How does tuning fork watch work

Several watch manufacturers bring out watches that utilize this movement although the Omega Speedsonic is by far the most common:. The ESA is a fascinating and complex movement and for many years, I would only service the motor module, but in December , I finally decided to spend some time in understanding the construction and working of this movement.

But without doubt, the most unique and strangest tuning fork watch ever made was the Omega Cal. This awesome, and rare, movement featured: an asymmetric tuning fork resonating at Hz instead of the more usual Hz, a very unusual micromotor attached to one of the tuning fork tines and a series of magnetic gears!

Read much more about this wonderful movement in the Omega section. Unlike the standard models, it came with an open dial that showed the tuning fork and other technical parts. This model was so much in demand that Bulova quickly decided to produce it for retail.

The name of the pioneering tuning fork watch is wisely chosen. An Accutron with a hour dial was used in the capsules of the Gemini program. The Apollo spacecraft was also equipped with Accutrons.

Its success was immense: several million watches were sold. In , Heinz Haber, German physicist and aerospace medical consultant, in a show about myths and truths about space, showed how space technology could affect everyday life — viewers heard the sound of his private Accutron SpaceView through the microphone. Even nowadays, the Bulova SpaceView is highly sought after, as the price of the gold version can reach several thousand euros.

Prices for stainless steel or gold plated models are significantly lower. However, spare parts are hard to find; only a few watchmakers have some of them — even the battery can be hard to replace. Originally driven with a voltage of 1. Hopefully, the movement is robust because of the small number of parts and the low force acting on the wheels. The history of tuning fork watches does not end with the Accutron.

Although Bulova was the creator of the tuning fork, other brands used the technology. Tissot, Longines and other Swiss or international brands used the tuning fork. The electronically controlled tuning fork drives a central second and a date complication. Models of this series are now rare and of course relatively expensive. Condition, box or papers will of course affect the price as well. Both ETA and Bulova stopped the production of turning fork movements in The climax of the tuning fork watches is the Omega MegaSonic, produced in The ratchet wheel is smaller and in contrast to other tuning fork watches, the movement is fully enclosed.

With a diameter of 1. The power transmission to the gear train is also very innovative: a magnetic clutch transfers the energy without any contact points.

This technology is rare today, almost unique. The retail price at that time was 1, Deutsche Marks — a huge amount if you consider that a stainless steel Bulova Accutron was priced at Deutsche Marks.

Accutron is a portmanteau of the words accuracy and electronic and its movement used electrostatic energy to agitate a tuning fork that then maintained a consistent frequency to two tiny motors pushing the hour and minute hands. That made it highly desirable in the pre-quartz era, and was even used by astronauts who reached the moon in the s. Click here for an excellent overview of the history and innovation of Accutron by Watchonista. We learn today, however, that a decade of research and development has gone into relaunching Accutron as an electro-magnetic watch.

The Accutron Spaceview uses the same open dial design with the exact-same signature green accents as the s original. More importantly, it is returning to using electrostatic energy and its tuning fork, albeit in an all-new movement. The new watch comes in a stainless steel case and bezel on a black leather strap.

A second collection, also using the electrostatic movement is the Accutron DNA, which attempts to take the innovative spirit of the s watch and apply it in a way.