Bulova 1961 Accutron Astronaut

Submitted by prontouk on February 13, 2015 - 7:34pm
D
Manufacture Year
1961
Movement Model
214H
Case Serial No.
D75654
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

18k gold Astronaut  -  Swiss movement

Bought at auction in UK - Jan 2015

Astronaut C 18K gold
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
Bulova Watch
mybulova_admin
Posted February 28, 2023 - 5:30pm

Nominating the "D" variant based on the strap mount. The "E" variant has a gold adjustable band.

1961 Bulova Accutron Astranaut "D"

1961 Bulova Accutron Astronaut "D"

Geoff Baker
Posted February 28, 2023 - 9:50pm

Sure is... 1961 Bulova Accutron Astronaut D

BlackbirdM3
Posted May 15, 2023 - 2:28pm

Not a '61 Astro D. Its later than that. The case back is incorrect. The movement is incorrect.  The dial is incorrect. Here is why. Until Joe Walker exceeded 100KM altitude in July of 1963, the Astronaut wasn't called the Astronaut. Bulova didn't add the "Astronaut" name until late '63. Until that time, it just said Accutron on the dial.  Next up, its a swiss M4 214H movement. This is obviously a swapped movement as it should be a 214HN, and in '64 there was a Swiss 214HN movement from the 339 version of the Astro. The first year of a gold Astro was 1964. The possibility of the watch coming with a Swiss movement is there, but, it would have been a 214HN and not a 214H. 

I will agree that its an Astro D, its not a '61, and does have the wrong case back, and likely a replacement movement. 

prontouk
Posted June 20, 2023 - 2:26pm

In reply to by BlackbirdM3

Thanks BlackbirdM3, I agree that it is a Frankenstein as all those things you mention ring true. I guess it was simpler to replace movements than repair them . At least the gold is real :-)

 

BlackbirdM3
Posted May 15, 2023 - 2:35pm

Actually in deeper digging, here is a 1964 Ad that shows it as an Astro C. 

1964 Ad showing gold Astro C.