Bulova Accutron Watch Mechanics

One of the greatest achievements of the Bulova Watch corporation was the introduction of the Bulova Accutron watch.

This watch is special as it qualifies as the first Electronic watch and was used in the NASA mission to the moon in the 1960s.

The watch uses a tuning fork as a means of regulating the time keeping function. The tuning fork is powered by a one-transistor electronic oscillator circuit making this an electronic watch. The tuning fork in turn drives a mechanical gear train to turn the hands.

This watch was the most accurate watch during the time due to the resonating 360 hertz tuning fork

The inventor, Max Hetzel, was born in Basel, Switzerland, and joined the Bulova Watch Company of Bienne, Switzerland, in 1948. More than 4 million were sold until production stopped in 1977.

During the 1960s Moon Landing mission all instrument panel clocks and time keeping mechanisms in the spacecraft were Bulova Accutrons with tuning fork movements. NASA was unsure how well a mechanical movement would work in low gravity conditions.

The Bulova company currently manufactures a limited edition “Astronaut” model under its Accutron line of watches. The back of the watch case is autographed by Buzz Aldrin. The tuning fork movement has been discontinued by Bulova, and the current Astronaut model features automatic ETA SA movement, making it similar to the rival Omega.

If you are considering purchasing a vintage wrist watch I would recommend a Hamilton Vintage Watch. They provide excellent workmanship and movements. There are a large variety available, they provide good value for money and an excellent monetary investment. These factors all make Hamilton Vintage Watches a sought after timepiece by vintage watch collectors.

History of the Hamilton Watch Company

The Hamilton Watch Company was established in 1892, when the Keystone Standard Watch Company was forced into bankruptcy and sold at a sheriff’s sale to a group of Lancaster, Pennsylvania entrepreneurs whose “objective was to build only watches of the highest quality.”

Hamilton Railroad Watch

Its first series of pocket watches, the Broadway Limited, was known as the “Watch of Railroad Accuracy,” and Hamilton became popular by making accurate railroad watches. These were specialized timepieces that once were crucial for safe and correct operation of trains in many countries, including England, the United States, Canada, etc. A Hamilton Railroad pocket watch can sell for around the 400-600 US dollars range.

Hamiltons First Wrist Watch

Hamilton introduced its first wristwatch in 1917. This watch was designed to appeal to men entering World War I and contained the 0-sized 17-jewel 983 movement originally designed for women’s pendent watches. The introduction of the 0-sized wristwatch was the start of a line of wristwatches that included some of the finest American wristwatches made.

In 1928 Hamilton purchased the Illinois Watch Company. Some of the most collectible early Hamilton wristwatches include: The Oval, The Tonneau, The Rectangular, The Square Enamel, The Coronado, The Piping Rock, The Spur, The Glendale, The Pinehurst, The Langley, The Byrd, The Cambridge, and The Flintridge. Many models came in solid gold and gold filled cases.

Hamilton Marine Chronometer

During World War II, production of consumer watches was stopped, with all watches manufactured being shipped to troops. More than one-million watches were sent overseas. The company was extremely successful in producing marine chronometers and deck watches in large numbers to fill the needs of the US Navy. This achievement was a milestone in industrial history and represents the only time a true precision timekeeper was produced on a mass production scale.

1957 Hamilton Electric Ventura Watch

In 1957, Hamilton introduced the world’s first electric watch, the Hamilton Electric 500. The idea of a watch which never needed winding was very exciting to consumers back in the 1950′s who were not only tired of always winding their watches, but were also captivated by progress and modernity. The Hamilton Electric was an instant hit. Its popularity was enhanced by the fact that Hamilton released a number of very dramatic case styles with non-traditional asymmetrical styling

Hamilton Pulsar Watch

In 1972 Hamilton introduced the Pulsar. It was the world’s first electronic digital watch and used an LED display. Seiko Corporation acquired the brand in 1980.

The Hamilton name brand is currently owned by The Swatch Group Ltd.. Swatch Group Hamilton brand watches have grown increasingly popular. Modern Hamilton watches no longer use proprietary “in house” movements, instead using movements made by The Swatch Group’s movement making subsidiary, ETA.

