![]() Here is a rule of thumb as to value: gold filled or gold plated non-working: $20 to $100 (working: $50 to $150). (Conventional wisdom holds that Bulova made 10 to 20 platinum Accutrons for politicians and important executives, but only one has been verified as sold.) Typically, Accutrons are gold plated or gold filled. This week, a California collector asked us to sell his iconic Bulova collection and we are showing a few here. (Hamilton was already working on an electric model and Bulova did not want to be left behind.) It took nine years to bring it to market, and it was a game-changer. They engaged engineer Max Hetzel to help build a battery-driven watch in 1952. Nonetheless, Bulova was a true innovator and on the cutting edge of mid-century design and technology. They made millions of them, and most are worth $20 to $50 (if they don’t run) and $50 to $100 (if they do). The one major exception to this is the steadfast popularity of Bulova’s Accutron watches.ĭon’t run to your junk drawer just yet, though. There are a few designs that stand out – like certain Art Deco masterpieces of the 1930s and military watches of the 1940s – but even these only bring $50 to $200. Today, few Bulovas are considered highly desirable, as they made fairly mundane watches for the masses. In fact, it is often written that in the 1940s and ’50s, they were one of the biggest advertisers of any product of any kind in the U.S.! Many different styles, including those crafted of 18 karat gold, have been made.In 1952, Bulova watch company was one of the leading manufacturers of affordable – indeed fine – timepieces in America. The back is marked with either the Bulova name or a model name, such as the Astronaut. This style is marked "Accutron" on the face of the watch. It is estimated that more than 50,000 of these watches sold within the next few years,” according to author Reyne Haines in her book “Vintage Wristwatches.”Īccutron watches by Bulova were innovative when they were new, and they are still popular today. “They sold 5,000 of these watches within days. This model commemorated Charles Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight. One of Bulova’s early commercial successes was the Lone Eagle wristwatch introduced in 1927. Models sold today are usually made of stainless steel or gold-tone metal. Vintage examples may be crafted of precious metals, and some are embellished with gemstones in fine jewelry fashion. Examples inscribed with Accutron on the watch face are marked Bulova on the back of the case. Timepieces made by this well-known brand are often identified by the name Bulova on the face. New, moderately priced Bulova watches in classic styles are also available through numerous retailers and the company's website. Many vintage Bulova examples can be purchased reasonably, but those with recognizable provenance bring top dollar. They also developed a dating system for their timepieces during this decade.īulova watches were owned by famous individuals like Elvis Presley and Hugh Heffner, and the notorious Clyde Barrow. Additionally, it started working on Accutron, which was the first fully electronic watch. The company developed self-winding and shockproof watches during this period. The 1950s were years of further innovation at Bulova. In his honor, the Joseph Bulova School of Watchmaking opened in 1945 to help disabled veterans learn a valuable skill. While Joseph Bulova died in 1935, the business he built continued to thrive under his son's direction. By 1924, as the business grew, Bulova introduced watches for women. The introduction of these parts transformed the industry in terms of servicing watches. One of its earliest innovations was the use of standardized parts that were interchangeable between watches. Bulova's first wristwatches, however, weren't marketed until 1919. The success he experienced in New York selling table and bedside clocks led him to open a watch parts manufacturing factory in Switzerland in 1912. He opened a jewelry store in 1875 in New York, New York. Joseph Bulova was originally from what is now the Czech Republic.
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