The revived Accutron returned to the news last week with the latest addition to its catalog, the vintage-inspired Legacy 521. The refreshed model, instantly grabbing eyes with its space-age look and bright gold color, takes its inspiration from a watch of the same name (below) released in 1960. That specific vintage piece was one of the popular ?TV watches? the brand produced during that period ? popular not just because of its bold, unusual looks along, but also bolstered by its most famous wearer, music legend Elvis Presley, who favored that style of asymmetrical gold timepiece. The vintage Accutron 521 was one of several such watches frequently seen on the wrist of ?The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll,? along with probably his most famous watch, the Hamilton Ventura.
The modern version of the Legacy 521 is outwardly very faithful to its famous ancestor, with a 32.8-mm x 32.5-mm case produced in a gold-toned steel. The watch is small enough to fit a wide variety of wrist sizes, and its color and polished finishing gives it an overall playful, look. The lugs carry on the distinctive design of the ?TV watch? style, squared off on both sides and connecting to either a gold-tone bracelet or leather strap. Completing the watch’s unique look is an off-center signed crown, placed just below the 3 o?clock position. The crown?s placement is significant, as the original 1960s source model lacked a side-mounted crown, opting instead for a rare caseback crown placement...