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Bulova Accutron Spaceview, Skeleton Dial, Tuning Fork Movement, circa 1960 — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Bulova Accutron Spaceview, Skeleton Dial, Tuning Fork Movement, circa 1960

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Bulova (maker)
Date
c. 1960
Country of origin
United States
Object type
Wristwatch
Stock no.
vws3484
Credit line
Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (vws3484)
Catalogue title (original)
Bulova Accutron Spaceview - Skeleton Dial - Tuning Fork Movement - c.1960 (English)

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

Record summary

Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number vws3484), this is a wristwatch by Bulova, made in United States, dated c. 1960. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) 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 — Vintage Watch Specialist

An iconic Bulova Spaceview with the famous skeleton dial and tuning fork movement, in superb vintage condition, c.1960 Bulova has long been recognised as one of the most innovative forces in watchmaking, blending American ambition with Swiss precision. Founded in 1875, the brand quickly earned a reputation for accuracy, reliability, and forward-thinking engineering. From pioneering mass-production techniques to creating groundbreaking timing instruments, Bulova consistently pushed watchmaking into new eras. Their most revolutionary achievement came in the 1960s with the tuning-fork-powered Accutron—an icon of Mid-Century technology and the world’s first fully electronic watch. What's on Offer This round-cased Bulova Accutron Spaceview is a superb example of one of the most recognisable electronic watches ever produced. Unlike many later “Spaceview conversions,” this piece has the correct Calibre 214 tuning-fork movement , open to full view exactly as collectors expect — the exposed green coil, copper electronics and distinctive tension bridge are all present and beautifully displayed beneath the original domed crystal. The stainless steel round case offers a completely different wrist presence to the tonneau variant: more traditional in profile, yet unmistakably Spaceview thanks to its bold open-worked dial architecture. The white chapter ring, clean handset and distinctive orange seconds hand all remain in excellent condition, giving wonderful contrast against the mechanical drama of the exposed movement. The case itself is very well preserved, with only honest signs of age, and the watch wears comfortably on a paired strap. With its pure 214 architecture and classic rounded silhouette, this example captures everything collectors love about early Spaceviews: futurist design, technical innovation and unmistakable vintage charm. An excellent opportunity to acquire an authentic piece of electronic horological history — visually captivating, mechanically fascinating, and enormously satisfying on the wrist. Very recently serviced by a specialist watchmaker, so running perfectly well!

Historical context

Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)

Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.

The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking

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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