Antique and Vintage Bulova Wristwatches

When 23-year-old Bohemian immigrant Joseph Bulova opened a small jewelry store in New York City in 1875, he probably could not have guessed that one day, America would run on Bulova time. But thanks to his company’s revolutionary production techniques, quality timepieces, and a whole lot of good-old-fashioned marketing, by 1926 that claim would largely be true.

Two events in particular contributed to Bulova’s early success. The first was Bulova’s decision in 1912 to set up a watch making plant in Switzerland, where, by 1923, standardized parts were used to assemble his pocket watches and desk clocks. It also made the servicing of Bulova watches a breeze.

The second event was World War I, during which wristwatches were issued to military personnel. When GIs returned home, the watches strapped to their wrists became more fashionable than pocket watches. By 1919, Bulova had introduced a complete line of jeweled, Art Deco-style men’s wristwatches. Ladies wristwatches would follow a few years later...

In the 1920s, Bulova watches were so highly regarded that when the Washington Senators won the World Series in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge presented a Bulova watch to player-manager Stanley "Bucky" Harris. That same year, the company created its President wristwatch to capitalize on Coolidge’s use of one of its watches for such a gift.

For Bulova, the 1920s was also the decade of its corner-cut, enamel-inlay Conqueror wristwatch, which was rebranded and redesigned ever so slightly in 1927 as the Lone Eagle to commemorate Charles Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic. The first batch of 5,000 Lone Eagles (packaged with photos of Lindy) sold out within three days, making these watches among the most collectible antique Bulovas today.

In 1930, Bulova introduced a watch that some think is even more collectible: the Doctor’s Watch, whose inner second-hand dial was supposed to make it easier for doctors to check the pulse of their patients.

Another World War caused Bulova to once again focus on the needs of its founder’s adopted nation. In 1941, Joseph Bulova’s son, Ardé, who was now running the company, offered to sell Bulova national-defense products—from wristwatches to aircraft instruments to torpedo mechanisms—at cost. During the war, the company contributed further to the war effort by using its countless ads to help sell war bonds.

The company’s patriotism continued in 1945 when it founded the Joseph Bulova School of Watchmaking to train disabled veterans. American jewelers pledged 1,500 positions for the graduates, whose education was entirely funded by the Bulova Foundation.

The 1950s saw the introduction of new technologies. In 1953 it added a self-winding and shockproof watch, as well as the Wrist-Alarm, a terrific vintage find for any Bulova collector. The Bulova 23 followed in 1954. This made-in-the-U.S.A., waterproof self-winder had 23 jewels and an unbreakable mainspring.

But the real innovation came in October of 1960 when Bulova released the world’s first electronic watch, the Accutron. The watch featured a tiny tuning fork that was powered by a one-transistor electronic circuit. The fork’s 360-hertz vibrations drove a mechanical gear train that turned the watch’s hands. No springs, no escapement.

Much to Bulova’s dismay, the technologically advanced watch was not be selected by NASA for use by its astronauts—that honor went to Omega. But between 1958 and the first moon walk in 1969, NASA relied on Accutron technology for numerous timing mechanisms on the ground. The space agency even brought one to the moon—today a Bulova timer still sits at the Sea of Tranquility.

The first Accutron had an opaque dial, but Bulova has used a model with a transparent dial for its advertisements and in-store displays. The idea was to show off the tiny tuning fork inside the watch at 12 o’clock. The design of these transparent display pieces proved so popular with customers that in 1961, Bulova introduced the Spaceview Accutron. Demand was so intense that Bulova could not produce the watch’s 14-karat gold cases fast enough. The following year, 1962, Bulova introduced a Spaceview with a stainless-steel case.

Also in 1962, the Accutron breached that bastion of pocket watches by becoming the first wristwatch to be certified for use by railroad personnel. That same year, Bulova introduced its Caravelle line of jeweled wristwatches. Another Accutron model, the Astronaut, followed in 1964 (Kirk Douglas wears one in Seven Days in May), and in 1970, the pricey Bulova Accuquartz calendar wristwatch became the first quartz watch sold in the U.S.

Key terms for Antique and Vintage Bulova Wristwatches:

Escapement: A device that converts the pressure of a spring or coil into a fixed release of movement.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Interviews & Articles

Don Levison on Cartier Tanks, Rolex Oysters, and Hamilton Venturas

I got interested in pocket watches from working on mechanical things. I had an old car, and working on it gave me immediate satisf… [more]

Jonathan Snellenburg Ticks off the History of Watches and Clocks

I grew up outside of Philadelphia. I didn’t have any particular interest in clocks or watches as a kid; that came after I started … [more]

Elgins, Patek Philippes, and Other Timeless Wristwatches

I started with pocket watches as a child, watching old movies on television, watching the cowboys occasionally pull out an old poc… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Watchophilia

Watchophilia

Lisa Andrew’s Watchophilia dives deep on Bulova wristwatches, with more than 500 examples to peruse. Bulovas are … [read review or visit site]

The Accutron Watch Page

The Accutron Watch Page

Rob Berkavicius' labor of love for Accutrons and Accutron technical information contains extraordinarily detailed d… [read review or visit site]

National Watch and Clock Museum

National Watch and Clock Museum

This virtual museum, created by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, lets you stroll through tim… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: Wristwatches

