Bulova, An Interactive History

Bulova watches have had a staggering amount of ‘history firsts’ in their 140+ years of watch making. They have compiled them all into what they like to call the #HistoryofFirsts which is also a hashtag on all of their social media if you would like to check them out! Have a look below at some of their great accomplishments.

• The faces of many firsts. Bulova recognises and celebrates the extraordinary individuals who pioneered movements, pushed boundaries and challenged the status quo.

• bulovaFirst on the airwaves. Before Bulova made history with the first ever television commercial, the brand ran the very first radio ad, which proclaimed “At the tone, it’s eight o’clock, B‑U‑L‑O‑V‑A Watch Time.”

• Setting the record straight… Bulova made space history on August 2, 1971. During the Apollo 15 mission, the Moon Pilot Chronograph was the world’s first privately owned timepiece to make it to the moon and back, recently auctioning off for $1.62 Million.

• A revolutionary first for travel. Bulova’s Accutron was the only wristwatch precise enough to qualify for U.S. railroad certification, thanks to its innovative tuning fork and modern quartz movement.

• The first in battle. First worn by members of the U.S. Army Air Force, Bulova’s Hack Watch was time-tested by some of the most courageous men and women in the most extreme conditions.

• The first spot. Before a baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies, Bulova paved the way for generations of brands by becoming the first to run a television commercial.

• The first to think different. Bulova’s Accutron broke boundaries by using a resonating tuning fork to regulate timekeeping, making it more accurate and mechanically sound than any other model of its time.

• The first to bend the rules. Bulova’s CURV watch is the first of its kind. The masterfully designed timepiece features a contoured fit with the world’s first curved chronograph movement for the most precise accuracy.

• First place. Bulova invented and produced the world’s first photo timer, which was used to track finishing times for runners during international athletic competition trials.

• First step for interstellar timepieces. In collaboration with NASA, Bulova developed technology for various timing instruments for satellites, 46 U.S. space missions and Skylab — the United States’ first space station.

• First to fight for what’s right. In 1972, Bulova has a rich history of supporting gender equality, and fueled a movement by running an advertisement to raise awareness for equal pay, equal time.

• First in flight. Bulova challenged pilots to make the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Charles Lindbergh was the intrepid victor and was awarded a Bulova watch line with his namesake — “The Lone Eagle”.

• An innovative first. Bulova released The Precisionist — a modern watch with a proprietary sweeping second hand movement that pioneered a new era of timepiece technology.

• A first for women. Since pocket watches weren’t fashionable for women, the introduction of the first complete line of ladies’ wristwatches empowered an entire gender group to own their time, for the first time.

• This is where it all started. Joseph Bulova, the founder of Bulova watches, opened his first storefront on Maiden Lane in Lower Manhattan. This was the first step toward a history of firsts that left an indelible mark on the world and continue to inspire us to keep moving forward.