Accutron and Bulova debut new Astronaut and Lunar Pilot timepieces

Area Information house historical past and artifacts articles Messages house historical past dialogue boards Sightings worldwide astronaut appearances Assets chosen house historical past paperwork

commercials

February 7, 2023 — Two watch manufacturers are turning again the clock to have a good time the historic associations they’d with the U.S. house program.

Accutron is reviving its iconic “Astronaut” line with the introduction of the Accutron Astronaut “T” 2023 version, whereas Bulova is continuous its “Lunar Pilot” collection, which is predicated on a watch as soon as worn on the moon. Each manufacturers have been a part of the Citizen Watch Firm since 2008.

The Accutron Astronaut, which first launched with Gordon Cooper on the ultimate Mercury mission in 1963, and Bulova, which despatched a prototype chronograph to the moon with Apollo 15 commander David Scott in 1971, every have lengthy histories offering the house program with timers and timing units to be used on NASA’s earliest satellites and human spacecraft.

The fully-electronic Accutron Astronaut was the primary American-made watch to fly into house, whereas Bulova Accutron clocks had been a part of the instrument panels on Gemini capsules. Bulova Accutron tuning forks had been used to “slice” starlight into scanning patterns for the Apollo navigation system and Bulova Accutron timers helped management the science experiments left behind by the astronauts on the moon.

“There isn’t a denying the excellent historical past of each Accutron and Bulova with the U.S. house program,” Jeffrey Cohen, president of Citizen Watch America, stated in a press release. “The importance of the connection and particularly the tuning fork know-how led to the creation of the Accutron model because the standalone model it’s at this time.”

Quite than use a stability wheel mechanism as nearly all timepieces earlier than it, the Accutron was the primary to efficiently make use of a battery-driven tuning fork that delivered extra correct time retaining. With its excessive frequency, it may face up to excessive G-acceleration and the acute temperatures related to high-altitude flights. As such, the Accutron Astronaut grew to become the U.S. Air Drive’s alternative for its pilots flying the X-15 experimental rocket airplane.

In celebration of its house historical past and because the first in a brand new collection, Accutron has created its new Astronaut mannequin primarily based on the 1968 “T” model. The 2023 version, which is proscribed to solely 300 items and retails for $3,500 every, is Swiss made and encompasses a 41mm stainless-steel physique and a partial exhibition case again to view the interior motion. The dial is fitted with Tremendous-LumiNova arms and markers to boost its perform in low gentle and the watch brings again the Day/Night time bezel as was a part of the unique classic design.

The brand new Astronaut forgoes the tuning fork mechanism that made it well-known, however makes use of a extra trendy Swiss Sellita GMT mechanical motion.

Bulova can also be persevering with to construct upon its “Archive” collection with two new fashions of the Lunar Pilot, a chronograph primarily based on the prototype it secretly flew to the moon on Apollo 15. The watch grew to become solely the second model to be worn on the lunar floor, after the crystal on David Scott’s NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster was misplaced throughout a previous outing.

The genuine Apollo 15-flown Bulova chronograph offered for $1.6 million at a 2015 public sale, which led to the corporate producing new fashions. The newest “Lunar Pilot” watches, which value $895 every, are the primary to duplicate the precise dimension (43.5mm) of the moon-flown watch and are available two colours — one with a two-tone blue and white dial and the opposite in traditional black, representing the unique.

For extra details about the 2023 version Astronaut or Lunar Pilot watches, see the listings on Bulova’s web site.

Bulova and Accutron have unveiled new Astronaut and Lunar Pilot timepieces commemorating their historic relationship with NASA and the U.S. house program. (Citizen Watch)

Gordon Cooper wore an Accutron Astronaut watch on his proper wrist throughout his Mercury-Atlas 9 mission in 1963. (NASA)

The brand new Accutron Astronaut “T” 2023 version, which is predicated on the 1968 mannequin of the long-lasting watch, encompasses a partial exhibition case again and a particular Day/Night time bezel. (Citizen Watch)

The brand new Bulova Lunar Pilot timepieces replicate for the primary time the precise dimension of the unique watch that traveled to the moon. (Citizen Watch)