Bulova Accutron Astronaut 214: Mismatched Parts Oddity

Hello all..thought id post images of a bit of a Frankenstein I've purchased (but im not complaining).A non running Accutron Astronaut, looks like the series 2 dial font with hands that look correct , listed as 1964 but movement is a 1961 , and not stamped as an Astronaut 214..just plain 214.The bracelet is a 2nd edition stamped Bulova logo coffin link with some wear.The case back does not show an M stamp with year digit so j think its an original case to 1960-1 with its original Accutron movement but in a redial Astonaut...id like someone to correct me on all this if im wrong as im no expert.Ittl be £250 to have this serviced which ill be having done.Ive wanted one for a very long time but prices have been very high, the seller said it would need a service so that doesn't upset me...nor TBH am I upset that its a mismatch..let's be fair,all originalspace views were technically tampered watches and I've bought my fair share of vintage watches which had non factory parts to keep them ticking.Im going tk look forward to wearing it.

As a follow on ..its stamped 214 and not 214hn but it must have been factory modded to have the GMT hand.It is stamped USA on the movement so it can't be a Swiss one

Great watch! I would contact Rob Berkavicius for a service. He is the best around and cheaper than that price by quite a bit.

My M3 says hi.

Thank you for you'd replies , im in the UK and its going down to a gent called Alan Lazarus in Croydon, I've read reviews and he comes highly recommended, I've spoke to him about its mismatched parts and as he said, alot have been altered over the years to keep them running, which isn't an intentional move to deceive.

Your watch has been around for sixty odd years. Who knows what your watch has been through over the years.

My example didn't come with a bracelet, a few years ago I bought one of the new Forstner Komfit bracelets. If I could find a 60s coffin link that didn't cost more than what I paid for the watch I would snap it up in a heart beat. Mine also has a mov't from 1964 in it that was likely a service mov't. Who knows what happened with the original mov't? It's just one of the mysteries of collecting old watches.

I am a little intrigued by your caseback, but I do not think anyone was trying to deceive anyone with your watch. I'd be happy to own that one, wear it in good health.

Many thanks Waltesefalcon, yes as you say..having the original 2nd edition stamped Kreisler bracelet is enough to buy the watch anyway.Ive seen some at the £500 mark for really good condition ones...they are certainly less common than the JB Champion ones which were issued over a longer period..the watch cast £620, which i am more than happy with and the service will be £250 probably with VAT ,so fully serviced less than £1,000 all in..the dial is in fantastic shape.

hi Waltesefalcon..am i correct in thinking the lume on my and your watch is radium..its got that pale toffee colour the same as other watches in my collection

Possibly so, I'm not certain when Bulova quit using radium.

Hello to all, my Accutron Astronaut is back from the dead...just arrived back today from a full repair.I sent it down to Alan Lazarus at Croydon Service Centre at Westerham near Biggin Hill..it took 3 weeks for its return which he said it would . As said before..it has a 1961 214 movement in a case with no M or year number, which apparently denotes an early case.It doesn't have the Delta cipher after the code no so its not layer than 63..also the lume on thd dial looks radium which Bulova stopped using in about 63.The hands look to have tritium to me so they may be later ones...dealing with Alan was a pleasure...he's not ultra easy to get on the phone(im sure he's always busy) but he returned my call and we've had two twenty minutes conversations...its had a full overhaul with new coils assembly ,adjustment to indexing and a new battery....alongside my spaceview its like Joe 90 meets the Thunderbirds.Ill wear it today..hopefully I won't grow a 2nd wrist from the radium!