the Accutron guarantee of timekeeping The ACCUTRON timepiece is guaranteed by Bulova not to gain or lose more than one minute a month in normal use as a wrist timepiece.  For one full year from the date of purchase and without charge, it will be adjuste3d to this tolerance, if necessary, as stated in the following guarantee: THE ACCUTRON GUARANTEE The ACCUTRON timepiece is guaranteed internationally by Bulova not to gain or lose  more than one minute a month in normal use as a wrist timepiece, and is guaranteed against all damage and defects, except loss, fire and theft.  For one full year from date of purchase from an authorized ACCUTRON Jeweler, it will be repaired, serviced or adjusted, if necessary, without charge, if returned to the authorized ACCUTRON jeweler from whom it was purchased, or to any Bulova factory, office or distributor. NOTE:  Authorized ACCUTRON jewelers have been instructed to complete, within thirty days of your purchase, a registration card that details specific information concerning your ACCUTRON timepiece and to send it to Bulova Watch Company, Inc., Bulova Park, Flushing, New York 11370.

 

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I    characteristics of ACCUTRON

timekeeping -- ACCUTRON vs. conventional watches

The performance of any wrist timepiece is judged by the way it keeps time in actual use.  Performance depends upon the extent of the timepiece's immunity to the many disturbing environmental factors encountered in use.  The ability to cope with these detracting influences varies considerably from watch to watch.  In conventional timepieces it depends upon:

.One of the major factors contributing to the timekeeping accuracy of the ACCUTRON movement is its small and predictable position error.  The tuning fork has a basic position error which is completely predictable in amount of direction.  Furthermore, this position error is independent of tuning fork amplitude.

When the long dimension of the tuning fork is horizontal, the frequency of vibration is the same, whether the tines of the fork are alongside each other or one above the other.  In most ACCUTRON models, the tuning fork is mounted along the 12-6 axis of the movement.  Therefore, the rates in dial-up, dial-down, 3-down, and 9-down positions will all be precisely the same.

When the long dimension of the tuning fork is vertical with the times down, which is the 12-down position in most ACCUTRON models, the effect of gravity causes a slightly higher tuning fork frequency.  In this position the rate is 5 seconds per day faster than when the fork is in a horizontal position.  Conversely, when the fork is vertical with the tines up, the frequency of the tuning fork will decrease, causing a rate 5 seconds per day slower than when it is in a horizontal position.  This is the 6-down position in most Accutron models, and is rarely experienced when the watch is worn on the outside of the wrist.

This extremely small position error is taken into consideration in the regulation of ACCUTRON movements at the factory.  It is regulated for best timekeeping when worn on the outside of the wrist.  It is recommended that when the owner desires to wear his ACCUTRON timepiece on the inside of the wrist (making the 6-down position occur more frequently), it should be regulated 3 seconds per day faster than the original factory adjustment.

 

the effect of temperature on ACCUTRON

The elements in the ACCUTRON electronic circuit are chosen to provide for reliable performance under temperature extremes from 20 degrees F to 120 degrees F.  Outside this range, performance or timekeeping ability may be unsatisfactory.  It should be remembered that this will have no effect on operation under normal conditions, since the ACCUTRON timepiece is meant to be worn on the wrist, and when it is, will be within a few degrees of body temperature, even in extreme cold or hot climates.

The effect of temperature on its rate is considerably less than for normal high-grade wrist watches.  If removed from the wrist at night, the temperature of the timepiece may change considerably.  However, the net effect upon the daily rate is small since the temperature error is small by design, and the exposure to the "abnormal" temperature does not usually exceed 8 hours daily.

 

the effect of shock on ACCUTRON

The ACCUTRON timepiece, on the wrist of the user, is completely immune to the shocks of gardening, playing golf or baseball, hammering, etc.  Repeated blows, directly on the side of the case, can temporarily affect the operation of the mechanism and cause a change in time.  However, it is so protected, when worn in a normal manner on the outside of the wrist, that repeated accidental bumping, sufficient to affect the timepiece, is impossible.

