Bulova 1965 Accutron Astronaut

Submitted by davep on September 7, 2020 - 11:00am
Manufacture Year
1965
Movement Model
214
Case Serial No.
1 319459
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Accutron Astronaut Enhanced Type 2 variant ?. 14k gold bezel moves smoothly. Accutron snakeskin band with G F buckle (original?)

Bulova 1965
Bulova 1965
Bulova 1965
lectin
Posted September 16, 2020 - 1:58pm

Very nice!

 

davep
Posted September 17, 2020 - 3:47pm

This one certainly puts my wrongly backed shabby old example in its place,  beginning to wish I hadn't bothered.

BlackbirdM3
Posted September 24, 2020 - 11:50am

Its well documented that there were swiss cased type 1 Astros with US movements. I would not write this off as having the wrong back just yet. What number is stamped on the inside of the case back in ink? Its also well documented that there are type 1s with swiss movements and swiss cases, yet using the standard Astro hands. The dial doesn't appear to read  T-Swiss-T on the bottom, but it might say "SWISS" on the back side. 

There are lots of type 1 Astros with swiss cases that start with the 1- prefix, there are far fewer that are just a five or 6 digit number with no letter or 1- prefix. (I have one that also happens to be a 1965 model) 

The number printed in ink on the inside of the caseback will shed more light on whether the case back belongs to the case or not. I would not be too quick to dismiss this as having the wrong caseback. 

SpaceviewM2
Posted September 24, 2020 - 1:49pm

In reply to by BlackbirdM3

Due to the design of that dial with the Gold applied markers, that would put that watch in theTYPE 2 (Gold Enhanced Dial) category. An Astro  "J" would be the Gold Dial and d the "K" would be the Black Dial. The only documented Type 1 Gold case Astros have Black dials.  That OP watch pictured is not in the Type 1 category.  

JEV1A
Posted September 30, 2020 - 12:00pm

You mention 12hr Bezel Ring moving slowly. These rings must be pulled apart and cleaned as they freeze up.. its spring loaded. The 12hr ring should be set at the 0-1 position TOP and then the dial market will move through the 24hr synced with the 12hr hands movement. So therefore at the 1pm Position (12hr) the 24hr marker should be at 13 hours rotating bezel. If it is not you need adjustment of the rotating bezel ring. The ones I get into my shop all have problems with this. 

Do not attempt to restore your rare gold dial which is most likely Swiss made. Patina is good, not bad.

Bulova 214 early Astronaut Gold dial 24hour and 12hr time displacement. 

John V. / Time & Again 

 

 

 

davep
Posted September 30, 2020 - 12:45pm

Hi JEV1A,  I did say smoothly not slowly , by which I meant it moves as it should , but thanks for the useful info and I agree whole heartedly re patina ! Nice to get a positive post , thanks . I have found another example like mine with the ''offending'' stainless steal back at  https://accutronfacts.freeforums.net/thread/497/1965-accutron-astronaut….

lectin
Posted September 30, 2020 - 12:53pm

Very nice piece!

BlackbirdM3
Posted October 14, 2020 - 5:37pm

One way to tell if the case back is original, take it off and see what the number printed on the inside is. Sometimes the numbers have been removed over the years, other times, they are still there. The Astro I'm wearing right now is an M5, with a swiss 6 digit serial number with no prefix (1- or in the case of a US watch, a letter). In my case, it reads 339, which makes it an astro case back. (Type 21201 or 21203) My type 1 dial is also swiss, printed on the back side of the dial as well has having T-swiss-T at the bottom of it. (I don't see a T-swiss-T on yours, but its worth having a look.)  Swiss type 1 Astros do exist. Take the back off yours and compare to this list. 
 

Astronaut "A" (Style# 21200) (2410 Case) (B134 Bezel) (Color W) (Type 1 Astro)

Astronaut "B" (Style# 21202) (A2410 Case) (B134 Bezel) (Color W) (Type 1 Astro)

Astronaut "C" (Style# 26200) (B2410 Case 18kt Solid Gold) (A2410 Case) (Color Y) (Type 2 Astro)

Astronaut "D" (Style# 26201) (B2410 Case 18kt Solid Gold) (A2410 Case) (Leather Strap) (Color Y) (Type 2 Astro)

Astronaut "E" (Style# 21204) (A2410 Case) (B134 Bezel) (Color W) (Type 1 Astro)

Astronaut "G" (Style# Unknown) (Leather Strap) (B134 Bezel) (Color W) (Type 1 Astro)

Astronaut "H" (Style# Unknown) (Color Y) (Type 2 Astro)

Astronaut "J" (Style# 24038) (Case 14kt Gold Filled) (Color Y) (Type 2 Astro)

Astronaut "K" (Style# 24039) (Case 14kt Gold Filled) (Color Y) (Type 2 Astro)

Astronaut "L" (Style# 21209) (B134 Bezel) (Color W) (Type 1 Astro)

Astronaut "M" (Style# Unknown) (B134 Bezel) (Color W) (Type 1 Astro)

Astronaut "N" (Style# 21213) (B134 Bezel) (Color W) (Type 1 Astro)

Astronaut "O" (Style# 21211) (B142 Bezel) (Color W) (Type 3 Astro)

Astronaut "T" (Style# 21212) (B142 Bezel) (Color W) (Type 3 Astro)

Astronaut "?" (Style# Unknown) (2635 Case) (B134 Bezel(Color Y)

Astronaut "?" (Style# Unknown) (2843 Case) (Color W)

Astronaut "?" (Style# 21201) (Swiss Astro) (339 Case) (546 Case) (B134 Bezel) (Color W) (Type 1 Astro)

Astronaut "?" (Style# 21203) (Swiss Astro) (339 Case) (546 Case) (B134 Bezel) (Color W) (Type 1 Astro)

Astronaut "?" (Style# 21207) (Swiss Astro) (546-2 Case) (Leather Strap) (Black Dial) (B166 Bezel) (Color W) (Type 4 Astro)

Astronaut "?" (Style# 21208) (Swiss Astro) (546-2 Case) (B166 Bezel) (Color W) (Type 4 Astro)