Here we have a good example of a 1973 Bulova Accutron Spaceview, reference 7387, with the TV shaped steel case. It has the open-heart dial, with the outer luminous minute/second chapter ring and white baton hands, with the minute hand having the tuning fork design. The bright Orange central second stands out clearly. The original crystal sits above, with the Bulova Accutron text to the bottom left. The case is well sized, measuring just under 36mm wide with a length of 41.5mm. The case back has the battery hatch and the handset, which flips up. It is signed with the serial number and date code for 1973. The single piece is held in place with the screw on retaining ring. Inside it is signed with the reference 7387. The movement is Bulova Accutron calibre 2141 which has the date code N6 for 1966. It has been recently serviced by a UK expert and is keeping accurate time to within 12 seconds per week. It is presented on its original Accutron lizard strap with the tuning fork design of steel buckle.
The Accutron
The Accutron deserves a whole article due to its historical significance and innovation, but due to character limits we will give you the short version today!
The Accutron was designed by Max Hetzel and was the world’s first Tuning fork Electronic Timepiece. Forget Quartz and the Quartz crisis, Bulova were innovating first. While the finest mechanical chronometers could tick up to nine times per second, the Accutron’s tuning fork mechanism split each second into 360 parts. The watch is known for the smoothest sweep second in existence and is affectionately known as a ‘hummer’ due to the unique low-level hum from the tuning fork osculation.
The 214 project was introduced at the same time as America’s awakening to the threat of the USSR’s advances in space technology. At the helm, was retired 5-star general Omar N. Bradley, a hero of WW2. The connection helped Bulova design a tool which would be of interest to every branch of the US military. The ‘Astronaut’ model was worn by pilots of the experimental X-15 rocket places, with Accutron’s playing a part in every US Space mission. There are several scientific instruments with Accuton 214 timing devices on the Moons ‘Sea of Tranquillity’, carried there by the crew of Apollo Eleven.
The Spaceview
In 1959 just before the launch of the Accutron, Bulova’s designers created tooling that reverse printed white dial markings on the new Accutron crystals. This allowed the famous tuning fork to be viewed with the green coloured circuitry inside. White painted luminous hands were also designed to provide a significant contrast from the inner components. These were only intended to be used as retailer examples to showcase the state-of-the-art movement. But the public also wanted “The one in the window”. Retailers, not wanting to lose out on a sale, sold the display Spaceview models to customers, and boy did they sell!
In response, Bulova started selling pre-converted watches and a new model line was born. The first Spaceview crystal sought to replace the dial, but the purpose built models had a built in metal chapter ring for the hour markers.
True factory produced Spaceviews are desirable due to their lower production levels. In the 17 years of sales, the majority of watches sold were still basic dial models, making the Spaceview an odd ball.
The watch
The dial is ‘open hearted’ with the inner workings of the Accutron movement exposed. There is a metal chapter ring which sits around the outside, meeting the case. It has the dark grey tone with the white dash minute markers and wide dash markers for the hours. The hour dashes also have a luminous strip to the centre, tying in with the handset. The handset is white painted with the aged luminous in-fill to the centre. The minute hand has the cut out which resembles the tuning fork shape, a subtle nod to the watches heart. The second hand has a smooth sweep thanks to the 360Hz frequency. It is a bright orange tone which makes it stand out against the open heart. At 12 o’clock are the two coils which pass the current through the tuning fork to the centre. It is wonderful to be able to see the inner most workings of the electronic wizardry. Sat above the dial is the original glass, which has the etched Bulova Accutron logo to the underside, at 8 o’clock.
The case is well proportioned, measuring just under 36mm wide, with the length of 41.5mm. It is formed of stainless steel and has the rounded rectangular shape, affectionately known as a TV case. It has a flat polished section which frames the glass, before the case falls away, with the brushed finish. This swoops around, following the outline of the case. The bottom of the case angles in subtly and has the polished finish, which offers a contrast from the brushing. It has the hidden lug design which leads to the strap seamlessly integrating with the case. The underside is curved which moulds the watch nicely to the wrist.
The case back is a solid piece with the screw ring, which secures it. It has the crown to the upper left, which is activated by lifting up one side. To the mid right is the battery hatch. It is signed with the Bulova name, model specifics, serial number and it has the date code N3, dating it to 1973. Inside it is signed with the reference 7387 and it has the C.B mark of Centrale Boîtes S.A, a famous Swiss case maker who also produced Omega Speedmaster cases.
The movement is the Bulova Accutron 2141, which is an Electro-mechanical tuning fork movement. It operates at a frequency of 360 Hz and is set via the lifting handle to the rear. the date code is N6, which dates the movement to 1966. This calibre has a hacking feature which halts the second hand when setting. The movement has been recently serviced by a UK based specialist and has been set up to run on a modern 1.55v silver-oxide battery. It has a weekly variation of 12 seconds.
The watch is presented on its original Lizard Accutron strap, which is in very good condition. The buckle is stainless steel and is in the tuning fork shape. It is marked ‘Depose’ and is a style which we have not seen before.
The watch is modelled on a 7” wrist circumference.
Full condition report below. Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
Dial:
The dial consists of the chapter ring to the exterior which is in excellent condition with no marking or signs of ageing.
Hands:
The hands are original and are in excellent original condition with no marking or loss of paint. The original luminous has the aged tone to the centre of the hands.
Glass:
The glass is original and is in good condition for the age, with only light marking.
Crown:
The winder system to the rear is original and functions well, as it should.
Case:
The case is formed of steel and is in good retro condition. It has some light markers to the polished dial surround. Otherwise in very good condition.
Caseback:
The case back is in very good original condition with only light marking. The battery hatch has some light marks.
Strap:
The watch comes on the original Accutron Lizard strap which is in very good condition. The buckle is original and is very good. It will fit up to an 20cm wrist diameter.
Movement:
The movement has been recently serviced by a UK based specialist and has been set up to run on a modern 1.55v silver-oxide battery. It has a weekly variation of 12 seconds.
Case dimensions
Case width: 35.75mm
Case length: 41.5mm
Case depth: 12.6mm
Lug width: 19mm