A Very Rare Bulova Accutron GMT Pre Astronaut Dial in Original Condition with Calibre 214 HN Tuning Fork Movement and Nicely Aged Lume, c.1962

In 1962 Bulova produced the Astronaut, a 214-based GMT timepiece with a 24-hour rotating bezel, secondary 24-hour hand, and hack function. The Astronaut was initially developed by Bulova for the US space program, but ultimately found its greatest success in the consumer market.

The handset first used on the new all-stainless steel Accutron GMT watch (which had yet to be named Astronaut) was lifted from the Bulova Timer Labs and had already been used on all their aerospace clocks and timers.

What's on Offer

Bulova released numerous cosmetic variants of the Accutron Astronaut and it seems that each Astronaut variant is designated with a single letter or what Bulova calls it's "Style Name". We can see from the case back that this watch has been engraved with a M.

From the designation scheme seen in actual Bulova ads, they confirm the existence of an Astronaut "C", "H", "J", "L", "M", "N", "O" and "T" all of which are cosmetically unique.

The watch offered here for sale has been classified as a 'type 2' (enhanced applied markers and a standard bare-metal bezel.)

The movement is a 360-Herz tuning fork, powered by a one-transistor electronic oscillator, to drive the timekeeping functions rather than a traditional balance wheel. 

This watch has been well preserved given its age of well over 60 years old. The rich black dial boasts applied hour markers with luminous inserts and chunky stick hands with corresponding lume. There is also a GMT hand which similarly boasts lume, it is to be noted that the lume across the dial has aged evenly to beautiful vanilla colour. As this is a 'pre-astronaut' dial, it is simply signed Bulova Accutron at 12 and the hour plot is the Bulova fork. 

There is a little pitting on the hands that can be noted in the photographs, however, this watch is in original condition and it is simply part of the ageing process on this particular piece. 

The case back number is 1-297671 and you will also note the letter M, the style name denoted by Bulova.