Discussion Forums: Wristwatches

Other Great Reference Sites: Wristwatches

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 517 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Rare 1970 Bulova Accutron 218 Solid 14k Gold Man's Watch, Mint! All Orig Nr!14ky Bulova Asymmetrical Accutron 214 Alfa - Boxes - Original Strap And BuckleRare 14k Solid Gold Bez Bulova Accutron Astronaut Rare Jb Champion Bracelet/ BoxHuge Vintage Watch Movement Lot 300 Mens Ladies Bulova Longines HamiltonBulova Accutron Automatic Chronograph Complete Calendar Moonphase Men's Watch Vintage Bulova Accutron Day Date Men's 14kt WatchBulova Accutron Mens Watch M7 Circa 1967 Stainless Steel CaseAccutron Spaceview Space View Solid 14k Yellow Gold Football Case Og Band BuckleMen's Bulova Accutron Automatic Chronograph Luxury Sport WatchVintage 1961 (m1) 14k Bulova Accutron Alpha Spaceview WatchBeautiful ! Vintage Bulova 14k Gold And Diamond Ladies Watch Beautiful !Huge Lot Of 180 Vintage & Now Watches Ermex17j,helbors,ak,seiko,bulova Swiss T1Exquisite Accutron Space View 10k Bezel With N.o.s Bulova Band & Silver DimeHuge Lot Of 201 Vintage & Now Watches Seiko,bulova,embassy,dunhaven17j,miller T2Bulova Accutron 214 Spaceview M4 Circa 1964 Swiss Vintage Men's Watch *rare* Nr!1971 Bulova Oceanographer Automatic Snorkel 666ft Pepsi Bezel Divers WatchMens Bulova - " Princeton " - 14k Rose Gold FilledCrisp Bulova Accutron Railroad Approved 12-24 Hour Dial Fancy Lugs 214 N7 C1977Bulova 64b112 Accutron Mens Watch Stratford Chronograph Rose Gold Brown StrapNew Mens Bulova Accutron Automatic 63b012 Gemini Swiss Made Automatic Watch Nib1969 Vintage Mens Bulova Snorkel 666 Feet Automatic Skin Diver Omega BandBulova Accutron Astronaut Black Face Sterling Silver & Turquoise BraceletBulova Accutron Day/date Mans 14k Solid Gold With 14k Solid Gold BandBulova Accutron Astronaut M3 - 1963 VintageBulova Accutron Watch, Astronaut , Speidal Calendar Band1965 Vintage Stainless Steel Bulova Accutron Astronaut 214 Men's Watch1966 Vintage Mens Bulova Accutron 214 - 24 Hour Railroad Approved - 10k Gold FllMens Bulova Super Seville Stainless Day & Date New Old Stock ( Nos ) !!Bulova Sport Marine Star Mens Watch Chronograph Bulova Men's Precisionist Champlain Rose Gold Black Rubber Strap 98b142 WatchBulova Accutron Calendar 1970s Tuning Fork Watch 14k Gold Mens Unique Red DialVintage 14k Solid Gold Bulova Dior Ladies Wristwatch 16.7 Grams Scrap Or Wear NrBulova 98d109 Diamond Wristwatch-quartz Date-black & Ss-new Complete Box Papers Vintage Spaceview Bulova Accutron Stainless Steel Chapter Ring Signed Band1950 Vintage Bulova Marlboro Rgp Gold Art Deco Watch. Almost Pristine ConditionVintage Bulova Accutron M9 2181 14k Gf Date Men's Watch Gorgeous ConditionVintage Mens Bulova Accutron 214 M4 Spaceview - 10k Gold FilledBulova Accutron Gemini Automatic Gmt Date Men's Luxury Watch 63b012New Men's Bulova Precisionist Carbon Fiber/ Ss Watch 14000874 C860963Bulova Accutron Spaceview 214Solid 14k Gold Bulova Accutron Texaco Award Runs But Hands Dont Move Scrap 33gBulova Accutron Stratford Rose Gold Men's Quartz Chronograph 64c000 Watch UsedLadies Original 1929 Bulova Bernice Art Deco Sapphire Crown Vintage Swiss WatchWittnauer Waltham Gotham Benrus Bulova Gruen Technos Vintage Watch LotNew Ladies Bulova Accutron 63r117 Kirkwood Swiss Automatic Open Heart Watch1973 Caravelle By Bulova Jump Hour Mechanical Watch 17j 11owu West Germany1972 Vintage Mens Bulova Accutron 218 - 14k Gold Filled - Original BoxVintage Bulova Accutron Astronaut Gmt Watch - Just Serviced1962 Vintage Mens Bulova 'jet Clipper' Self Winding - 11 Alac 23 J - 10k Rgp1965 Vintage Mens Bulova Military Self Winding - 11 Alac 17 J - Stainless Steel1956 Vintage Mens Bulova Self Winding - 10 Bpac 23 J - 10k Rgp 'lightning Bolt'1958 Vintage Mens Bulova Self Winding - 11 Acac 17 J - 10k Rgp Fluted BezelAccutron By Bulova Exeter Day Date Men's Luxury Watch 65c102Vintage Bulova 7ah 17 Jewel Men's Wrist Watch Running Well!Bulova Accutron Spaceview Men's Very Rare And Collectable Beautiful Men's Bulova Quartz Watch W/ Chronograph, Diamond Markers & Bezel Bulova Diamond Mens Stainless Steel Black Dial Dress Watch 96d18Brand New Mens Two-tone Bulova Precisionist Claremont Watch ~ 98b140New!! Mens Bulova Super Seville Day-date Ss Automatic W/braceletVintage Buluva Computron Led N6 S.steelworking, Hours, Date & Day, Seconds