The Original Accutron

The original Accutron was the first and only watch-size timepiece powered by a battery which did not use a balance wheel and hairspring. Instead, the Accutron mechanism has a tuning fork as the timekeeping element. This includes the Accutron Astronaut, Accutron Spaceview, Accutron Railroad, and other asymmetrical Accutrons such as the Accutron Alpha, Accutron Center Lug, Accutron TV Case, and Accutron Anniversary.

The tuning fork is driven with energy from a tiny power cell, or battery, by means of an electronic circuit. The vibratory motion of the tuning fork is converted into rotary motion, for turning time-indicating hands, by means of a simple but incredible small mechanism.

The outstanding characteristic of the Accutron timepiece, in comparison with traditional watches, is its accuracy of timekeeping. A tuning fork is inherently accurate, unlike a balance wheel and hairspring. Also, having no pivots or bearings, the Accutron accuracy is independent of the of the effects of lubrication and wear. It is this uniqueness which permitted the Bulova Watch Company to give a written guarantee of specific accuracy with each Accutron timepiece. The guarantee stated that the Accutron would not gain or lose more than a minute a month in normal use as a wrist timepiece.

Accutron watches were conceived, developed, designed and manufactured entirely within the organization of the Bulova Watch Company, Inc. It first made its appearance in the jewelry stores in November 1960. Therefore, those with the date code of MO on the case back are the amongst the first of all Accutrons. Unlike many space-age devices, the Accutron timepiece was developed solely as a consumer item, although it was also used in many important applications in the United States exploration of outer space. New applications were constantly being found where the Accutron’s unusual combination of characteristics such as accuracy of timekeeping, tiny size, and long running time on a self-contained source of power were advantageous.

Because the Accutron timepiece was and is so completely unlike a conventional watch, and because of the remarkable success of the Accutron Spaceview and Accutron Astronaut, many people today are still fascinated with this remarkable timepiece, finding themselves driven to purchase the next Accutron to add to their growing collections. I am one of those people and am in awe at the mechanical accomplishment of including a tuning-fork for timekeeping inside of a wristwatch.

Accutrons, Accutron Spaceview and Accutron Astronaut watches are pieces of watch history and represent a time in American technology and resourcefulness that still resonates with nostalgia of our race to space in the sixties.