Bulova Accutron 214 Spaceview

An icon of the space age!

Description:

This is an iconic Accutron 214 with a fantastic chunky 1970s style TV shaped case. Unlike the first Spaceview models which used standard Accutron casees, the larger watch cases used in these models were designed specifically for the Spaceview models and were never sold with dials.

Accutron 214 Spaceview Advertisement

The Accutron Spaceview is an interesting lesson in marketing. The first Spaceviews were created entirely as display pieces for Accutron dealers to showcase the movement and were never meant to be sold to the public. Soon, however, customers began requesting the display models and dealers began giving in and selling them. Bulova eventually figured out that there was a market for these "skeletonized" Accutrons and their most iconic wristwatch design was born.

This model uses the world's first tuning fork movement, the 214, which was instroduced in 1960. The 214 movement is set using a dial on the back of the case rther than a conventional crown, which allows the watch case to be beautifully simple and uncluttered. These early 214 Accutrons tend to be coveted by collectors even though no 214 movements ever included a calendar or day/date mechanism.

An Accutron 214 currently sits on the surface of the moon, left there in 1969 by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, the crew of Apollo 11. Despite the success and popularity of the Accutron, it couldn't compete with quartz on the basis of low price and accuracy and ceased production in 1977.

Hunter S. Thompson and His Accutron Spaceview

An Accutron Spaceview was worn by Hunter S. Thompson and even made an appearance in his 1971 novel / memoir "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." In the book, Thompson is racing across the tarmac to catch a plane and consults his Accutron Spaceview. Thompson writes: "I looked at my skeleton-face Accutron and saw that we had three minutes and fifteen seconds before takeoff. 'Plenty of time,' I said. " The Accutron also appears in Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in America: The Brutal Odyssey of an Outlaw Journalist" where he writes: "The W.C. Store (& P.O.) is effectively off-limits to me. ... I take my watch off when I go into the place, once a month, of necessity... because I know from long experience that even in brief, unexpected scuffles you almost always knock your watch off... and it's a bummer to have to go back and ask for it. Which is why I switched to Timex.. but now that I have this goddamn rotten Accutron I'd hate to lose it in a flurry of stupid violence."

Condition:

Case: Very good.
This watch is in very good condition with no major dings or dents. It does have one noticeable flaw on the left side where there is a deep scratch. The front bezel is fine, however.

Face / Hands: Excellent
The face and hands are in excellent condition. There are some microscopic marks toward the center of the orange second hand, but you need a magnifier to see them.

Crystal: Good.
The crystal is in generally good condition with no visible cracks or scratches but does have one noticeable flaw. On the underside of the crystal, almost exactly centered beneath the hands is a shallow perfectly circular depression about 1/4" in diameter. It's not visible when you look directly through the crystal but if you look from the side, in some lighting conditions it will catch the light and become visible (as shown in the last image above).

Band / Bracelet: Very good.
The bracelet is in generally very good condition with almost no visible scratches or marks on the surface. It does, however, have some uneven plating loss along the sides which is visible in the photographs. The bracelet will fit a 7 and 7/8" wrist. I wear it on my 8" wrist but it's a little bit tight in hot weather.

Function / Accuracy: N.A.
This watch is no longer running.