Bulova Accutron TV 'CK'

In 1960, Bulova had a vision of the future — and in that future, there was humming. The Accutron was the world's first electronic watch. About a decade before the infamous 'Quartz Crisis,' Bulova put into production a watch that did away with the traditional balance wheel, favoring instead a steel tuning fork powered by electromagnets attached to a battery-powered transistor oscillator circuit. Designed by Max Hetzel, the Accutron made waves, becoming the first wristwatch precise enough to be qualified for U.S. Railroad certification, and guaranteed to be accurate to roughly one minute per month, or about two seconds per day.   While Bulova had grand plans for their watch of the future, they never anticipated the success that the uniquely appointed Spaceview would generate. Designed to be a salesman's tool and display watch only, the Spaceview 214 was never intended for retail purchase. But when demands for the watch spiked, Bulova responded, producing versions with the same unique characteristics of their display models.   With its visible circuitry and tuning fork, the Accutron Spaceview was unlike anything before — and really, anything since. Though it remained in production for roughly 17 years, the tuning fork technology was eventually beaten out by quartz crystal movements, making this unbelievable piece of history a short-lived but totally revolutionary wristwatch.   This specific watch, although not a Spaceview, uses the same tuning fork technology. It features the Cal. 218 movement which has a time-setting crown at the 4 o'clock position instead of on the caseback. Housed in a 36mm stainless steel 'cushion' case with brushed and polished finishing, a domed acrylic crystal, a smooth bezel, a signed crown, and a screw-down case back, it features a cool multi-tone dial with an outer silvered section featuring painted black 'baton' indices; an inner grey section featuring a white 'railroad' minute track and a crosshair pattern; a date window at 6 o'clock; a luminous 'baton' handset with a bright red seconds hand; and the Accutron wordmark and tuning fork logo. Paired to a 17mm red nubuck leather strap with a stainless steel pin buckle, it looks like a million bucks decades after its production date.  No matter your mechanical-movement inclinations, there is no denying that tuning fork design is a one-of-a-kind, important piece of horological history. Oh — and the humming? Hold this baby up to your ear and you'll hear that tuning fork humming away! Accutron Factory Certified Pre-Owned Analog:Shift is proud to be partnered with Accutron as the exclusive retailer for Factory Certified Pre-Owned timepieces. Our longstanding relationship and shared passion for horological history and design have culminated in this unique offering. Each Accutron timepiece undergoes rigorous inspection and certification by expert watchmakers and is backed by the manufacture, ensuring unparalleled authenticity and quality.