CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY AND APPRAISAL
1 YEAR MECHANICAL WARRANTY
About
Worn by spy aircraft pilots and astronauts in the 1960s, today's Bulova has a level of pedigree seldom found in other tool watches. A letter written by a former A-12 pilot and retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Frank Murray, explained why the CIA chose the Astronaut for their flight missions:
"The A-12 airplane first flew in April 1962; several years of developmental testing took place before the airplane flew its reconnaissance role in the Far East. This airplane operates at speeds well above Mach 3 (2100 mph) at altitudes up to 90,000 feet.
The environmental conditions inside the cockpit saw temperatures as high as 140° at the end of cruise legs when the fuel remaining was insufficient to provide the needed heatsink for the air-conditioning system.
Ordinary wristwatches worn by the pilots on the outside of their pressure suits were not holding up to these temperatures. A decision was made to try a unique type of watch in this setting. The Bulova Accutron Astronaut model held up to testing, so the CIA decided to furnish the Bulova watch to the CIA pilots flying the A-12."
In May 1963, the Astronaut was also issued to the crew of the Mercury-Atlas 9, the final manned orbital flight of the Mercury program.
All that is to say, the Astronaut saw success both professionally as well as at retail, being produced by Bulova from 1962 to roughly 1977, when the 214 tuning fork movement was discontinued. Different versions were produced, and are today classified by case, bezel, dial and hand variations.
Today's Astronaut, a type A variant, comes in a standard steel case with spider lugs and a standard bezel, with engraved black numerals and half-hour indices. The dial is a standard USA dial, with a painted Accutron logo and "Astronaut", luminous hour and half-hour markers, as well as luminous dauphine hands, GMT hand, and cone seconds.
Details
Reference:"Type A"
Movement:Type: Tuning Fork, Caliber 214 with hacking feature, new battery installed.
Movement has been inspected and keeps accurate time.
One year mechanical warranty included.Case:38mm stainless steel case and back
Strap:Hirsch Osiris Calf Leather With Nubuck Effect, quick release spring bars (MSRP: $44.50)
Overall condition:
Case in near mint condition, with very few marks of wear, little signs of polishing, case back engraving is thick and legible. Rotating bezel with original brushed finish, refinished black numerals. Acrylic crystal is clean. Dial is fantastic, with original matching tritium lume indicators and hands.
