[Spaceview M2]

It seems we are always running into some head-scratching Accutron variants. I will try to keep this simple and nothing more than a few observations. Any tech input from the forum members is welcome & helpful but I am a realist and this kind of tech info isn't covered much on this forum anymore.

I am covering 3 different Models and their variants for examples.
1. Model 203
2. Model 205
3. Model 503
*

Model 203 & 204
It has become common to call the 1960 only Star watch Case Company signed Asymmetrical case Model 203 with the Cream/whitish Dial. The Black Dial has been adopted as Model 204. The reference info has the Style number in sequence, 21009 & 21010. We know both these watches have existed in the wild and seen numerous times. Even the Model R203 & R204 appear from recent info to be the same Model but with Radium Luminous dial & hands. But that's for another topic.

*

Model 205 & 206 (Stainless Steel case 2362)
It is also a common practice to call the Case 2362 Cream Dial Accutron Model 205, as seen in many different ads, with the reference to a Charcoal or Black dial. Looking at the Bulova Watch Price listing, a Model 206 is called out as (Blk.) Again both Models have style numbers in sequence 21002 & 21003.

****


Model 503 & 504? (14kt Gold Case 2313)
So here are the newest observations I have noticed in regards to the case 2313 Model 503. We know from several ads that case 2313 came as Model 503 and the description in most call out both Yellow Gold or White Gold cases are available. I think for the most part we have always called the case 2313 with this dial/hand layout a Model 503 forever. But today I was 'staring' at some info and it dawned on me that like the other above examples with some variations and different model names, the Yellow or White gold model below may have a different Model name altogether. If you see the tech info below the 1961 Bulova Watch Price list the Model 503 Style 25004 as (Y) or a reference to Yellow Gold. Below that is a Style in sequence 25005 Model 504 in (W) or reference to White Gold. Both Models & Style numbers are listed as case 2313 in other reference material.
I don't recall anybody ever calling a White Gold case 2313 with this dial & hand layout a Model 504 but if you look at the comparison data and 'trend' from the above examples and the reference info below, it sure could be the case.
So this is something to ponder. It is probable that the White Gold case 2313 with this dial & hand combo is correctly called the Model 504 if you go by the current available Bulova reference material below.

**


Reference to case 2313 & Model 503 & 504.

****Note: All three of these example watches were found and available in the 1961 Bulova Watch Price Listing.

 

[SAM2]

I ran into this when posting Case #2313 to the "Accutron Case Number Research" sticky. I was almost sure that the "504" was the white gold variant but had no documentation. I have no doubt that your reasoning is correct and so, can we assume that the "502" also as a white gold 2313 case?

 

[Spaceview M2]

I ran into this when posting Case #2313 to the "Accutron Case Number Research" sticky. I was almost sure that the "504" was the white gold variant but had no documentation. I have no doubt that your reasoning is correct and so, can we assume that the "502" also as a white gold 2313 case?

Thanks for the info! That is helpful. Now I don't feel quite as crazy as I did yesterday. Now I feel more comfortable calling the white gold variant a Model 504.

 

[Spaceview M2]

can we assume that the "502" also as a white gold 2313 case?

Yes, the 1961 Price list shows the 502 as White Gold. And at that price point of $395.00, it would appear that both variant Models have a pricey solid gold bracket as part of the combo.

Below is a pic of the Yellow Gold Model 501 case 2313 with the solid gold bracelet as well. The reference material we have here would indicate the 502 would be the variant in white gold.

 

[SAM2]

Spaceview M2,
Your work is just amazing. You can probably guess my next question...........
Did your quest turn up anything on models 554 and/or 555? That is 25049 and 25050 respectively. Both of those models were also in a 2313 case.

 

[Spaceview M2]

Spaceview M2,
Your work is just amazing. You can probably guess my next question...........
Did your quest turn up anything on models 554 and/or 555? That is 25049 and 25050 respectively. Both of those models were also in a 2313 case.

No. Right now I don't have much to add on the two particular case 2313 Model callouts you ask about. As you are aware, the 554/555 are both in the 1964 Price Catalog @ $200.00 price which is lower than the $275.00 price tag called out on the Model 503/504.
I do possess a black & white pic of a case 2313 watch and it's called out as a Model 554 but from the B&W grainy pic, there doesn't appear to be any apparent difference from the pics we come to know as Model 503 & 504(same case/same dial/same hands). But the pic Model #554 and case #2313 do match up together as belonging together. Could it be they renamed/updated these Model names that continue to be sold past the 1961 Price listing? The Style #'s 25049 & 25050 numbers do lead us to later year Style numbers assignments. But that's all I have on the 2313 info for now.

I have read that a Mybulova panel member or two have taken possession of a dozen or so factory Bulova Line Catalogs and with the few pics they have provided as a reference on that site, these pics and details of accutrons are watches and style numbers I have not seen before on any reference material I have seen. So we may come across more Model/Style detail in the future. I wish they would publish these books but for now, it seems they are keeping them close to the hip.

 

[SAM2]

You can probably guess my next question.
Is there anything to suggest that the Spaceview F was the white gold variant of the Spaceview E?

 

[Spaceview M2]

You can probably guess my next question.
Is there anything to suggest that the Spaceview F was the white gold variant of the Spaceview E?

