Bulova Accutron Astronaut
- Regular price
- $1,299
- Regular price
- Sale price
- $1,299
- Unit price
- per
Inquire about this item
Why We Love it
–
Why We Love it
–Accutron’s Astronaut has always been more than a handsome GMT—it’s a watch born from a moment when technology, aviation, and ambition collided. In the early 1960s, as the world raced skyward, Bulova equipped pilots flying the most advanced aircraft on Earth with a timekeeping instrument equal to the task. The Accutron Astronaut earned its reputation on the wrists of men operating at the edge of human endurance, including those flying the legendary Lockheed A-12, where accuracy, durability, and legibility were non-negotiable.
Introduced to the public in 1968, the Astronaut translated that professional credibility into a boldly futuristic civilian watch—still technical, still uncompromising, but undeniably stylish. This current collection Reference 26B205 carries that legacy forward with confidence. Its deep green dial and matching green day/night 24-hour bezel feel period-correct yet refreshingly modern, a subtle nod to the era’s optimism and forward-looking design language. Silver-tone hands and markers keep the aesthetic clean and instrument-like, while luminous accents ensure round-the-clock readability.
The 41mm stainless steel case retains the purposeful proportions of the original, complete with a rotating ratchet topring and aluminum bezel that reinforce its GMT functionality. Fitted to a stainless steel bracelet with easy-release spring bars and a deployant clasp (with original hangtags), this version wears with a contemporary vibe, less flight suit, more everyday precision tool.
Inside, the Astronaut steps firmly into the present with the Accutron Caliber 9058 GMT automatic movement. Beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a 50-hour power reserve and anti-magnetic resistance up to 16,000 a/m, it delivers modern reliability while honoring the Astronaut’s performance-driven roots.
A Cold War instrument reimagined for contemporary life, this green-dial Astronaut remains what it has always been: a watch shaped by history, engineered for travel, and forever tied to the sky. We’re obvious fans of anything related to space, aviation and horological history - they’re all intriguing in their own right. But when all three come together and take the shape of a watch as cool - and as significant - as the Accutron Astronaut, our enthusiasm truly takes flight.
Brand Story
+
Brand Story
+Joseph Bulova, a Czech immigrant to the United States, founded his eponymous company in Queens in 1875, opening a factory in Biel, Switzerland in 1912 to mass-produce timepieces under the American production model. An early designer of men's wristwatches following their widespread adoption in the wake of the First World War, the firm developed simple dress watches, dive watches, and chronographs through the first half of the 20th century.
As the decades wore on, however, the limitations of the traditional oscillating balance wheel — both with respect to accuracy and robustness — were becoming apparent. Electric watches from the likes of Hamilton and Lip experimented with a moving coil motor in place of a mainspring, but their reliance on conventional balance wheels meant they were little more accurate than their entirely mechanical counterparts. A Swiss engineer at Bulova named Max Hetzel would soon change all that.
A born tinkerer and a brilliant mind, Hetzel adopted an old clock design from the 19th century — incidentally invented by the grandson of Abraham-Louis Breguet — that used a tuning fork as its oscillator. Powered by a dry-cell battery and driven by an electromagnetic coil, its frequency of 360 Hz ensured a highly accurate system that powered a sweep hand around the dial. Significantly more accurate than a mechanical design, it was patented in 1953, and after some years of work, the Bulova Accutron debuted to the public in 1960.
The watch was a revelation — literally. A 1961 model with a transparent dial meant to show authorized dealers its inner workings became so popular that Bulova put it into regular production, calling it the Spaceview. Meanwhile, the audible 360-Hz hum produced by the movement was a novel selling point, featuring in-period advertisements in which a man was seen holding the watch up to his ear.
When the U.S. government sought to replace the U-2 spy plane with an aircraft that could outmaneuver anti-aircraft systems, Lockheed Martin's secretive Skunkworks division offered the perfect solution in the form of the sleek A-12, which could reach speeds of Mach III (~2,310 mph). Bulova Accutron wristwatches accompanied the pilots of this advanced piece of engineering, as they did on the wrists of public-facing X-15 flights, which reached speeds of 4,500 mph. The Accutron was even worn by astronauts during the Mercury Seven program during training; in 1963 during Project Mercury; and in Project Gemini missions up until 1983, long after the tuning fork technology had been replaced by more contemporary quartz-powered tech.
In 2020, Accutron was spun off by parent company Bulova — owned by the Citizen Group of Japan — into its own brand, where it continues to produce modern versions of one of the world's downright coolest watches.
As the decades wore on, however, the limitations of the traditional oscillating balance wheel — both with respect to accuracy and robustness — were becoming apparent. Electric watches from the likes of Hamilton and Lip experimented with a moving coil motor in place of a mainspring, but their reliance on conventional balance wheels meant they were little more accurate than their entirely mechanical counterparts. A Swiss engineer at Bulova named Max Hetzel would soon change all that.
A born tinkerer and a brilliant mind, Hetzel adopted an old clock design from the 19th century — incidentally invented by the grandson of Abraham-Louis Breguet — that used a tuning fork as its oscillator. Powered by a dry-cell battery and driven by an electromagnetic coil, its frequency of 360 Hz ensured a highly accurate system that powered a sweep hand around the dial. Significantly more accurate than a mechanical design, it was patented in 1953, and after some years of work, the Bulova Accutron debuted to the public in 1960.
The watch was a revelation — literally. A 1961 model with a transparent dial meant to show authorized dealers its inner workings became so popular that Bulova put it into regular production, calling it the Spaceview. Meanwhile, the audible 360-Hz hum produced by the movement was a novel selling point, featuring in-period advertisements in which a man was seen holding the watch up to his ear.
When the U.S. government sought to replace the U-2 spy plane with an aircraft that could outmaneuver anti-aircraft systems, Lockheed Martin's secretive Skunkworks division offered the perfect solution in the form of the sleek A-12, which could reach speeds of Mach III (~2,310 mph). Bulova Accutron wristwatches accompanied the pilots of this advanced piece of engineering, as they did on the wrists of public-facing X-15 flights, which reached speeds of 4,500 mph. The Accutron was even worn by astronauts during the Mercury Seven program during training; in 1963 during Project Mercury; and in Project Gemini missions up until 1983, long after the tuning fork technology had been replaced by more contemporary quartz-powered tech.
In 2020, Accutron was spun off by parent company Bulova — owned by the Citizen Group of Japan — into its own brand, where it continues to produce modern versions of one of the world's downright coolest watches.
A:S Guarantee
+
A:S Guarantee
+Our Pledge
Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.
Condition
Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.
Warranty
We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a two-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.
International Buyers
Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.
Shipping & Returns
+
Shipping & Returns
+All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.
Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.
We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.
Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.
We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.
Make it yours will fit standard 20mm watches
StrapHabit x Analog:Shift Black Hook-and-Loop Elastic Quick-Release Watch Strap
- Regular price
- $37
- Regular price
- Sale price
- $37
- Unit price
- per
StrapHabit x Analog:Shift Green Tropical Retro-Style FKM Rubber Quick-Release Strap
- Regular price
- $33
- Regular price
- Sale price
- $33
- Unit price
- per
Bulova Accutron Astronaut
- Regular price
- $1,299
- Regular price
- Sale price
- $1,299
- Unit price
- per
