One idea can create rippling change, influencing countless other spheres of human society and invention. The Accutron wristwatch is an example of one of these ideas. Released on October 25, 1960, the Accutron impacted culture for decades, showing up in architecture, space exploration, fashion, and sports.
The Legacy Of The Accutron Watch
How did a single watch achieve this? At the time of its release, the Accutron was the first and most advanced electronic watch in the world. Its name, Accutron, stands for Accuracy Through Electronics, and its quality and precision made it an iconic advancement in timepieces.
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To further accentuate its status as the world’s first fully-electronic watch, the Accutron sported an “open dial” demonstration in which the inner workings of the watch were visible. This was an immensely popular model that became the standard, allowing people to examine the minute details that made the watch tick.
Cultural icons, such as Joe DiMaggio, Paul Newman, and Elvis Presley all owned Accutrons and helped propel the watch into a new sphere of cultural influence. The watch began selling rapidly, with over 5 million Accutron “tuning fork models” sold globally by 1976.
Important organizations, such as the US Air Force, the CIA, and NASA began to implement Accutron technology in their work. The Accutron Astronaut was designed to function and excel in space travel and high speed flight. Some of the Accutron’s uses in the Apollo Program included in-flight instrument timers, panel clocks, navigation instruments, and lunar orbiter satellites. Its accuracy made NASA’s moon missions possible; Accutron played a critical role in space exploration.
The Accutron’s legacy doesn’t end with space; it also impacted architecture. Its emphasis on transparency showed up in structures like the Pompidou Center in Paris, which was designed to appear transparent, revealing ductwork, plumbing, and electrical conduits to passersby. While this design sparked controversy at first, it gained admiration over time and went on to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2007.
The Accutron influenced style as well. Tinker Hatfield, the creator of the famous Air Max 1 shoe, drew inspiration from Accutron. He created several iconic shoes for Nike that all contained a visible air bubble, Hatfield’s homage to Accutron. Now, the Air Max 1 is considered to be one of the greatest sneakers in history and is both fashionable and functional. It has continued to influence style and culture.
The story of the Accutron is one of innovation and inspiration, revealing the power that one item can have on culture. So many iconic moments and designs stem from one idea, revealing a world of endless possibilities.
Infographic source: NowSourcing
