Bulova Spaceview repair

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Nitecard

·Sep 11, 2025

Hi

My first post.

I own a 1969 M9 Spaceview - factory model I believe.

The hands are out of alignment and sometimes it appears that they maybe loose.

Can anyone advise whether this is an expensive repair and also who in the UK could do it.

The watch keeps good time.

Thanks in advance.

 

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dsio

·Sep 11, 2025·Ash @ ΩF

If it’s just that the hands are loose that’s a job for any good independent watchmaker, you don’t really need a tuning fork specialist for that

 

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Nitecard

·Sep 11, 2025

Thanks for your reply.

I've shown it to a couple of repairers who claim lack of spares coupled with very high estimates.

I found this online:

If an Accutron's hands are loose or misaligned, it's usually due to a loose cannon pinion or a bent hand, often requiring professional repair by a watchmaker specializing in tuning fork watches.

 

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gatorcpa

·Sep 11, 2025·ΩF InvestiGator

This guy is supposed to be one of the best:

https://accutronwatchpage.com/

However, he is outside of the U.S. Given tariff madness that we are currently experiencing you might have issues trying to reimport watches repaired overseas.
gatorcpa

 

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Nitecard

·Sep 11, 2025

gatorcpa

This guy is supposed to be one of the best:

https://accutronwatchpage.com/

However, he is outside of the U.S. Given tariff madness that we are currently experiencing you might have issues trying to reimport watches repaired overseas.
gatorcpa

You're right, get the paperwork wrong and US customs might destroy it.

 

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UncleBuck

·Sep 11, 2025·understands the decision making hierarchy

We are fortunate to have a skilled watchmaker, Doug, @Canuck , that is quite knowledgable about these watches.
Perhaps he would join in with advice.

 

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Canuck

·Sep 11, 2025

The Spaceview models can have a problem, primarily because there is no dial. If the clearance between the top of the hour wheel and the underside of the minute hand is too great, the hour wheel can lift, become disengaged with the pinion on the minute wheel, rotating a bit, re-engaging, the result being the hour hand alignment is lost. If a watch has a dial, a dial washer can be placed over the hour wheel, preventing this problem by holding the hour wheel in engagement. Can’t use a dial washer on a Spaceview. This is not a difficult problem to solve, but most in this trade today are gun shy with Accutrons. Re-calibrate the hands, and make certain the minute hand is low enough to prevent the hour wheel lifting, once the hands are back on.

 

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Nitecard

·Sep 11, 2025

Thank you for you response, that makes perfect sense, I'm a clockmaker but watches are a mystery to me!

I'm getting it serviced and recalibrated by an Accutron repairer.

Smiths used a Japanese Jeco tuning fork movement, has the same 300Hz hum, I love these movements, beautifully smooth
but temperamental.

 

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Canuck

·Sep 11, 2025

The Accutron is 360 hertz. The ETA 9162 is 300 hertz.

 

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Nitecard

·Sep 11, 2025

I stand corrected, I told you watches are a mystery to me, I assumed they were the same.

 

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Waltesefalcon

·Sep 12, 2025

N Nitecard

I'm getting it serviced and recalibrated by an Accutron repairer.

Who are you using to repair it? Rob Berkavicius in Thailand is the best. I know our international shipping to and from the states has a lot of unknowns at the moment, but waiting and seeing what the shipping situation is like in another month or two may be worth it. My Astronaut is due for a service but I'll wait rather than try to find someone else. I've had a couple of bad experiences getting my accutrons serviced when I first began acquiring them.

 

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Nitecard

·Sep 12, 2025

I spoke to Rob, he's really backed up at the moment, looking at three months with shipping.

I have sent the watch to Alan Lazarus who has a good reputation, I spoke to him and he explained everything to me, I'm confident
he will do a good job.

 

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Waltesefalcon

·Sep 12, 2025

Let me know how your business with Alan works out. I've not dealt with him before.

 

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Nitecard

·Sep 28, 2025

Very happy with Alan, as mentioned my Spaceview had intermittent loose hands, the problem fixed and the watch serviced for
£250 + postage, fast turnaround.