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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · Day-Date wristwatch

Bulova Accuquartz Wristwatch

Partially verified

This Bulova Accuquartz wristwatch, dated to 1976 and manufactured in the USA, is currently held by the German Clock Museum. The timepiece is characterized by its integrated day and date display located at the three o'clock position on the dial. According to the museum records, the watch operates using a Bulova caliber 2242 movement. The physical specifications provided by the holding institution indicate a diameter of 3.80 cm, with overall dimensions of 4.30 cm in height, 3.90 cm in width, and 1.70 cm in depth. The dial features a textured vertical pattern with applied hour markers, and the case exhibits a gold-toned finish. This object is catalogued within the museum archives as a representative example of a mid-1970s American-manufactured electronic watch. The documentation focuses primarily on the movement and general physical dimensions of the timepiece as maintained within the museum's collection database.

Front view of the Bulova Accuquartz wristwatch showing the dial, hands, and day-date window.
Front view of the Bulova Accuquartz wristwatch showing the dial, hands, and day-date window. — German Clock Museum via Europeana. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Wristwatch · Day-Date wristwatch
Maker / attribution
Bulova
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
/1406/Museu_ProvidedCHO_museum_digital_29883__technical_number_
Source-reported date
1976
Source-reported place
United States

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Movement and Dial Configuration

The watch is powered by a Bulova caliber 2242 movement, an electronic caliber associated with the Accuquartz line. This movement architecture integrates quartz technology to facilitate timekeeping, distinguishing it from traditional mechanical movements of the era. The watch includes a complication featuring both the day of the week and the calendar date, which are presented through a rectangular aperture positioned at the three o'clock index on the dial.

The dial itself features a textured surface with fine vertical ribbing, providing visual depth to the face. The primary branding, 'BULOVA ACCUQUARTZ,' is printed in a clean, sans-serif typeface on the upper half of the dial, centered beneath the twelve o'clock marker.

Evidence for this section
  • “caliber Bulova 2242”
  • “day of the week and date”
  • “Bulova Accuquartz”

Physical Construction

The timepiece is encased in a metal housing, finished with a gold-tone appearance. The case design features a robust, integrated aesthetic that transitions smoothly from the lugs to the main body of the watch. With a diameter of 3.80 cm, the watch follows the scale of mid-1970s wristwatches, balanced by a depth of 1.70 cm, which accommodates the internal electronic movement and the date mechanism.

The crown is positioned at the standard three o'clock side, maintaining the symmetrical profile of the case.

Evidence for this section
  • “height: 4.30 cm, width: 3.90 cm, depth: 1.70 cm, diameter: 3.80 cm”

Institutional Documentation

This wristwatch is officially held by the German Clock Museum, where it is catalogued under the entry describing it as an 'Armbanduhr' or wristwatch. The records provided by the institution confirm its American manufacture and its association with the Bulova brand. This documentation provides a specific technical reference for the object, allowing for its identification within the museum's digital archive under the identifier /1406/Museu_ProvidedCHO_museum_digital_29883__technical_number_.

The museum serves as the primary source for the object's attribution and dating, establishing its provenance within a public collection. While the record identifies the maker as Josef Bulova, the institutional data serves as the baseline for the watch's technical description, including the specific caliber number. No further information regarding the specific retail history or individual ownership prior to its acquisition by the German Clock Museum is included in the available documentation.

Evidence for this section
  • “held by German Clock Museum”
  • “Armbanduhr, Bulova, USA, 1976”
  • “maker recorded: Bulova, Josef”

Open research questions

  • Confirm the material composition of the case and whether it is gold-plated or solid gold.
  • Determine the function of the rectangular symbol located above the six o'clock index on the dial.

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Bulova Accuquartz Wristwatch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerJosef Bulova“maker recorded: Bulova, Josef”
Date1976“USA 1976”
MovementBulova caliber 2242“caliber Bulova 2242”
Dimensions3.80 cm diameter“diameter: 3.80 cm”
FunctionsDay and date display“day of the week and date”
Holding InstitutionGerman Clock Museum“held by German Clock Museum”

Visible details

  • Textured vertical-striped dial pattern
  • Day-date window at 3 o'clock position
  • Gold-tone integrated case design
  • Applied indices with central luminous strips

Research qualifications

  • Material composition (e.g., gold plate vs solid gold) is unverified
  • Provenance history prior to museum acquisition is not provided

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Wristwatch, Bulova, USA, 1976, Bulova, Josef, 1976

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record a5a7baaaf8

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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