#Bulova - Accutron - 1972 - first electronic watch operated by a tuning fork.

Before Quartz was invented! This one is slightly modified to take modern batteries. Running beautifully after 50 years. Caliber 218 (versus the most common 214)

It hums!

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I was never too familiar with this piece to notice but are the hours markers, logo, etc printed on the crystal?

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I just got these 2 back from service.

1970 Spaceview w/214 movement

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1973 accutron w/218 movement

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Yours appears to be a 218 movement (crown at 4 0'clock) modified by removing the dial to get the Spaceview look.

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Looks great! I love the Accutron. Here’s my 1966 Spaceview:

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Nice @xaguilax , I’m guessing the dial is modified on yours? I like it. Here is my 1969 Spaceview.

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The previous owner gave me an extra Energeizer 387S battery for it, which I see that I can get on Amazon. I realize the original Mercury batteries are, practically speaking, a thing of the past.

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Rich_P

I was never too familiar with this piece to notice but are the hours markers, logo, etc printed on the crystal?

That is correct --- The more common is the 214. There REALLY is no such thing as the "Spaceview".... they were never really made. Dealers modified the watch models by removing the dial and replacing the crystal with markers or rehaut/chapter ring with the hour markers. They did this mod at the dealer level for a many years until the mod was made as "a model". the first spaceviews were just exhibition watches not made to sell -- just show the customer the internals and it just took off from there. Cheers!!!

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foghorn

I just got these 2 back from service.

1970 Spaceview w/214 movement

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1973 accutron w/218 movement

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Yours appears to be a 218 movement (crown at 4 0'clock) modified by removing the dial to get the Spaceview look.

That is correct! 218... you have both!! I LOVE YOUR Accutron 214. Both models are accutrons... the "spaceview" was not really a model. It all started when the EXHIBITION skeleton model on display at the Bulova Dealer (not intended for sale) became more popular and the dealers all started removing the dial and modding the watch to look like "spaceview" exhibition model never intended to be sold. Congrats on that 214 it's beautiful brother. Cheers.

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gbelleh

Looks great! I love the Accutron. Here’s my 1966 Spaceview:

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Gorgeous!!!

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skydave

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Nice @xaguilax , I’m guessing the dial is modified on yours? I like it. Here is my 1969 Spaceview.

Skydave, the spaceview never really existed. They are all accutron 214/218/224/BT WITHOUT the dial - -therefore exposing the interior "skeleton". Makes them "spaceview". See my other comment below as to how they became "spaceview". Cheers!

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skydave

The previous owner gave me an extra Energeizer 387S battery for it, which I see that I can get on Amazon. I realize the original Mercury batteries are, practically speaking, a thing of the past.

I had mine slightly modified to take modern standard batteries. When not using the watch leave the crown on the hack positiuon to prevent wear and tear of the delicate parts. The watch will still hum but the hands will not move limiting the wear.

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The Accutron Spaceview, with a revolutionary 214 tuning fork movement, launched in 14K gold was originally made for merchants eager to offer an eye-catcher in their displays. Unlike the standard models, the Spaceview came with an open dial that showed the tuning fork and other technical parts. The brand’s logo and indexes were printed on the inner side of the mineral glass crystal. The initial idea was to showcase the watch in the window to attract attention to passing onlookers. However, the watch was so popular that the merchants were selling the display models to avoid losing valuable business. This window model was so much in demand that Bulova quickly decided to produce it for retail. "

The Spaceview most definitely existed as a Bulova manufactured model for years until the 214 movement gave way to the 218.

Any "Spaceview with a 218 is a conversion not produced by Bulova.

https://spaceview.ca/

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xaguilax

Skydave, the spaceview never really existed. They are all accutron 214/218/224/BT WITHOUT the dial - -therefore exposing the interior "skeleton". Makes them "spaceview". See my other comment below as to how they became "spaceview". Cheers!

What you describe here are "conversions" not done by Bulova, but by hobbyists wanting the look of the original Spaceview line. You are correct that they originated as a marketing tool but, when Bulova realized the popularity, they manufactured the Spaceview line (214 movements in all of them) for years.

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foghorn

The Accutron Spaceview, with a revolutionary 214 tuning fork movement, launched in 14K gold was originally made for merchants eager to offer an eye-catcher in their displays. Unlike the standard models, the Spaceview came with an open dial that showed the tuning fork and other technical parts. The brand’s logo and indexes were printed on the inner side of the mineral glass crystal. The initial idea was to showcase the watch in the window to attract attention to passing onlookers. However, the watch was so popular that the merchants were selling the display models to avoid losing valuable business. This window model was so much in demand that Bulova quickly decided to produce it for retail. "

The Spaceview most definitely existed as a Bulova manufactured model for years until the 214 movement gave way to the 218.

