Bulova Accutron

The name Accutron today refers to a modern range of watches you can buy from Bulova. However in the minds of horologists and watch collectors it's usually associated with an innovative watch that Bulova created back in the 1960s.

Tuning Fork Watch

The Accutron is described as the world's first completely electronic watch - and it appeared before the era of mass-produced quartz watches. The mechanism it used was an innovative resonating tuning fork.

Previously, watches had been regulated by a rotating balance wheel. Unfortunately the accuracy of such a mechanism was limited. The resonating tuning fork, with a higher frequency, allowed for potentially greater accuracy - however many doubted that the idea could be made to work.

The tuning fork concept had first been patented by Louis Breguet (grandson of Abraham Louis Breguet) back in 1866. This patent applied to the use of a tuning fork in clocks - no-one had been able to miniaturise the mechanism to work successfully in a watch.

Bulova began work on the Accutron in 1952. Engineer Max Hetzel built the prototype by hand, with a tuning fork five centimetres in length. The design was finalised in 1959 by Hetzel and William Bennett.

The Accutron was finally released to the public late in 1960, the first model being the 214. The production watch incorporated an electrically powered tuning fork oscillating at 360 Hz - this compared with a frequency of around 2 Hz for most of the quality mechanical watches of the day. It also gave the Accutron its distinctive hum.

This breakthrough allowed an accuracy of an amazing 2 seconds per day. The Accutron was so successful that it chosen by some of the original NASA astronauts. Bulova Accutron movements were also adopted by NASA for some mission critical activites.

Some two million Accutrons were made by Bulova between 1960 an 1970. Many of these still work perfectly today with little more than a new power cell.

Bulova ceased to produce tuning fork watches in 1977. Although the Accutron name continues today as a brand, the modern Accutron range for sale today is not connected with the tuning fork watch of the 1960s.

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Bulova Accutron The name Accutron today refers to a modern range of watches you can buy from Bulova. However in the minds of horologists and watch collectors it's usually associated with an innovative watch that Bulova created back in the 1960s. Tuning Fork Watch The Accutron is described as the world's first completely electronic watch - and it appeared before the era of mass-produced quartz watches. The mechanism it used was an innovative resonating tuning fork. Previously, watches had been regulated by a rotating balance wheel. Unfortunately the accuracy of such a mechanism was limited. The resonating tuning fork, with a higher frequency, allowed for potentially greater accuracy - however many doubted that the idea could be made to work. The tuning fork concept had first been patented by Louis Breguet (grandson of Abraham Louis Breguet) back in 1866. This patent applied to the use of a tuning fork in clocks - no-one had been able to miniaturise the mechanism to work successfully in a watch. Bulova began work on the Accutron in 1952. Engineer Max Hetzel built the prototype by hand, with a tuning fork five centimetres in length. The design was finalised in 1959 by Hetzel and William Bennett. The Accutron was finally released to the public late in 1960, the first model being the 214. The production watch incorporated an electrically powered tuning fork oscillating at 360 Hz - this compared with a frequency of around 2 Hz for most of the quality mechanical watches of the day. It also gave the Accutron its distinctive hum. This breakthrough allowed an accuracy of an amazing 2 seconds per day. The Accutron was so successful that it chosen by some of the original NASA astronauts. Bulova Accutron movements were also adopted by NASA for some mission critical activites. Some two million Accutrons were made by Bulova between 1960 an 1970. Many of these still work perfectly today with little more than a new power cell. Bulova ceased to produce tuning fork watches in 1977. Although the Accutron name continues today as a brand, the modern Accutron range for sale today is not connected with the tuning fork watch of the 1960s. This site is not associated with or endorsed by Bulova All trademarks are the property of their respective owners Clocks-Watches-Time / Watches / Famous / Accutron / All original material copyright © Trevor Mendham 2005-2008. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners Please read the site terms of use		Clocks Watches Celebrity Famous Accutron Graves H4 Kennedy Speedmaster Ultimate Makes A-H Makes I-Z Mechanics Types Store Time Time & Motion More...