Bulova Accutron Spaceview 2ES6A005: Review After 3 Months of Wear

Well, that’s exactly where I was just a short while ago, until I got my hands on this technological gem from Bulova, which we’re going to take a close look at today.
Over the past three months, I’ve had the opportunity to wear the Bulova Accutron Spaceview 2020 (ref. 2ES6A001) on my wrist. It’s not a mechanical watch, it’s not a standard quartz watch, and it’s definitely not a smartwatch. It’s simply a technological marvel that takes a little bit from each category, resulting in an interesting hybrid that you really wouldn’t find from other brands.

Historical Context

To understand the context behind the creation of these watches, let’s first go back a few decades. In 1960, Bulova shocked the world with the Accutron model (the name was a combination of “Accuracy” and “Electronic”). At the time, it was the world’s first electronic watch, which used a vibrating tuning fork instead of a balance wheel. While other watches ticked, the Accutron buzzed at a frequency of 360 Hz—more than 100 times higher than what people were accustomed to in their mechanical watches at the time. Thanks to these specifications, it was also possible to achieve much greater accuracy and a completely smooth movement of the second hand.

Although this technology was groundbreaking for its time, unfortunately it didn’t end up catching on all that much. Accutron watches had reliability issues, and servicing them was somewhat complicated because most watchmakers simply lacked experience with this technology. The final blow to mass production came with the arrival of the quartz movement at the end of the decade, which essentially rendered the tuning fork technology uncompetitive.

How It Works

In 2020—exactly sixty years after the original model was introduced—Bulova decided to revive the entire collection with the Accutron Spaceview 2020 models. While these models build on the tradition of the “revolutionary” movement, everything inside is different from the original. You can definitely forget about the tuning fork here, because engineers from the Citizen Group (to which Bulova belongs) developed an entirely new movement for this anniversary.

It combines two small “generators” at the bottom of the dial with a single larger electrostatic “turbine” at the 10 o’clock position, which drives the second hand. The first two generate electrical energy as the watch moves on the wrist; this energy is stored in a battery and powers the minute and hour hands.

➡️ Did you know: The battery life in Accutron watches is around 10 years. Each watch comes from the factory with enough charge to last even during a longer stay in a store display case. Of course, wearing the watch recharges it; however, it takes about two hours of wear to accumulate enough energy for one day of operation.

The result of this technology is an absolutely smooth movement of the second hand, as well as quite impressive accuracy. The deviation is in the range of a few seconds per month, which is an exceptional value even by “battery-powered watch” standards. Another interesting nod to the original 1960s model is a faint hum, though it’s only audible if you hold the watch close to your ear.

➡️ Did you know: Servicing these watches can be more challenging than with standard models. Although the movement does not require the same maintenance as traditional mechanical watches, the manufacturer requires that most service work be performed directly at its factory in Japan to ensure a dust-free environment.

Personal Impressions from Wearing It

Let’s move on from the technical specifications to what it’s actually like to wear this watch. The Bulova Accutron Spaceview 2020 is definitely not an inconspicuous watch. With a case diameter of 43.5 mm and a thickness of just under 16 mm, you’ll definitely notice it on your wrist. Personally, though, I was surprised that despite its size, it fit quite well on my wrist, which has a circumference of about 18 cm. I was originally worried that it would simply be too much, but I got used to it very quickly.

The only flaw, if any, is perhaps the lugs. Given the height of the case, they’re set relatively high, so they stick out quite noticeably from the wrist. Otherwise, though, I don’t really have much to complain about in terms of the watch’s dimensions. And I have good news for fans of lightweight watches. While the case itself is heavier than some small dress watches (which probably comes as no surprise), the leather strap makes it still very comfortable to wear. So you definitely don’t feel like you’re wearing a brick on your wrist.

Another important aspect of this watch for me was readability. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting anything miraculous, but in the end, I was all the more pleasantly surprised. Of course, you still have to keep your feet on the ground—at a quick glance at your wrist, you really can’t make out the dial, but thanks to the lack of extra features, it’s not that bad. I also found the luminescence interesting; while it isn’t particularly noticeable at first glance, it glowed surprisingly brightly and for a long time in the dark.

➡️ Did you know: The watch has a power-saving mode. In the first stage, this means that after about 5 minutes of inactivity, the second hand stops at the 12 o’clock position. If the watch remains motionless for 10 days, another power-saving mode kicks in, causing the minute and hour hands to stop as well. Even in this situation, there’s no need to worry, because the watch will start running again after being shaken a few times. A more serious problem arises if the owner hasn’t worn the watch even once for about 2 years. In that case, the watch likely won’t start up at all and will need to be taken to a service center to have the battery replaced.

Pros and Cons

To wrap things up, I decided to put together a brief overview of what I’ve really liked about this watch after wearing it for three months—and what you should watch out for if you’re considering buying one yourself.

Pros (+)

• Absolutely one-of-a-kind: There are no other watches in the world that run on a movement like this. The design is also quite unique, and I’ve often been asked about them even by people who aren’t otherwise interested in watches at all.
• Workmanship: As expected for this price range, but the level of detail was still impressive.
• Smoothness of the second hand: Watching the second hand move absolutely smoothly is simply amazing.
• Surprisingly comfortable to wear.

Cons (-)

• Readability: It's not that bad, but it definitely still has a ways to go before it's perfectly readable.
• Dimensions: Not suitable for smaller wrists or women's wrists. The height is also rather impractical when it comes to shirt sleeves, for example.
• Service: Since the watch must be sent to Japan for most repairs, you should expect a long turnaround time and higher costs.

Conclusion

Of course, we have to end with the most important question—is this watch worth it?

We certainly can’t approach this answer purely from a pragmatic standpoint, because then (as with all more expensive watches) we’d quickly conclude that it’s more worthwhile to get a cheap Casio digital watch, which shows the time even more accurately and clearly. In this segment, everything is simply relative; however, I personally think that for a certain type of customer, this watch is an excellent choice.

It’s worth noting that if you’re looking for your first “high-end” watch, the Bulova Accutron is definitely not worth considering. On the other hand, for a more advanced collector looking to add a truly original piece to their collection, I think it’s worth considering. It’s true that for 97,300 CZK, you can choose from plenty of other watches from much better-known brands, but few will look as interesting on your wrist as these Accutrons.

Specifications

• Model: Bulova Accutron Spaceview 2020 2ES6A001
• Movement: Accutron NS30-Y8A electrostatic movement
• Case material: stainless steel
• Dimensions: 43.5 x 15.9 mm
• Glass: sapphire
• Dial: skeleton
• Strap: leather with a folding clasp
• Water resistance: 50 m