WRUW Today?

My choice for the day, my 1973 Bulova Accu-quartz. This was made during the waning years of the Bulova company. Bulova was at the forefront of battery powered watches for about 10 years, before this one was made. The Accutron was introduced circa 1962, a year or two after the introduction of quartz watches. Bulova didn’t see the writing on the wall in the early 1960s. They had spent so much money and so much time developing and introducing the transistorized (non-quartz) Accutron, they weren’t ready to abandon their investment to jump into quartz watches. In the early 1960s, at a time when the public could buy a Texas Instruments LED quartz watch for under $50.00, the public lost the taste for the Accutron which started around $200.00. Bulova soldiered on, well into the 1970s, but they just couldn’t compete. This Accu-quartz is basically an Accutron 218 model with a quartz modulator designed into the circuitry. It was too expensive to produce to be competitive in a changing market. Bulova folded as a manufacturer circa 1976-77. although the name is still around today, owned by the Citizen Watch Co.

Now, my reason for choosing this watch to wear! It belonged to my late father who was a watchmaker/jeweller, and Bulova dealer. He was born 123 years ago, on Feb 22, 1900. He died in July of 1976. I’m celebrating his birthday in the only way left to me. It isn’t on my wrist in the picture, but it is on my wrist now. And will be for a week or so.

It's one of the 37.3 mm models with steel back.

14-ish mm thickness is well disguised by the relatively thin mid-case and domed crystal. For some, when looked at holistically, it may have a bit of a pill box profile. When I was obese with an 8" wrist a few years back, I regretted not getting the larger one, but in normal BMI, 7.25" wrist territory, I think it's quite nice. I've never handled the 42mm variant so I hesitate to offer a clear recommendation.


Definitely a fun affordable, so YaY. But for me it was also gifted by members of my wife's family who are from Tianjin, where Tianjin Seagull is headquartered...so double YaY!

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