Manhattan Time Service – Watch Repair

2 WEST 46TH STREET #400, NEW YORK NY, 10036

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Exploring Bulova’s Headquarters In The Empire State Building

Bulova watch

Bulova’s head quarters reside on the impressive 29th floor of the Empire State Building. We were invited to attend an event recently, to get a preview of the exclusive piece they will be unveiling at BaselWorld this year.

Bulova head quarters

Our lips are sealed until the start of BaselWorld unfortunately, when it comes to the new launch, but we did get a fascinating glimpse into the history of this world renowned brand and its hero Bulova Accutron watches.

Bulova Accutron

Bulova’s Accutron watch first went on sale in the 1960’s, after eight years of development. It was guaranteed to 99.9977% accuracy for one full year, not to lose or gain more than two seconds accuracy a day on your wrist.

Bulova Accutron spaceview

Built to withstand the shock of a rocket launching, it had fewer moving parts (12 compare to 29 in a self-winding watch), so it required less servicing and never needed winding. A limited edition version of the Accutron Spaceview is pictured above, created in honor of its 50-year anniversary.

The Secret Of The Bulova Accutron’s Accuracy?

A high precision tuning fork took the place of the springs, balance wheel and many other moving parts, which ensured the accuracy. Oscillating at 360 times per second, this tuning fork produced a low hum, quieter and very different from the tick of a normal watch. The single power cell lasted over a year.

Bulova And Space

Although Bulova couldn’t claim to be the first watch on the moon (a feat achieved by Omega), all the time-keeping mechanisms in the spacecraft on these missions were actually Bulova Accutrons.

Bulova accutron clock used aboard Gemini aircraft

A model of the Accutron clock used aboard the Gemini aircraft.

Bulova Accutron timing instruments

Additional Bulova timing instruments used in spacecraft throughout 46 NASA missions.

An Accutron 214 movement featured in a communications device used by the first moon landing mission. The US government at the time also used this movement in military satellites.

Bulova's 214 movement

An exploded view of the Accutron 214 movement.

Bulova's Astronaut watch

Bulova’s Astronaut Watch.

Bulova's stars and stripes chronograph C

The 1970’s Stars & Stripes Chronograph C.

manual wound vintage Bulova watch

We also spotted this manual wound, vintage Bulova model (above) and Bulova pocket watch (below).

Bulova pocket watch

For the event, I wore this Bulova Spaceview.

Bulova accutron spaceview

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Thank you for being interested in having your watch repaired with us, we are looking forward to your visit. In the meantime if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail.

The following busses stop near our location in mid-town NYC: M1 – 5th Ave/48th street, M2 – 5th Ave/47th, M3 – 5th Ave/ 46th street, M4 – 5th Ave/44th street, M5 – 5th Ave/40th street, Q32 – 5th Ave/53rd street, QM2 – 6th Ave/44th street.

Orange lines (B, D, F, M) to 47-50 Rockefeller Center, yellow lines (N, Q, R) to 49th street and 6th Ave, red lines (1, 2, 3) to Time Sq 42nd street, purple line (7) to Time Sq 42nd street

We are conveniently located in mid-town Manhattan at 2 west 46th street #400, between 5th and 6th (closer to 5th) across the street from Ranch1 restaurant.

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