Bulova 1968 Accutron

Submitted by DD on December 21, 2011 - 5:49pm
Manufacture Year
1968
Movement Model
214
Movement Jewels
7
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
E31924
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Crystal details
Plastic
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

 Hi everyone, on my second Bulova in less than 2 weeks. Not sure what I've got here or of the age. But I did get it very cheap. This Accutron 214 has what I thought was a 1963 401 dial, but the lugs and back don't match. The back is a solid SS without the 10kt GF stamp (Which I was able to verify that this was either a 10kt or 14kt GF top case) and has a M8 stamped on. Not sure what I have here but I do know that some work was done on it. It has a 394 cell and is running perfectly. So either a diod was added to the coil or the movement was reset to allow the higher 1.55. Know matter what this is a great looking piece and is a great day runner but if anyone has any ideas on the actual age or what piece might have been changed I'd appreciate some advise. Thanks as usual.

Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova watch
Bulova Watch
FifthAvenueRes…
Posted December 21, 2011 - 7:13pm

M8 on the Caseback would indicate a 1968 production Date.

DD
Posted December 21, 2011 - 9:59pm

 Yep that's what I thought when I bought it. At that time I didn't know alot about Bulova's or Accutron's but I did know that a good Accutron was a worthy timepiece to have in my collection. I did some research and started thinking that maybe this was pieced together. I have seen the dial several times now and they have all been on 1963 214, model 401 Accutron, but with a different lug on the case. I know that the top case is at least 10kt GF but again I am thrown off by there not being a stamp on the back. Even if it was only gold electroplate it would still be stamped on the back case cover. This back cover only states Stainless Steel. Did they make any models like this in 1968? Thx

lylel396
Posted December 21, 2011 - 10:55pm

  I have a small, about 40 and adding, collection of Accutrons and  have mostly concluded, tongue in cheek, that they never made any two alike.  It is certainly not unheard of for a gold plated case to have a  SS back.  To find out if it is pieced together, you might want to take a look at the back of the movement, it should have a date stamp like the one on the rear of the case in the 12:00 o'clock positon of the rear of the movement. If it hasn't been erased or washed out the case number should be on the inside of the rear cover. As to it running perfectly on a modern battery, that isn't particularly unusual, none of my 214's have been modified for modern batteries though I do use Accucells in one of them.

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted December 22, 2011 - 6:52am

DD,

Your 214 looks correct but I would recommend using a battery of the correct voltage.

Ellierose
Posted December 22, 2011 - 7:35am

i was looking into an early accutron myself...its alittle out of my era of watches but they are a worthy timekeeper...i would like this 214 cailber or maybe 218 ,i don't know..i was looking in to a spaceview ,after i heard about a the conversions out there i don't know enough about finding a real one...i'd hate to take a good accutron and hack it up....but one might be in my future as well

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted December 22, 2011 - 7:44am

It's impossible to tell.

From what I have read due to high demand Bulova authorised its Jeweler/Dealers to convert standard 214's to Spaceview. Can these be called 'original'? also the parts are still readily available (authentic or knock-off) to make the same conversion today.

Ellierose
Posted December 22, 2011 - 9:20am

Thanks for that bit of info...the conversions look just as good..and that makes sense that dealers were allowed to convert those models...i guess a dealer made spaceview can be called original(as long as the customer didn't do after buying the watch and wearing the watch)..i guess its just like ordering a car with a certian engine...i like both the 214 with a regualur dial and the spaceview...its just finding one that isn't going to need a service(which is costly) anytime soon...all in all accutrons are huge part of horological history...they should be right up there with the hamilton ventura( i shouldn't have said that though) Some vintage accutrons can be had at decent prices but some like your Astronaut Fifth, can go high in price...there is one for every budget...i just saw a beautiful chrono on WTF..its newer though...i'm going to look for info on it now...

DD
Posted December 22, 2011 - 3:45pm

Thanks for the info Lyle and Fifth. I opened the back and the dates match so this is not pieced together. So I here that Accutrons are durable, how durable are they? Should I baby this watch or can I wear it as an everyday watch?

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted December 22, 2011 - 4:13pm

DD,

Hard to say without a known Service History.

I purchased a non-running 214 of unknown History, added a battery and it began to run. 8 Months later the Hands stopped moving, although the Watch still hums I fear that the movement is damged due to dry oil.

www.accutron214.com

lylel396
Posted December 22, 2011 - 9:49pm

  It has been my limited experience that Accutrons are nowhere near as delicate or fragile as we have been told with the 218's being a little tougher than the 214's.  I bought tmy first one in 1974, it was a 1970 used one, all I could afford, and I wore it continuously until it quit in 1992. It took awhile to find someone to get it going again but it is running great again to this day.

  I wear my Accutrons regularly and , except one with a 230 movement, have had very few problems.