First railroad approved wristwatch, the Accutron…

Accutron railroad

The original models had a 14k yellow gold case, but the later models were fashioned out of stainless steel and a gold-filled bezel instead. Thus the Bulova Accutron gold is without a doubt a highly sought after collectible Accutron. It was back in 1962 when the Bulova Accutron railroad captured the world’s attention. The Accutron was certified as the first watch for American railroads; it was used by rail workers to synchronize trains.

With its precision, trains could be punctual and, most importantly, avoid collisions that were due to late arrivals or departures. Seventy-five other railroad companies across the world also adopted the Accutron technology.

In 1891 a 4 min differance in time caused a train crash in Kipton, Ohio, two trains collided killing 11 people. This set in motion the standardized time debate that led to both the current time standards and zones we have today.

Railroad watches — almost exclusively all pocket watches until Bulova Watch Co.’s famed Accutron of the 1960s — also had to be adjusted so they would remain accurate in heat, cold, and regardless of how much power, or wind-up, was left on a watch’s main spring. Position adjustments were also important in these hand-wound time-keeping machines. Railroad-approved watches needed to tell time accurately — typically, plus or minus 3 seconds a day — regardless of whether they were held upright, tilted left, tilted right, face-down or face-up. Certain watch manufacturers took an added step and made sure their watches were accurate even if held upside down.

Prior to the Accutron, to obtain the Ball’s Standards Certification, a railroad pocket watch must have met the following requirements:

No lid on the dial, an open face

Plain white dial

Bold black hands and Arabic numbers

Minimum of 17 jewels

Double roller

Lever-set

Accuracy with a gain or loss of maximum 30 seconds a week

Only American-made watches may be used (depending on availability of spare parts)

Only open-faced dials, with the stem at 12 o’clock

16 or 18-size only