Bulova Accutron Direct Read
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1973
The Bulova Accutron Direct Read is a wristwatch from 1973, identified by the date code N3. It features a 42mm gold-plated case paired with an integrated bracelet.
Departing from traditional analogue hands, this model displays time through a horizontal aperture, where hours shift instantly while minutes and seconds advance via numbered rotating discs. The watch is powered by the Accutron Calibre 2186 movement, an evolution of the tuning-fork technology. Due to the orientation and layout of the disc display, which assists with readability while a wearer's hand is on a steering wheel, this specific design is known as a driver's watch.
The construction is mechanical-electronic, utilizing rotating discs beneath the dial to create the appearance of a digital display, though the internal mechanism functions without electronic digital components. It remains an example of electronic-mechanical horology produced before the dominance of quartz technology.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Direct-read wristwatch
- Maker
- Bulova
- Model
- Accutron Direct Read
- Movement
- Calibre 2186
- Display Type
- Rotating discs
- Case Diameter
- 42 mm
- Case Material
- Gold plated
- Place recorded
- United States
- Production Year
- 1973
- Country of Origin
- United States
- Maker / attribution
- Bulova
Design
- Movement
- At the center of the watch is the Bulova Calibre 2186 movement. This movement is a progression of the company's tuning-fork technology, which utilizes an electronic-mechanical system to track time. It provides the power for the rotating disc display mechanism. The movement represents a specific period of innovation in horological history, characterized by the transition between mechanical tuning-fork watches and the subsequent proliferation of quartz movements in the industry.
- Case and Display
- The watch is housed in a 42mm gold-plated case with an integrated bracelet. Within this aperture, rotating discs provide numerical readouts for the time, a feature intended to enhance legibility during specific activities such as driving. The visual configuration mimics a digital interface, though the underlying system remains entirely mechanical. The discs are arranged to display the current hour, minute, and second through the dial window, and the design is often referred to as a driver's watch due to this orientation.
- Visible features
- • Rotating discs display hours, minutes, and seconds • Gold-plated case with 42mm diameter • Integrated metal bracelet • Crown located on the side of the case
- Provenance and Dating
- The watch is attributed to 1973, verified by the presence of the 'N3' date code on the timepiece. The source identifies the model as the Accutron Direct Read and links its production to the United States.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The source attributes the watch to the 1970s and specifically to 1973 via an N3 date code, which is not independently verified
- Research required: The current operational state of the electronic movement is described as 'unknown' in the source data