Bulova 1968 Accutron Calendar

Submitted by krisd09 on July 5, 2023 - 10:29pm
Manufacture Year
1968
Movement Jewels
15
Case Serial No.
1683229
Case shape
Cushion
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

I inherited this watch from my late father who inherited it from his late father so details are sparse.

My grandfather was a watchmaker from Edmonton, Alberta and from what I'm told by what my mother recalls, he was one of 10 watchmakers invited to the Bulova factory (I assume in 1968 as that is the year of the watch as per the stamping on the back). Each one was given one of these watches. I have done some research but cannot find anything about these tours or found this particular watch model anywhere. 

I would love to learn some history or help identify this watch. I took it to a jewelry shop 10 years ago and had the watch appraised. He told me he couldn't give me an accurate appraisal, only the value of the gold itself.

I am not so interested on what it is worth as much as the history of it and if the details I was provided are true. 

Thanks for any help!

Front
Back
mybulova_admin
Posted July 6, 2023 - 5:55am

This is the first time I've seen a case back like this, so I think you have something very special here.

M8 is certainly 1968. The style of the case back is reminiscent of a military case back.

What is the gold content? Solid, filled or plate?

Do you have a photo of the inside. I suspect it will have a 15 jewel 218D movement.

I do also suspect that the cyclops lens over the date window is not original to the watch, but with this watch it very well could be correct.

I'd be also very interested to hear from anyone that can share their knowledge on this particular watch and their thoughts about the case back.

krisd09
Posted July 6, 2023 - 9:53pm

I believe it is solid gold. And I haven't the slightest idea how to remove the case back. 

A couple friends of mine work at a local jewelery shop so I will ask them if they can open it next week for me and take some pictures. 

JimDon5822
Posted July 8, 2023 - 4:56pm

Very unusual case  back for Bulova. If you are in the US you can buy a watch removal tool from Northern Tool or Amazon.  You can also use a rubber ball and push hard and turn.   I wonder if this has a quartz or true accutron movement. 

neetstuf-4-u
Posted July 10, 2023 - 5:36pm

Fascinating..... Based on the s/n starting with "1 - ", I'm going to say this one was produced outside the US for the international market. The history involving your grandfather would say that's the case. I would also agree it's very likely solid gold, and a configuration not advertised in the US.. Best I can do at this point is 

1968 Accutron Calendar

mybulova_admin
Posted July 10, 2023 - 8:14pm

That then raises the question of which 'Bulova factory' was visited in 1968. Accutrons were indeed being manufactured both in the US and Switzerland during 1968.

My mind initially went to a US based factory, but a Swiss based factory would also make sense.

krisd09
Posted July 12, 2023 - 10:03pm

I didn't get a chance to bring it to the jewelry shop, but I did talk to my mom about it and apparently got my story mixed up.

She said she believes 16 were made but definitely for a watchmakers convention in the US (she seems to believe Atlanta or New Orleans), but she said she wasn't 100%.

Not sure if that helps or not, and apologies for the mis-information in the original post.

mybulova_admin
Posted July 12, 2023 - 10:15pm

The mystery continues. Seeing what is inside this watch and in particular the inside backcase, may shed some further light.

Geoff Baker
Posted July 13, 2023 - 9:03pm

I think that short of anything from our catalogs or line books we should classify this as an Accutron Calendar, 1968

1955mercury
Posted July 13, 2023 - 9:28pm

Looks like you could take the back off of it with a ratchet and socket real easy.