Well, I haven't seen a specific visual Ad that advertised the Spaceview 'F' in either YG or WG and even the one Spaceview "E" ad doesn't call out YG or Wg specifically but we know the case listing reference along with the Bulova 1964 Price listing show reference to both 'E" & 'F' in case 2313

I don't see how you would have any variation in the look of case 2313 Spaceview other than case material which we know was both YG and WG. We know the crystal would be the same in both. We know the hands & movement layout would be the same in both variants.
The Yellow Gold Spacview 'E" 25057 would be logical and the 'F' 25058 in white gold would also make sense within the recent discussions we have covered. This would be the best info we have to date. YG Spaceview 'E" and WG Spaceview 'F" in case 2313. I wouldn't agree with that logic but like many things, a little more proof is always helpful.

 

[uscjake87]

I did a search through old california newspapers and found a few full page ads. These were the two spiral lug cases. No mention of model/style but it shows 18k yellow gold specifically.

And one of the 554....

 

[Spaceview M2]

I did a search through old california newspapers and found a few full page ads. These were the two spiral lug cases. No mention of model/style but it shows 18k yellow gold specifically.

View attachment 224761
View attachment 224762

These two watch pics you attached have a similar look to the Spiral Lug case 2319 but both those ads are actually case 2324 in 18kt Gold. These blurry black & white pics are difficult to distinguish between similar cases at times but those two watch case ads would be the ones known as the 602 18kt case.

Case 2324 18kt Lug shape (AKA the 602 case)

***

Case 2319 14kt Lug Shape (Aka The Spiral Lug Case)

 

[uscjake87]

Oh. Well now I feel silly! Here are some more ads for you guys to click around. I will attach the files instead so its high res.

 

[srgray]

This is 14K white gold. The case back is showing just a little bit of yellowing. No number inside case back and a pity it has the wrong movement.

 

[Spaceview M2]

This is 14K white gold. The case back is showing just a little bit of yellowing. No number inside the case back and it's a pity it has the wrong movement.

View attachment 224787

That's a nice Accutron Model D507 case 2319 srgray. Finding a case number inside many of these very early cases is rare. I have seen a few 2304 stampings but most of the time there is no case #stamping.

I saw the same Model below on eBay a year or so ago and saved the pics of it. The White Gold case does show some unusual wear as has been mentioned in another thread. I often wonder how much is wear and how much is weird lighting/shadows.

 

[srgray]

That's a nice Accutron Model D507 case 2319 srgray. Finding a case number inside many of these very early cases is rare. I have seen a few 2304 stampings but most of the time there is no case #stamping.


View attachment 224789

I saw the same Model below on eBay a year or so ago and saved the pics of it. The White Gold case does show some unusual wear as has been mentioned in another thread. I often wonder how much is wear and how much is weird lighting/shadows.

View attachment 224790

View attachment 224791

Spaceview M2, thanks for the info and the catalog description. I am not educated as to all the model designations and have saved it along with these pictures. It does look like there is brassing on the lugs of my watch but it's an artifact of the poor photography. You can tell from the case back that it has very little wear. Why it needed a new movement is any body's guess. Back in the day it was probably easier for a jeweler to replace the movement than overhaul the original.

 

[Spaceview M2]

Accutron Case 2319 Model Variants
Model 505 in 14kt Yellow Gold Style 25002 $250.00
Model 506 in 14kt White Gold Style 25003 $250.00
***
Model 556 in 14kt Yellow Gold Style 25051Y $250.00
Model 557 in 14kt White Gold Style 25052W $250.00

The dial & hands appear to be identical. So we seem to have the same 2319 cased watch with 2 different model and style sequences. The 505 & 506 would have been the first ones labeled.


Model 505 & 506

Model 556 & 557

Having covered the 2319 case above, I found this info below. It would appear that the Model 505 & 506 name was used on at least two different case models.



Alpha Case 2304 is also called out as Model 505 & 506 Style 25061 & 25062

As best as I can decipher, this is a case 2304 Alpha Model 505 in Yellow Gold Style 25061. The White Gold Variant would be the same-looking watch in White Gold Model 506 Style 25062.

 

[Spaceview M2]

I know this thread is a bit older but I found a variation in the famed Model 503 Accutron Dial.

As seen below you can see that the dials are proper for the Model 503 (Yellow Gold 14kt Gold Accutron version) but there is a variation in the 12 o'clock position. One dial has the 12 applied and one has the Tuning Fork applied (See Red Circle). We have seen this variant on a few other dials but at least for me, this is the first time I noticed it on this Model. And I also notice but am not completely sure that the circular dots on the dials are slightly different. The dial on the right has a pronounced (Dot) at each hour marker and the dial on the left doesn't seem to have that. If I recall, the watch on the right is a Circa 1960, and the watch on the left is Circa 1961 so there may have been some 'changes' during that full first production year. I just thought I would add a small bit of variant guidance to this nice early model.

 

[sotongster]

Hi! Jumping in as there are quite a lot of cases identified here. Intrigued with the 21003 and 21009 models.

does anybody seem to have info on 21004/21005/21006 models?

im half hoping the model numbers are incremental and there are visual references to it