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Bulova Accutron (Ref. 3392) "Freemasons Dial", 1973 — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Bulova Accutron (Ref. 3392) "Freemasons Dial", 1973

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Bulova (maker)
Date
1973
Country of origin
United States
Object type
Wristwatch
Stock no.
BLVAATRN-5
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (BLVAATRN-5)
Catalogue title (original)
1973 Bulova Accutron (Ref. 3392) "Freemasons Dial" (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number BLVAATRN-5), this is a wristwatch by Bulova, made in United States, dated 1973. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. 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 10k gold plate Bulova Accutron is not only a beautiful example but also retains a deeply interesting history. Replacing the numerals on the dial are different masonry tools and items with the best known Freemasons symbol, the 'Square and Compasses' at 12 o'clock. The symbol’s origin is believed to have come from the stonemasons’ guilds during the middle ages. SPECS Stock # BLVAATRN-5 Brand Bulova Style Accutron Model 3392 Serial N1 Size Men's Material 10k Gold Plate Dial Silver Millimeters 34 Bracelet 2pc Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The 10k gold plated case is unpolished and retains excellent factory angles and dimensions with light signs of honest use. The case retains its original Accutron crwon. The case back retains all of its original factory marking in crisp and deep condition. The watch will come supplied on a 2pc leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The non-luminous silver "Freemasons" dial is in exceptionally well preserved vintage condition, with all of the original printing of the dial remaining in excellent condition. The dial shows no major blemishes or signs of age. The original tritium dauphine hands have aged to a slightly green coloration and exhibit no degradation when inspected under U.V. light. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is operating perfectly and keeping excellent time, and just received a new battery.

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

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

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Quartz, digital and electronic watches

Electronic watches arrived in three steps. The Hamilton Electric 500 (1957) was the first battery-powered wristwatch, still with a balance; Bulova's Accutron (1960) used a tuning fork. On 25 December 1969 Seiko released the Astron 35SQ, the first quartz wristwatch, closely followed by the Swiss Beta 21 group. In 1972 Hamilton's Pulsar introduced the LED digital watch, and LCD displays soon made digital watches cheap.

The 'Quartz Crisis' that followed devastated the Swiss mechanical industry, which lost two-thirds of its workforce between 1970 and 1984 before recovering with the Swatch (1983) and the luxury mechanical revival. Solar, radio-controlled, kinetic and connected smartwatches continue the electronic line.

What to look for

  • Battery hatch in the case back and calibre markings with 'Quartz' or a crystal frequency.
  • Display technology: LED (red, push-button) versus LCD (always-on).
  • Tuning-fork hum and a smoothly sweeping seconds hand on Accutrons.
  • Model and reference numbers, often printed on the back.

Dating clues

  • Electric balance watches: from 1957.
  • Tuning-fork watches: 1960–c. 1977.
  • Quartz analogue: from December 1969; LED digital: 1972–c. 1978; LCD from 1973.

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.

Read next:Seiko calibre 35A (Astron)

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