Various means have been included in the design of the ACCUTRON movement to minimize the possibility of damage if the timepiece is dropped.  The most sensitive parts of an ordinary watch are the pivots on the balance wheel staff.  Conventional watches are shock-protected by special spring mountings for the jewels for these pivots.  In the ACCUTRON movement, shock protection has been provided by using a shock bridge and stops to limit the maximum movement of the tuning fork tines, and by a guard surrounding the index and pawl jewel fingers.

A shock great enough to break a balance wheel pivot in a conventional "shockproof" watch may, in ACCUTRON, derange the indexing mechanism.  Restoring the mechanism to perfect operating condition requires only minor adjustments by the repairman, in comparison with the major operation of replacing a balance staff.

Everything possible has been done to protect the ACCUTRON mechanism from the shocks of normal use.  However, like any fine precision instrument, it should be treated with the respect it deserves.

 

the effect of vibration on ACCUTRON

The ACCUTRON movement, if mounted directly on a vibrating structure or maintained in contact with it, may be affected by vibration.  The effect, if any, would depend upon both the frequency and direction of the vibrations.  However, the wrist of the user cushions the ACCUTRON timepiece, so that direct exposure to vibrations which can affect the tuning fork is impossible.  The use of power hedge trimmers, power mowers, sanders and other such vibrating equipment will have no effect on an ACCUTRON timepiece worn on the wrist.

 

the effect of magnetism on ACCUTRON

ACCUTRON timepieces are less affected by the magnet fields usually encountered in normal service than are conventional "anti-magnetic" watches.  The criterion for an "anti-magnetic" watch is that, when subjected to the influence of a magnetic field with a strength of 60 gauss and then removed from this influence, it shall operate without being affected more than 15 seconds per day.  The ACCUTRON timepiece easily meets this specification, changing rate on a few seconds per day.

The ACCUTRON timepiece should not be deliberately exposed to an extremely high strength magnetic field, as in a demagnetizer or a strong permanent magnet, since it is obvious that it would be possible at some level of field strength to demagnetize the permanent magnets on the tuning fork.  If an ACCUTRON timepiece is accidentally demagnetized it will stop, and the tuning fork must be replaced or returned to Bulova to be re-magnetized.

 

the effect of altitude on ACCUTRON

Its rate, like conventional watches, is affected by the changes in barometric pressure associated with changes in altitude.  In conventional watches, other effects are so large that rate changes of several seconds per day are rarely noticed.  In ACCUTRON, although the rate change with altitude is about the same as for conventional watches, the effects of pressure changes on its performance are more likely to be apparent because of its very small rate of gain or loss.

The ACCUTRON tuning fork will gain at increasing altitudes.  Up to about 15,000 feet the effect is to gain 3 seconds per day for each 5000-foot increase in altitude.  This effect is caused by the change in density of the moving air column which, in principle, forms part of the mass of the vibrating tuning fork.

This effect does not normally result in any significant problem.  The ACCUTRON owner who is permanently located in an area substantially above sea level may find it necessary to return his timepiece to the local jeweler for regulation, to correct for a gaining rate.  Temporary exposure, such as in air travel, has a very slight effect.  For example, a 6-hour flight at a "cabin altitude" of 5000 feet (which is conventional) would cause an ACCUTRON timepiece to gain 3/4 of a second more than if the owner had remained on the ground at sea level.

 

jewels in ACCUTRON

The number of jewels in a watch movement has traditionally been, to the consumer, an indication of quality.  However, since the ACCUTRON movement uses an entirely new system of timekeeping, there is actually no basis of comparison with conventional watches.  As a matter of information, the ACCUTRON movement has 17 points of possible wear, all protected by jewels.

 

waterproof cases

Most ACCUTRON models are of standard "waterproof" construction.  The primary purpose of this case construction is to prevent trouble due to accidental immersion and to perspiration, dust, etc. entering the case.  Each "waterproof" ACCUTRON timepiece is individually tested before it leaves the factory to assure that it does not leak.  Some users wear these timepieces while bathing and swimming.  However, deliberate subjection of a fine timepiece to the hazards of such exposure is not encouraged by Bulova.  The case construction required to provide protection for activities such as skin diving is somewhat undesirable for normal use because of styling considerations and has therefore not been employed in any ACCUTRON models.

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