![]() The first advantage is that it achieves an extremely stable rate of five seconds per month, a rate that exceeds all standard quartz watches and is even close in accuracy to the legendary Grand Seiko Spring Drive. ![]() The benefits to this remarkable technology are twofold. This unique system allows the seconds hand to sweep effortlessly across the dial, just like the original Accutron, while the hour and minute hands are powered by the conventional stepper motor. The blades of the motor’s rotor is similarity attracted and repelled by an electrical charge, but in this case the arrangement of blades are superimposed causing the rotor to turn. The two electrostatic generators are also powered by arm movements and when the current is produced, it is stored in a capacitor and delivered to the large motor. ![]() When the current advances the rotor coils, a magnetic field is generated, and the attraction and repulsion produced allows the rotor to rotate which in turn moves the driving shaft of the motor. Unlike a conventional electronic motor which consists of a central rotor wound with wire, an electrostatic motor sits inside the stator which is a ring-shaped permanent magnet. The upper turbine is an electrostatic motor while the two smaller turbines are electrostatic generators. The upper part of the dial is also dominated by a turbine, this one larger in size and used to drive the seconds hand in a sweeping motion. However, rather than the tuning fork on show, these new timepieces feature two small turbine-like structures on the lower half of the dial which rotate when the watch is in motion – just like that of an oscillating rotor in an automatic watch. Just like the original Accutron Spaceview, the new Accutron electrostatic concept watches reveal a mesmerising open-worked dial. How does the Electrostatic Accutron Concept Movement work? Sadly, with the rise in quartz technology and its decreased cost, Accutron watches ceased production in 1977 and although Bulova has launched several limited edition pieces over the years in honour of the original Accutron Spaceview, no permanent collection has been launched until now. ![]() However, the showcase of the technology through the dial was a huge hit and became a permanent decision in the Accutron design. It’s intricate design which featured an open-worked dial was only originally designed to help dealers understand that these were not traditional mechanical watches but ones that encapsulated a technology completely unique to the industry. Interestingly, the original Accutron Spaceview watch was also never initially intended to go into production. Original tuning-fork Accutron Spaceview, 1974 What became known as the ‘ Accutron Spaceview’ was a massive achievement for the Bulova name, and the piece was even worn by American astronauts on a mission to the moon. The concept was a huge success and provided an unparalleled precision of a minute per month. He developed the transistor movement which replaced the balance wheel as a regulator and instead used the tuning fork powered by electromagnets attached to a battery-powered circuit. The tuning fork, which had previously only ever been used in music, was developed by engineer Mark Hetzel. Its most notable features were the smooth sweeping of its seconds hand and the high pitch hum emitted from the case by the iconic tuning fork. Delivered under the name of Bulova, Accutron watches were first produced back in 1960 and were widely considered the most commercially and technically successful electronic watches in the world. Before we get into the more complex explanation of how the Accutron Electrostatic concept works, we first need to understand how Accutron arrived to where it is today.
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