Any "Spaceview with a 218 is a conversion not produced by Bulova.

https://spaceview.ca/

That is correct. There is a Bulova museum in NYC (inside the Empire State Building) -- I lived on 32nd and Lexington just a few blocks away. Not sure about the "quickly" decided to produce it for retail".....😀 there was a kit that was later sold to the dealers to convert the watches. They sold the kit too end users too. For years. Everything in my 218 is produced by Bulova. The dial is removed and the kit is added. All of the spaceviews are "open dial" which is another way of saying NO DIAL. 😀 Some stores sold them with and without the rehaut/chapter ring. When someone tells me "there is no such thing as a real 'spaceview' they are all accutrons" I always concurr with "that is correct" They are all Accutron models without the dial.

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Ok guys…now I’m envious. Are they expensive to service? Any trouble finding someone to do it?

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I love it.

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Found my grandfather's 14k day date in a drawer, not working, found and AD near me who knows tuning forks, took 5 weeks and $425 but totally worth it

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The original Accutron watches are magical.

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Beautiful Spaceviews! 🤙❤️

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These have always fascinated me. I wish they brought them back in the smaller, more traditional size. Aren’t these 36mm?

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DariusII

Ok guys…now I’m envious. Are they expensive to service? Any trouble finding someone to do it?

Qualified Accutron repair people are hard to find and parts for a long defunct technology are getting difficult to source. Service costs vary from 2-300 and up,depending on what's required.

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Nice one! I love the white hands!

I’ve had a mini collection (6) of Bulova Accutrons, but never the Spaceview ones. They look very cool, but the dial is just too busy for me with all that tech going on. Brilliant movements, but very vulnerable and hard to find a place to service them. Luckily I found someone that can repair my 218 one (the only one I kept) and it’s in service now. Will post update when it’s returned!

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DariusII

Ok guys…now I’m envious. Are they expensive to service? Any trouble finding someone to do it?

They can be hard to service- there are two parts in particular that are incredibly hard to find and very fragile - when I’m not using the piece, I pull the crown out to hacking mode to prevent the movement from engaging and wearing. There are only a handful of technicians left who can service them.

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WatchMetrics

This is one of the best looking version I have come across. Definitely looks different and the movement is atypical as well. Excellent pairing with the straps. Fantastic.

Thank you!!

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Donster_125

These have always fascinated me. I wish they brought them back in the smaller, more traditional size. Aren’t these 36mm?

Mine is for sure under 40.

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rowiphi

Nice one! I love the white hands!

I’ve had a mini collection (6) of Bulova Accutrons, but never the Spaceview ones. They look very cool, but the dial is just too busy for me with all that tech going on. Brilliant movements, but very vulnerable and hard to find a place to service them. Luckily I found someone that can repair my 218 one (the only one I kept) and it’s in service now. Will post update when it’s returned!

I understand completely - I hated chronographs for the exact same reason. Until my brother gave me the Citizen 2100 caliber chronograph (I also hated ALL Quartz watches with the exception of Casios) and after weeks of use -I’m like “damn this is a beautiful watch!!" —then suddenly started liking them. Now I own the Bulova Lunar Pilot and I also want a Seiko flightmaster. My watch journey has witnessed a change in taste.

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xaguilax

That is correct! 218... you have both!! I LOVE YOUR Accutron 214. Both models are accutrons... the "spaceview" was not really a model. It all started when the EXHIBITION skeleton model on display at the Bulova Dealer (not intended for sale) became more popular and the dealers all started removing the dial and modding the watch to look like "spaceview" exhibition model never intended to be sold. Congrats on that 214 it's beautiful brother. Cheers.

That’s why when I did mine I did my best to make it look like a jewelry store conversion.

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foghorn

What you describe here are "conversions" not done by Bulova, but by hobbyists wanting the look of the original Spaceview line. You are correct that they originated as a marketing tool but, when Bulova realized the popularity, they manufactured the Spaceview line (214 movements in all of them) for years.

Not 100% true the jewelry stores would convert them for you. So it’s not just fan conversions. But it’s staggeringly rare to find vintage jewelry store conversions. All the years I’ve looked I think I’ve only seen one verified one.

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And of course I have several, but only one Spaceview.

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I just picked up a 218 that needs a little tlc. I'm hoping to turn it into a "spaceview" similar to yours.

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Demon27

I just picked up a 218 that needs a little tlc. I'm hoping to turn it into a "spaceview" similar to yours.

I leave mine with the crown out when not in use. Stops the wear. But I can still hear the hum . 🙂 Enjoy your timepiece.