Horological Meandering

It would be fair to say that, given the Accutron’s complex and delicate index system (to those not in the know), it is hard to find a nice an good functioning Accutron this days.

Of all the Bulova Accutron models, the Spaceview are those that had no dial, sometimes only a “chapter ring” with hour and minute markings. It is not a squeleton watch, as some have said. But it lets a view of the watch’s inners.

Let's take a look at the one the cat brought in last week (sorry for the poor pictures, my good camera is not with me by now).

Bulova designed more than 300 case/dial combos, being the cushion shaped the one that pleases me the most. It is also the biggest case with 38mm wide. This cases lack of a conventional crown and this is a pecularity of the first Accutrons. If you turn the watch, you can see a deployant ring to set the time and a screw-in cap for the battery.

To know the year the watch was made, there’s a letter-number code, M means it was made in the 60’s decade and N in the 70’s, and the number is that of the year. In case of mine it is an M6, meaning it was made back in 1966.

The first ones were equipped with the 214 calibre that was made in the U.S. as well as in Switzerland, with an oscillation frequency of 360 hertz every second!

One of the nicest things about Accutrons is that, instead sounding tic-tac, they buzz like a mosquito. Allow me to make clear that in my case, you can only hear it by placing the watch close to your ear, and that while you’re wearing it, you can’t feel any vibration at all. This spaceview configuration lets a view of the watch’s inners, although it is difficult to perceive any movement besides the seconds hand continuous glide.

When I found this watch on a local ebay like portal, I was surprised about the apparent state of the watch, although you can never trust in the pictures of that kind of sites. I spent some time watching at it and investigating a little about accutrons and no one bought it! So I took my chances and shot. I got a reasonable but not cheap price for it.

When the watch arrived, I was sooo pleased! Until I open it. There are some data that worries me, and I hope some friend can help a little here:

1. it has a 214H calibre, which means it must be hacking, but it has no hacking lever though.

2. The case has a “10KT Gold Filled Bezel” inscription but, it has no bezel!

3. The case back is printed 2387 on the inside, but I think it corresponds to a round case model.

4. The case is dated back to 1966 (M6) but the movement has a M9 inscription.

Anyway, I will enjoy my watch since it has all the desirable features of a Bulova Accutron Spaceview from my point of view:

Case shape, condition and size. Gray luminous concave chapter ring. Spaceview configuration. original domed signed crystal. Original hands for this model. Swiss Brevet Movement. Keeps great time.
1. Nice and curious bracelet.

I hope you enjoy the reading as much as I did writing and sharing with you.

Best regards.

René

BTW, Accutron Roll Call anyone?

(Info source: another watch forum from Spain).

P.S. Greetings from my "evil cat" here