Accutron Electrostatic Spaceview 2020 Watch Review
Thursday - 10 December 2020
The beneficiary of Accutron's incredible electrostatic movement, the brand-new Accutron Spaceview 2020 watch brings back to life its 1960’s predecessor with a familiar avant-garde approach to industrial design.
Introduced in 1960, the original Bulova Accutron was considered the world’s most commercially and technically successful electronic watch with its characteristic sweeping seconds hand and the high pitch hum emitted from the tuning fork movement. This revolutionary technology was developed by engineer Mark Hetzel who utilised a tuning fork, powered by a one-transistor electronic oscillator, to power the functions rather than a typical balance wheel. The concept was ground-breaking, delivering an oscillating rate nearly 150 times faster than that of a typical mechanical watch and with a guaranteed accuracy of just one minute per month.
The very first Accutron watch was nicknamed the Spaceview 214, and it is this very model that is celebrated today in the new Accutron Electrostatic Spaceview 2020. The original Spaceview was like no other timepiece before it with a mesmerising open-worked dial that looked almost like an exposed circuit board. It was largely distinguished by the tuning fork exposed on the dial, the sweeping seconds hand and the iconic green colour scheme. Fast forward to today, and Accutron revolutionises the meaning of timekeeping once again with the Accutron Electrostatic Spaceview 2020 watch. While showcasing the familiar green aesthetic and openworked dial of its predecessor, this new release debuts the brand’s all-new electrostatic movement.
To gain a full understanding of how the new Accutron electrostatic concept movement works, we highly recommend reading our in-depth review of the movement here. In brief, the electrostatic energy is created by twin turbines that rotate with every movement of your wrist – just like that of an oscillating rotor in an automatic watch. The energy created from these two turbines is stored in an accumulator which powers the world’s first electrostatic motor which allows the second hand to fluidly travel around the dial and a step motor which powers the hour and minute hands.
The Accutron Electrostatic Spaceview 2020 watch is also unique in its power-saving mode. If you were not to move for five minutes, the red seconds hand would stop at the 12 o’clock position while the hour and minute hands would continue to display the passing time. However, after 10 days of zero motion, for occasions when you remove the watch from your wrist for a prolonged period of time, the hands would stop completely and the timepiece would enter what the brand calls an “energy conservation period”. This period will be suspended as soon as you put the watch back on your wrist and your motions will eventually restart the electrostatic drive system and resume normal timekeeping function.
While the electrostatic movement is its main selling point, the Accutron Electrostatic Spaceview 2020 watch is magnificent aesthetically. It’s standard straight lugs and classic stainless steel case remind us of several vintage Accutron models but is it more specifically the dial that brings back to life the original Accutron Spaceview from 1960. The green and copper accents found on the original are also present in the new Accutron 2020. The familiar copper coil has been replaced by a drive coil for the steeper motor while the red seconds hand and luminous hands for hours and minutes remain the same.
The open-worked dial of the Accutron Electrostatic Spaceview 2020 is finished in a handsome smoke grey finish alongside a unique transparent outer ring to provide additional legibility of the electrostatic movement beneath. The dial is protected by domed scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass treated with an anti-reflective coating and a 43.5mm stainless steel case, both of which promise a water resistant rating of 50 metres. The timepiece is completed by a classic black calfskin leather strap and a stainless steel double-press deployment closure.
As official stockists of Accutron watches, you can find all their latest releases on the Jura Watches website. Shop the Accutron Electrostatic Spaceview 2020 watch here available with interest free finance and free delivery.
Specifications: Accutron Electrostatic Spaceview 2020 (2ES6A001)
- Case Size: 43.5mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Water Resistance: 50 metres
- Movement: Proprietary electrostatic
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
- Dial: Smoke grey, open-work
- Hands: Luminous
- Strap: Black leather
- Buckle: Stainless steel, pin
- RRP: £2,990