In the late 1980′s and early 1990′s, Hamilton began a marketing campaign that resulted in a comeback. Vintage designs were coming back in style and Hamilton had a large portfolio of popular designs from the 20′s, 30′s, 40′s and 50′s to draw from. Playing on this resurgence, Hamilton replicated several of these original designs such as the Ardmore, Boulton, Cabot, Piping Rock, Spur, Wilshire, and the 1957 Hamilton Ventura. These reissued watches incorporate a modern Swiss made quartz movement.

Purchasing a Vintage Hamilton Watch

The common models are priced much more reasonably, even the ones in gold cases. Many of the models have the “tank style” or rectangular case. It is a classic look and quite dignified. Most of these date to the 1930s -1950s and are abundant in the marketplace.

If buying on eBay, it is a good idea to make sure you are buying from a reputable dealer who has a good return policy. You can then take the watch to a professional watch repair place to ensure that you bought a good watch. It is essential to find a trustworthy repair store if you plan on getting involved with vintage watches.

The Longines brand stretches back to the 1830s and holds the oldest registered logo for a watch company. Longines is now owned by the Swatch Group and produces high-quality watches with both quartz and mechanical movements.

Vintage Longines watches are some of the most sought after vintages watches by collectors due to their design and precision. Longines watches have been used by famous aviators, explores and pioneers.

History of Longines Watches

Louis Amédée de Savoie

Longines provided timers used at the first modern day Olympics in 1892. In 1899, Louis Amédée de Savoie took five navigation chronometers designed to withstand the extreme temperatures of the Arctic.

It was the introduction of automatic timing at the Federal Gymnastics at Basel in 1912 that proved to be the most important event in this development of Longines association with sports. With the ever-increasing demand for accurate instruments to record sporting events Longines created a pocket chronograph, which allowed 1/10th and 1/100th intervals to be recorded.

Vintage Longines 1938 Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch

In 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh made the first solo and nonstop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris, timed by Longines. In 1931, he designed a new instrument for Longines that earned a place in history as the hour-angle air navigation watch.

Since 1952, Longines has been responsible for the timing of nearly all of the Olympic Games, both Summer and Winter. In 1990 Longines was appointed the official timekeeper for the World Grand Prix Motorcycle Championships, and in 1991 Longines timed the World Alpine Ski Championships in Saalbach. From 1997 onwards Longines is the official timekeeper for all events in gymnastics competitions.

In aeronautics Longines has provided the watches required to set and then certify numerous world flight records – not least Charles Lindbergh’s 1927 first nonstop solo crossing of the North Atlantic

In 1973, Longines was the first world watch maker to introduce a LCD-display watch on the consumer market.

Buying Vintage Longines Watches

Vintage Longine watches can vary significantly in price. The two greatest factors being the rarity and the materials the watch is made of. Many Vintage Longines watches are made with precious materials such as Gold and diamonds that can significantly increase the costs.

Costs of Repairing a Vintage Longines Watch

If your vintage Longines watch is damaged and needs repairing or servicing the following source provides estimates of the costs involved in replacing or repairing various parts of a vintage longines watch. Whether it is repairing the crowns, the glass, replacing the case, straps, bracelets, dial or the batteries.

Military watches, especially vintage military watches, are one of the most valuable and interesting collection items that a person can have. An old vintage military watch brings a certain kind of nostalgia, because they go way back.

Military watches were used by the armed forces as naval pieces. Chronometers were used in aviation, especially during the Second World War.

Vintage Military watches were built for utility. They are accurate for their time and ergonomic for fit, function, precision and readability. They contain just the essentials required by the soldier that wore them.

Many of the well refurbished vintage military watches are purchased by sellers or resellers. Buyers of these elegant timepieces often purchase such watches for their good looks and their mythical appeal as an investment.

