America Runs on Bulova Time: A Countdown of an Iconic Watch Company

When was the last time you counted from 10 to 1? Was it on New Year’s Eve before the old year faded away and a new one dawned? Or during the last 10 seconds of an agonizingly close sports game before your favorite team swept the championship? That suspenseful 10-to-1 countdown can usher in something big.

In 1941, something big happened. The first TV commercial aired, and it ran for exactly 10 seconds. This 10-second commercial was for Bulova (formerly the Bulova Watch Company). It ran during a baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Brooklyn Dodgers. The commercial was simple.

Picture this: Viewers saw a black background with the shape of America in white. In the middle of the American shape was a clock with the word “Bulova” in the center. Under “Bulova” were the words “Watch Time.” For the first 5 seconds, the ad was silent. Then, a man’s voice announced: “America Runs on Bulova Time.” Bam!

This powerful commercial was one of many landmark moments for Bulova.

Through the years, Bulova has been intertwined with America’s story, from historic ads to making a clock that can help us all count down those pivotal 10 seconds before a memorable sports game.

As Bulova watch repair professionals, we’re especially fond of Bulova’s history. Here’s a countdown of 10 classic Bulova moments.

10. The Henry Ford of Watchmaking

Joseph Bulova was an immigrant from Bohemia who moved to New York and, in 1875, opened a watchmaking shop. This period was a time of great industrial innovation. Bulova valued efficiency and standardization. His factory in Switzerland was the first factory to produce standardized watch parts, making him known as the “Henry Ford of watchmaking.”

9. It’s Bulova Watch Time

Not only was the first televised advertisement a Bulova watch commercial, but the first national radio ad was for Bulova as well. It aired in 1926 with this iconic phrase: “At the tone, it’s 8 p.m., B-U-L-O-V-A, Bulova watch time.”

8. The Lone Eagle Watch

In 1927, Charles Lindbergh was the first person to make a solo transatlantic flight. Later, Bulova would make a watch in his honor, dubbing it the “Lone Eagle.” It became the company’s bestselling watch.

7. The Lady Lindy Watch

In 1928, Amelia Earhart was the first female passenger on a transatlantic flight. Bulova produced a watch, named the Lady Lindy, in her honor. It became a notable nod to the women’s movement at the time, showing that the Bulova company stood behind women’s empowerment.

6. The Watch That Won the War

During World War II, the company created the A-11 watch. This watch allowed the wearer to stop the second hand by pulling out the crown. This made it so the wearer could synchronize their watch with someone else’s. Precise time management is key in war; that’s why they called it one of “the watches that won the war.”

5. A School for Veterans

Companies can gain prominence by giving back and honoring the people in the community around them. This is exactly what Bulova did. After World War II, Arde Bulova—son of Joseph Bulova, the company’s founder—was so touched by the sacrifice that injured war veterans had made, he opened a tuition-free watchmaking school for them.

4. A Bulova Chronograph on the Moon

On the Apollo 15 space mission, a Bulova watch became an unexpected but important player. At the time, the official watch of NASA was an Omega Speedmaster. Commander David Scott had an Omega, but it broke. Luckily, as a backup, he had a Bulova chronograph watch, which helped him finish the job.

3. The Accutron

Before 1960, all watches used a balance wheel for timekeeping. That changed when the Bulova company replaced the balance wheel with a tuning fork. This became the breakthrough that created the first electric watch. They called it the Accutron.

2. The Bulova Satellite Clock

In 1968, Bulova created the first public clock regulated by time signals from satellites in space. Before it was taken down, this clock used to sit atop the Torre Latinoamericana, which was Mexico’s tallest skyscraper at the time.

1. 150 Years

As of 2025, Bulova has been in business for 150 years, making it one of the oldest watch companies in the United States. Over these 150 years, Bulova has proven to be a powerful representation of the American spirit. It’s been at the innovative forefront of new ideas and there during some of America’s most iconic moments.

A Bulova watch will always be a symbol of how far America has come and how much more is in store. Bulova has made such an impact on how we tell time that, even after 150 years, America still runs on Bulova Time.

This year marks a great time to celebrate Bulova’s 150th anniversary. Just make sure that you’ve got the best Marine Star, Lunar Pilot, or Accutron watch repair specialist behind you to keep your watch ticking through the years.