steel and filled gold. In response, Bulova added the ‘Spaceview’ to the Accutron line, along with other popular models including the Astronaut (a GMT watch, perfect for jet setters) and the Railroad Approved (which railworkers used to synchronise trains). Dealers even resorted to removing the dials from the ordinary Accutrons that they had in stock as they struggled to keep up with demand from the public, keen to show it off to their friends. Soon, dealers everywhere were contacting Bulova asking for more Accutrons with no dials. Of course, salesmen being salesmen, they didn’t want to miss out on a chance for commission so willingly sold them off. The public were immediately drawn to these strange and unique timepieces in the shop window, so rather than wanting to buy one with a dial, they asked the salesman for the unusual watch on display. You see, keen to create excitement and explain how the new technology powered the Accutron, display models were sent to Bulova dealers with the tuning fork movement on display. Like a lot of things in life, it came about completely by accident and was never actually intended for sale. The most famous Accutron model was the Spaceview which had no dial, with the watches innards completely on show. Accutron: Our Only Mistake Was To Make It Look Like A Watch Like most new technology and gadgets that are first released, the Accutron wasn’t a cheap item. The Bulova Accutron was a truly revolutionary product. In the advertising, Bulova didn’t refer to the Accutron as being a watch, almost as if the Accutron was a new device to replace all watches. What’s more, rather than ticking like regular mechanical watches of the time, the Accutron hummed. Such timekeeping accuracy was simply unheard of on the eve of the watch’s public unveiling towards the end of 1960.īulova’s promised accuracy was down to a new type of watch movement, called the tuning fork, designed by electronics engineer Max Hetzel. If there’s one men’s wristwatch that captured the spirit of the 1960s, it was the Bulova Accutron.Īccutron was a combination of ‘accurate’ and ‘electronic’, making it the perfect name for an electronic watch that was certified to be accurate to within a single second a month. Continuing on from GM’s vintage men’s watch guide is a bit of history about one specific men’s vintage watch featured in the TV show Mad Men: the Bulova Accutron
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