Pocket watches were used extensively during WWI. However officers wanted faster access to the time. Since wrist watches were not manufactured during that time wrist watches were constructed using pocket watches or pendant watches converted to be worn on a leather strap. These are sometimes seen with schrapnel/crystal guards designed to protect the glass crystals.

The Swiss are known to be one of the best makers of military watches. During the war, wrist watches were not really in use, but soldiers needed faster time access. One of the first military watches ever released was created by the Hamilton Company, known for producing very fine watches in America. There were a total of about 168,000 vintage Hamilton military watches made by Hamilton during WWII. It is believed that this does not include pre-1940 production.

Hamilton Vintage Watch

During WWII, Hamilton supplied watches for the US Army, Navy, and Marine Corps [the Air Force was the Army Air Force]. Hamilton also supplied some watches for allies in WWI, specifically for Russia, and for the Royal Canadian Air Force [RCAF].

Owning a vintage military watch is like owning a piece of history. There is a great feeling in knowing that the mechanism in your hand is something somebody used a long time ago. It feels even better if the watch that you have was once owned by a soldier, which he used to navigate and tell time on the battlefield.

Buying used military watches can give you a historical accessory without breaking the bank.

In 1875 Joseph Bulova, a 23-year-old Czech immigrant, opened a small jewellery shop on Maiden Lane in New York City. By 1912 Bulova had set up its first plant dedicated to the production of watch components and their assembly into jewelled movements in Bienne, Switzerland. In 1923 the name Bulova Watch Company, Inc. was adopted.

Two factors led to Bulova’s success. The first was Bulova perfecting a new concept in the watch industry of total standardization of parts. Every part of a Bulova watch was made with such precision (standardized to the ten thousandth of an inch) that it was interchangeable with the same part in any other Bulova watch.

The second was the outbreak of World War I during which the Bulova Watch company issued watches to military personal. These watches became very fashionable after the war and by 1919 bulova had introduced a line of Art Deco style men’s wristwatches. Ladies wristwatches then followed.

Bulova Lone Eagle

Some of the most collectable vintage Bulova watches today are the corner-cut, enamel-inlay Conqueror wristwatch which was re-branded as the Lone Eagle to commemorate Charles Lindergh’s flight across the Atlantic.

Bulova Doctors Watch

Another highly collectible vintage Bulova watch is the 1930s Doctor’s Watch. This watch was created with an inner second hand dial to make it easier for doctors to check the pulse of their patients.

During the second world war in 1941, Joseph Bulov’a son, Arde, offered to sell Bulova national-defence products. These included not just wristwatches but aircraft torpedo instruments.

Bulova 23 Jewels

In 1953 the bulova watch company added a shockproof self winding watch, as well as the Wrist-Alarm which are well sought after by vintage Bulova watch collectors. The waterproof Bulova 23 followed in 1945 and had 23 jewels.

Bulova Accutron Watch

One of the greatest of Bulova’s achievements was the introduction of the worlds’s first electronic watch, Accutron. The watch was powered by a one-transistor electronic circuit. It had no springs or escapement to turn the watch’s hands. Instead the fork’s 360 hertz vibrations drove a mechanical gear train that turned the watch’s hands.

The Accutron was so accurate that NASA used Accutron technology for timing mechanisms on the ground and was carried to the moon in 1969 by the crew of Apollo 11, the first manned mission to actually land men on the moon.

Bulova Accutron Spaceview

In 1961 Bulova introduced the popular Spaceview Accutron which had a transparent display and in 1962 Bulova introduced a Spaceview with a stainless steel case.

In 1970, the Bulova Accuquartz calendar wristwatch became the first quartz watch sold in the U.S

First how do you define a vintage watch. The consensus seems to be that they must have been made before the quartz revolution which came about in the 1960s. They will have a history and a vintage look to them.

The older vintage watches were pocket watches. These two different timepieces were created during different eras. Pocket watches were created long before wristwatches, and for that reason, many people find pocket watches to be classic all on their own.

Why collect Vintage Watches

There are a number of benefits to collecting vintage watches including increased monetary value over time, the aesthetic beauty of the watches and the workmanship that has gone into creating one of these complex mechanical timepieces. Also there has been a large number watch makers in the past and therefore a large diversity of styles available.

