Bulova Accutron Railroad Approved (Ref. 2875) Gold Capped, 1971 — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Craft & Tailored · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Bulova Accutron Railroad Approved (Ref. 2875) Gold Capped, 1971

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: Bulova (maker)
Date: 1971
Historical period: Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Country of origin: United States
Object type: Pocket watch
Materials / technique: gold
Dealer: Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles
Stock no.: BLVAATRNR-1
Credit line: Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (BLVAATRNR-1)
Catalogue title (original): 1971 Bulova Accutron Railroad Approved (Ref. 2875) Gold Capped (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number BLVAATRNR-1), this is a pocket watch by Bulova, made in United States, dated 1971. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

The vintage Bulova obsession in the watch community is very real and here to stay. The unique and funky watches that Bulova made from the 60s-80s are always a cause for conversation, ranging from colorful diving chronographs to eccentric electric watches like the famous Accutron. This Accutron in particular is appropriately called the Railroad, because it was actually one of the very few wristwatches purpose-made and approved for railroad workers. Thanks to its quartz movement, it was incredibly accurate while also being affordable, making them easily adoptable by both the intended audience and lots of other "regular" folks as well. SPECS Stock # BLVAATRNR-1 Brand Bulova Style Accutron "Railroad Approved" Model 2875 Serial N1 Size Men's Material 10k Gold Plate Dial Silver Millimeters 34 Bracelet 2pc Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The "fancy" tapered lug, gold-capped case makes remains in good overall condition showing some of the original factory finishing. The case back retians all of its original factory markings. The watch will come supplied on a two-piece handmade leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The original white dial features large, black Arabic numerals from 1-12, and slightly faded red/orange numerals from 13-24. The original hands remain in great condition, with the sweep seconds hand offering a nice extra pop of red ACCESSORIES None. The watch just received a new battery and is operating perfectly and keeping excellent time, previous service history is unknown.

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz pocket watches and inexpensive novelty watches appeared, while traditional mechanical pocket watches survived mainly as collectibles and gifts.

Read the period in the timeline More pocket watches from this period Earlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Railroad and railway watches

Timetables made accurate timekeeping a matter of safety. After a fatal collision at Kipton, Ohio, in 1891, American railroads adopted strict standards: open-face watches, lever setting, at least 17 jewels, adjustment to temperature and five positions, and a performance within 30 seconds a week, inspected regularly by approved watch inspectors. Waltham, Elgin, Hamilton, Illinois and Ball made railroad-grade watches in large numbers.

European railways issued service watches to guards, drivers and station staff, often engraved with the railway's initials and a staff number. Such watches link industrial timekeeping with the standardisation of time zones (Greenwich Mean Time adopted by British railways in 1847; North American standard time in 1883).

What to look for

Open-face cases with the crown at 12 and lever setting under the bezel.
Montgomery dials with every minute numbered, or bold Arabic numerals.
'Railroad grade', '21 Jewels', 'Adjusted 5 positions' on the movement.
Railway initials and issue numbers engraved on the case back.

Dating clues

American railroad standards: from 1891–93, revised c. 1908.
Serial numbers of American makers allow dating to within a year.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Mechanisms mentioned

Chronograph — Complication
Tuning-fork oscillator — Component
Quartz crystal oscillator — Component

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsRecorded
DimensionsNot in source
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Craft & Tailored — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Bulova Accutron Railroad Approved (Ref. 2875) Gold Capped, 1971." Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles, BLVAATRNR-1. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/bulova-accutron-railroad-approved-ref-2875-gold-capped-1971-43704b.