Bulova Accutron

Beautiful, im lucky to own one of these. Unfortunately it’s not working properly

No disposition at all... I do not like the saccaded movement of the seconds hand.

I’m just curious, in your opinion what makes a quartz watch inferior to mechanical?

I used to feel the same way about quartz until I got a Grand Seiko 9F86. Now I can’t stop watching the seconds hand hit every minute marker exactly on point. True GMT movement that’s accurate within 10 seconds a YEAR!

Sooo.. that’s not a quartz watch… that’s a tuning fork transistor watch… and why is quartz inferior? Is it due to the superior time keeping capability? Or is it the battery thing? Or because they are less expensive to make? How does a spring drive fit in with its quartz accuracy, but no battery?

Accutron movements are not quartz. But as far as quartz movements, they are usually far superior to most mechanical movements in most practical ways. But they do usually lack the mystique, romance, and artisanal craftsmanship elements.

I feel stupid now, not knowing these weren’t quartz 😂thanks for the corrections… the more you know I guess…

I normally go for the design, but there is definitely a snobbish side to my personality that chooses mechanical over electronic. But your example of the Accutron immediately debunks that... Great innovative watch with tons of history and great design!

I Prefer mechanical myself but collect both, I just bought a new watch winder with slots for 6 watches so I figure I can store my quartz watches in there and make more room in my watch box as well, besides that my very first collectible was a Hamilton quartz and I absolutely adore it and will be buying more down the road

I have quartz and mechanical in my collection. I prefer the 'purity' of mechanical (I also dislike electric cars in a similar way) but I love my Bulova Precisionist, a great looking dress watch with a super smooth seconds hand that makes it appear to be mechanical. I would like a Space View though, I want to hear that buzz!

Honestly I’m not quite sure, it might partially be my snobbiness coming out but I think it might also be from lack of craftsmanship as they’re usually just pumped out and mass produced. I also really like the sweeping second hand. I’ve only had one mechanical though 😂so I still like quartz watches but in my mind they have lesser value and just an all around cheapness associated with them

That is awesome. I love Grand Seiko

I’m with you about the electric cars. I need a nice engine/exhuast sound and on road trips I can stop at any gas station and leave quick. But on the other hand during a normal week I’d love to just charge a car at my house.

I used to say I only wanted mechanical/automatic when I got back into the hobby, then me not paying attention one day I bought the pursuit watch from Jack Mason which turned out to be a nice piece. I gave it to my cousin he rocks that thing’s faithfully but it was when I got dat Casio Duro I looked at quartz in a whole new light. I definitely wouldn’t mind owning a Bulova or a GS I’m interested in seeing a sweep on a quartz.

I get that there is a place for electric cars, town/city running around etc. But for any distance driving, I want a reasonably powerful petrol or diesel, preferably rwd and with a manual gearbox. 😉

There was one version of the Accutron with the 214 movement I believe that was controlled by a quartz crystal. The accu-quartz I think it was called

yes, there was a Bulova accuquartz that is like what you describe, but it’s a different movement from the one pictured.

Exactly, the charging infrastructure isn’t good yet. I still want a fun car, I was looking into GR86 or Miata as a reasonably priced second car.

The Toyota would be my choice out of those two.

Yeah, that's a tuning fork model isn't it?

Nothing wrong with not knowing. The Accutron movements are a fascinating precursor to quartz, and well worth learning more about.

Hate to break it to you but most mechanicals are machine made and mass produced,

It's only when you start getting into he genuine watch making where they are hand assembled but that also applies to quartz, the Grand seiko 9f for example is completely in house and hand assembled by master craftsmen with much more time and hand finishing than most mechanical movement's

Even then, they typically don’t have the same craftsmanship and quality. That movement looks great

I'm afraid to say, but when you think of the purpose of a watch (to keep time accurately), quartz are superior to mechanical. So I don't understand what do you mean by quartz being inferior to mechanical ones.

I was going to ask the same. It does not necessarily have to be. There are very good quartz watches and there are bad mechanical ones. I don't think one movement or the other makes a watch inferior. I love my mechanicals, but I love my quartz watch just the same.

Love this look, I know these can be hard to keep running, but worth it if you can.

Target Emoji for sure on your replies. I would add that it's easier to count down ten seconds on a one-tick quartz watch than on a Precisionist or a Spring Drive.

Is there some technical reason why there couldn't be a solar mecha-quartz watch? This would eliminate the two "problems" with affordable quartz - battery changes and the one-tick second hand. Not a Chrono, just a regular three-hander.

Quartz is superior in every way. It keeps better time. It’s inexpensive. Rolex made quartz watches in the 70’s, when Quartz was a new, expensive movement. Then the quartz crisis happened. The current attitude to quartz watches comes from marketing. Why would you pay $4000 USD for a Tudor BB58 when it can’t keep better time than a $15 USD Casio F91W? The answer is the attitude driven marketing. Nice Bulova Accutron Space watch btw! I have a 1975 BA, it’s an amazing vintage American brand.

Agreed on every count!