Bulova
1969 Bulova Accutron Astronaut GMT
Instead of waxing poetic about mid-century Bulova or the nearly unprecedented technological leap of the Accutron, (which we could do) let us just give you an excerpt from a letter. A certain letter written to Bulova by Lt. Colonel Frank Murray explaining the until then totally unknown relation of the Accutron Astronaut GMT to the CIA and its A-12 supersonic spy plane.
"The environmental conditions inside the cockpit saw temperatures as high as 140° at the end of cruise legs when the fuel remaining was insufficient to provide the needed heatsink for the air-conditioning system. Ordinary wristwatches worn by the pilots on the outside of their pressure suits were not holding up to these temperatures. A decision was made to try a unique type of watch in this setting. The Bulova Accutron Astronaut model held up to testing, so the CIA decided to furnish the Bulova watch to the CIA pilots flying the A-12."
Quite the seal of approval.
SPECS
| Stock # | BLVAAGMT-3 | |
| Brand | Bulova Accutron | |
| Style | Astronaut | |
| Model | N/A | |
| Serial | M9 | |
| Size | Men's | |
| Material | Stainless Steel | |
| Dial | Matte Black | |
| Millimeters | 38 | |
| Bracelet | Bulova Accutron Bracelet |
CASE & BRACELET
The 38-millimeter case is made of stainless steel and is in remarkably sharp condition. The watch features fantastic aggressive lugs, short and angled, almost pincer-like. They grasp small end pieces connected to the original steel bracelet with Accutron signed clasp. The watch also wears a 24-hour rotatable bezel in stainless with black inlaid numbers and indices.
DIAL & HANDS
The dial of the Accutron Astronaut is an appropriate deep black with a busy but beautiful assortment of marker shapes. The mix of triangle, rectangle and circle create a design that doesn't only tell the time but is also in service to the triangle tipped GMT hand. By including small dot markers in between the hour markers Bulova made it even easier to tell the second time zone hour at a glance.
ACCESSORIES
None. The watch is operating perfectly and keeping excellent time, and just received a new battery.
