Released on October 10th, 1960, after 8 years of R&D, as a new frontier in watchmaking the Bulova Accutron was a precursor to the quartz watch and the crisis that would follow. Aptly named after its “accuracy” and semi-“electronic” capabilities, the Accutron beat every mechanical watch of its time for accuracy. This high level of accuracy was achieved through a new innovative watch movement where Bulova used a tuning fork, designed by Max Hetzel, to replace the balance wheel as the timekeeping element. This allowed the Accutron to be accurate to unprecedented levels of +/- 2 seconds a day,or only +/- a minute a month. The tuning fork was placed between two transistors and oscillated at 360 Hz.

When the Accutron hit Bulova’s Authorized dealers they were given display models that had no dial which were supposed to be used to show off the revolutionary tuning fork and how the watch was so functionally distinct from the watches on the market at the time. They weren’t intended to be sold, but collectors loved the look and so Bulova decided to release it as an official design named the “Spaceview”, which is what we have here, the Spaceview Limited Edition ref. 2ES6A002 for Assouline, the luxury coffee table book publisher. Launched in 2020 and featuring the iconic Spaceview transparent dial design, this 43.5mm limited edition piece of only 300 units is made of stainless steel and will perfectly complement the collection of anyone with an interest in important horological watershed moments, which is exactly what the release of the Accutron turned out to be.

Watch is in overall like-new condition. The steel case shows only light signs of wear or handling. Comes complete with presentation box, wooden watch box, limited edition Assouline book, warranty card, and hangtag.

A watch that was briefly at the forefront of watchmaking technology just before the quartz movement kicked off, the Accutron is an iconic piece of horological history for its technology and looks, both of which this model retains.