The Complete Accutron Astronaut Variant Guide

The Complete Accutron Astronaut Variant Guide
by Accutronitis

 I can guarantee this updated guide is the most complete and confirmed accurate Astronaut guide ever published to date ! I will be updating this guide as new facts are confirmed so check back…….

Part 1 of 2

Bulova released numerous cosmetic variants of the Accutron Astronaut and it seems that each Astronaut variant is designated with a single letter or what Bulova calls it’s “Style Name”. Historically, collectors have struggled to fit their strange-looking Astronaut into the confusing and woefully incomplete reference provided by the Complete Price Guide to Watches, the most well-known watch guide in the world. The guide lists three letter designations: Astronaut “A”, “B”, and “C”, and list multiple cosmetic variations under each designation. From the designation scheme seen in actual Bulova ads they confirm the existence of an Astronaut “C”, “H”, “J”, “L”, “N”, “O” and “T” all of which are cosmetically unique. From Bulova sales books they confirm the existence of an Astronaut “K”. In the case of the Astronaut “O” and “T”, and the “J” and “K” the only difference between the two variants is dial color. From a official Bulova crystal catalog the existence of a letter designation (Bulova Style Name) for a Astronaut “D” and a Astronaut “E” are confirmed and it also confirms the “Complete Price Guide to Watches” listing of the Astronaut “A”, “B” and “C” as being correct. That brings the confirmed list of Astronaut letter designations (Bulova Style Names) to “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “E”, “G”, “H”, “J”, “K”, “L”, “N”, “O”, and “T” !

UPDATE – and now from a 1965 news paper ad the Astronaut “G” has been confirmed !!!

Assembled here is a complete list of all known factory Astronaut variants, based on 15 years of research from Micah Mabelitini, SAM2, Accutronitis, and other reputable sources which now includes the most latest up to date and confirmed information available.

Instead of adhering to Bulova’s fragmented system, we present here an alternate classification, based on bezel and dial types. If your Astronaut does not look exactly like a variant described here, it is likely that it is not completely original. Bulova did occasionally issue odd cosmetic variants of some watches, but such variants are rare and difficult to authenticate.

Under this classification system, all Astronaut variants fall under one of four families, hence referred to as Type 1, 2, 3 and 4. Type 1 includes all standard Astronaut variants, with standard painted dial and standard bare-metal bezel. Type 2 includes all Astronaut variants with an enhanced (applied markers) dial and a standard bare-metal bezel. Type 3 includes the models with a day/night bezel, and Type 4 includes the Swiss models with black bezel.

There is a good bit of mix-and-match among Type 1 Astronaut variants. It is possible that other factory-produced dial/hand combinations exist within the range of known Type 1 variants. However, variants of Type 2, 3 and 4 are completely monolithic. If you have an Astronaut with any unspecified mix of features, such as a Type 3 bezel and a Type 4 dial, or Type 2, 3 or 4 Astronaut with arrow-style hands or a luminous seconds hand, the watch is not factory original.

Take special note that hand color and applied marker color must always match case color and non-luminous hands with non-luminous dials/ luminous hands with luminous dials.

Bezel Variants

Standard: Bare metal with engraved black numerals and half-hour indices; available in stainless steel, solid 14K gold and solid 18K gold.

Day/Night: Fully enameled bezel face with 12 hours of white and 12 hours of black; stainless steel only; used only on Type 3 variants.

Swiss: Fully enameled black bezel face; stainless steel only; used only on Swiss Type 4 variants.

Case Variants

Stainless Steel: Standard lugs, used with all stainless steel Astronaut variants.

14K Filled: Covered lugs, used with most gold Astronaut variants.

14K Solid: Covered lugs, used only with the Solid Enhanced variant.

18K: Standard lugs, used only with the Ultra Enhanced variant.

Dial Variants

Simple: Nearly identical to the standard dial but with no dots of any kind at the half-hour markers; may say ‘Accutron’, ‘Bulova Accutron’ or in late 1962/early 1963 may say ‘Accutron Astronaut’ on it, The factory black variation dials are of a early “1st gen” type and a late “2nd gen” type with the only difference between the two being the 1st gen (first dial used with the all SS Astronaut) has no luminous paint over the hour markers and the 2nd gen does have luminous paint over the hour markers but nether has dots of any kind at the half-hour markers. The “Simple” factory black variation 1st gen dials have been confirmed to be used on the first stainless steel Astronaut M2 watches; available in silver, black. used only on Type 1 variants.

Standard: Luminous painted over the hour markers, luminous painted dots at the half-hour markers; may say ‘Accutron’ or ‘Bulova Accutron’ but always says ‘Astronaut’ available in black and silver.

Enhanced: Applied trapezoidal markers at 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11; available in black, silver and gold; applied markers match case color.

Ultra: Applied diamond-shaped markers at 3, 6, 9; available in gold only, used only on Ultra Enhanced variant.
Day/Night: Applied arrow markers at all hour positions, applied Accutron lettering; available in black, silver; used only on Type 3 variants.

Swiss: Painted Accutron logo at 12, applied rectangular hour markers at all other positions; available in black, cream; used only on Swiss Type 4 variants.

Hand Variants

White Spade: (Aerospace) Non-Luminous Bulova Accutron Hand Set “white spade (painted) WS-25” and used only on the early “1st gen” stainless steel Astronaut M2 Type 1 variant. not available on Type 2, 3 or 4.

Arrow: (Pointed) Luminous hour and minute hands are non-tapering, with an arrow tip; used only on certain Type 1 variants.

Taper: (Dauphine) Luminous hour and minute hands are wide and tapered, with an arrow tip; used on some Type 1 variants, and all Type 2 and 3 variants.

Rectangular: (Baton) Luminous hour and minute hands are wide and non-tapering, with a flat tip. Rectangular hands are only available on Swiss Type 4 variants.

Broadhead Hour: (Broadhead Aero) Certain variants of Type 1 Astronaut with arrow hands include a rare broadhead arrow hour hand. not available on Type 2, 3 or 4.

Fils Second: Certain variants of Type 1 Astronaut with simple black dial. not available on Type 2, 3 or 4.

Luminous Seconds: Certain variants of Type 1 Astronaut include a luminous seconds hand. not available on Type 2, 3 or 4.

Non-Cone Seconds: Non-Cone Seconds hand are only available on Swiss Type 4 variants. not available on Type 1, 2, or 3.