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Bulova Accutron, the Watch of the 1960s

April 14, 2022 By Stephen 3 Comments

The Bulova Accutron was the most important watch of the 1960s, bringing a new level of accuracy and technology and shifting the balance of power in horology from Switzerland back to the United States. It was also a dead end, delaying the development of other electronic watches and distracting the American and Swiss industries from the rise of quartz. How did something with such promise fail to have a lasting hold on the market?

Filed Under: Commentary, History Tagged With: Beta 21, Bulova, Bulova Accuquartz, Bulova Accutron, Ebauches SA, Electric, Elgin, Hamilton, Hamilton Electric Ventura, Harry Henschel, Landeron, LIP, Max Hetzel, Mosaba

Ringing In 2022 With a Look at Horological History

December 30, 2021 By Stephen 2 Comments

It’s traditional to celebrate important anniversaries and to use the New Years season to look back. That’s what we’re doing today, with a look at some important events in horology from 1822, 1872, 1922, 1947, 1972, and 1997! From Edmond Jaeger and Bovet to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and a whole lotta quartz, a little bit of a grab bag here, and we hope you enjoy it!

Filed Under: Commentary, History Tagged With: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Bovet, Bulova Accuquartz, Ditronic, Edmond Jaeger, Langematik, Montblanc, Omega Time Computer, Railroad watch, Seiko, Vulcain Cricket, Webster Ball

What Was the World’s First Quartz Watch?

August 2, 2020 By Stephen 2 Comments

On Christmas Day, 1969, the Seiko Astron was launched; this was world’s first quartz wristwatch. Or at least that’s how the story goes. But the truth is much, much more complicated, as I have been researching and writing about for months. Only a few examples of that Cal. 35 SQ Astron were produced, and it was so expensive that not many were ever actually sold. And a raft of other watches (the CEH Beta 1, Longines Ultra-Quartz, various Beta 21 models, and even the Bulova Accuquartz) could make a credible claim. So what was the first?

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Armin Frei, Beta 1, Beta 21, Bulova, Bulova Accuquartz, CEH, Longines, Longines Ultra-Quartz, Rolex, Seiko, Seiko Astron

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