Bulova
New York, USA · Est. 1875
Founded by Joseph Bulova
Bulova was founded in New York in 1875 by Joseph Bulova and became one of the most prominent American watch brands of the 20th century, known for its radio and television advertising innovations. It is now owned by Citizen Watch Co. and continues to produce its heritage Accutron line alongside contemporary collections.
- Founded
- 1875
- Headquarters
- New York, USA
- Group
- Citizen Watch Group
- Price Segment
- Mid
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Precisionist — Ultra-high-frequency quartz collection with a sweeping seconds hand and accuracy to within seconds per year.
- Accutron — Heritage line reviving the legendary tuning fork technology, now with electrostatic movement.
- Archive Series — Reissues of classic Art Deco and mid-century Bulova designs with modern movements.
- Marine Star — Sport watch collection with chronograph and dive functionality for active wear.
Timeline
- 1875 — Founded by Joseph Bulova, a Bohemian immigrant, in New York City
- 1926 — Aired one of the first-ever radio advertisements in the United States
- 1941 — Broadcast the first-ever television commercial during a baseball game
- 1960 — Introduced the Accutron tuning fork watch, the first electronic timepiece
- 1971 — Accutron timer used on the Apollo 15 lunar module instrument panel
- 2007 — Acquired by Citizen Watch Co.
- 2020 — Relaunched the Accutron brand with new electrostatic movement technology
Frequently Asked Questions about Bulova
- What is the Bulova Accutron?
- The Accutron, introduced in 1960, used a tuning fork instead of a balance wheel for timekeeping. It was the first electronic watch and became so accurate it was used on NASA instruments.
- Who owns Bulova?
- Bulova has been a subsidiary of Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. since 2008.
- What is Bulova's connection to TV advertising?
- Bulova aired the first-ever television commercial on 1 July 1941, a 10-second spot showing a clock face before a baseball game on WNBT New York.