Bulova Accutron Railroad Approved

Bulova Accutron Railroad Approved, originally uploaded by seattleforge.

My Dad gave me his old watch today. He wears a shockproof timex these days, but this was on his wrist for decades until they stopped making the mercury batteries that fit it.
Recently they started making a modern battery that would fit the watch, so it is back in business and he gave it to me.
When I was a kid I knew all about this watch. It was made in 1965. Bulova was in a Space Race with Omega to outfit the astronauts for the moon mission. Bulova advanced watch technology by using a battery to power a tuning fork to drive the mechanics of the watch. The hands "sweep" instead of ticking along. If you hold it to your ear it doesn't tick it hums. When I was a kid this watch seemed like it was from the future. It only lost 10 minutes a year. Omega won the war though. Buzz Aldrin wore the Omega Speedmaster to the moon. Now those watches sell for tens of thousands and the Bulovas sell for hundreds. But I love its sweeping hands and humming heart.

My Dad removed the leather band before I was even born and put this stainless bracelet on it. It doesn't fit me and since it isn't original I won't feel bad putting a band on it that I can wear.