Vintage Chronograph watch

There have been many watch makers around the world. Some popular American watch makers during the last century include Hamilton, Elgin, Timex, Bulova, Waltham and Gruen.

Vintage Wrist watches are not for everyone however. You should be aware that Vintage Wrist Watches are usually manually wound instruments. Only a few have automatic movements and you will not get the precision of a modern quartz watch. Also if you buy a vintage watch from anyone other than a jeweller, you should have the watch initially serviced at a cost of about $100 to $200.

Take into consideration the reason you want to collect, whether for profit or the sheer enjoyment of having a nice collection of old watches.

If you are collecting vintage watches for profit you are better off buying vintage watches then contemporary watches.

Firstly contemporary watches depreciate much quicker. Like a new car they start to decline in value very quickly. If you can accurately value a genuine vintage watch you can find a bargain and stand less chance of loosing money and even gaining a profit should you choose to resell it. However there are also collectable and aesthetic reasons why I prefer collecting vintage watches over contemporary watches.

Surprisingly collecting vintage watches does not have to be an expensive hobby. In fact vintage watches can be less expensive then contemporary watches. A classic 1950s column wheel chronograph can be bought for less then what most modern ones cost.

The watches serve as a standard of excellence. You will be surprised by all of the features and intricacies available in watches back then. The pioneer watch makers who made these watches set the stage for some of the most advanced instruments the world has ever seen. A vintage watch is a mechanical micro-engine. A complex device that is not just a time teller but also an image statement.

By collecting and preserving vintage watches you are preserving the knowledge required to create them that would otherwise be lost. These time pieces tell more than just time; they were symbols of knowledge, sophistication, and distinction in the days of their popularity. Anybody can own a luxury wristwatch.

What Should I look for when Buying

The first thing you need to determine before buying a vintage watch is the condition it is in and the time period it originates from. Can you see the serial number on the watch. All of these factors affect the value of the watch.

One of the challenging aspects of collecting vintage watches are the high proportion of fakes that exist. If you have a keen eye and attention to detail it is often possible to tell a fake watch from a genuine timepiece.

Often you can tell a fraud through colour variation or newness of the parts. Watches that are not of one colour hue may indicate forgery.

Many of the higher end vintage watches have case back numbers that can be checked with serial number to see if they match.

Before buying, obtain a library of details pictures of vintage watches that you know are genuine and match a prospective purchase against them. On-line forums are a great way to acquire and swap pictures.

Look for scratches or gouges on the non-replaced parts, and look for corrosion or other signs of wear and tear. Ask the vendor for a detailed report on the history of servicing of the watch and its current condition. If the vendor cannot supply such information it may be better to let the watch go rather then be disappointed with a poorly maintained corroded or faulty watch.

Maintaining a Vintage Watch

If you expect the value of these watches to appreciate and you want to preserve the art and history of these watches then this will take a lot of care.

Unlike conventional modern watches, vintage watches are not water proof. Keep them away from water and moisture to avoid rust. Temperature also plays a large role in maintaining a vintage watch. Try to ensure they do not become overheated. They are also less shock resistant then modern day watches so you should consider when you should carry these watches around with you.

However If you accidentally damage a vintage watch or it just stops working due to age there are experts who can perform repair and restoration.

What Vintage Watches Should I Collect

Many experienced collectors may suggest you focus on a particular type of watch and become an expert on that type rather then collecting a diverse range of vintage watches you know less about. You may therefore want to start with one make or a specific era of watch making and build up your knowledge before moving on to other makes.

Also the condition of the watch is important. The purist will say that only mint condition is acceptable, but to me the reasons for collecting need to be considered. If you are only interested in the money, then mint condition may be the way to go but insure you have the budget first.

My main interest is having a nice collection of vintage pocket watches regardless of condition. Whatever vintage watches you choose to collect you will find a diverse range of wonderfully made timepieces that reflect the era that they were made and the expertise involved.