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The correct replacement for your 214 is a #387S which is the exact size of the old #387 cell and comes with the plastic sleeve that is necessary to prevent an electrical short in the Accutron circuit. If you can't find a #387S you can use a #394 cell which is the same size but it doesn't come with the sleeve so make sure that you save the one that was on your old battery. You will find that it's easy to remove the old sleeve and press it on the new #394 battery.

Perfect adjustment of the index mechanism was not as critical with the lower voltage of mercury batteries as it is with silver oxide batteries. The electronic circuit in your 214 (commonly referred to as the coil) was designed to run on 1.35 volt mercury batteries which are no longer sold in the USA. Currently available batteries produce 1.55 volts. The higher voltage (0.2V) can cause some movements to run too fast. If this happens to your 214 it is usually because  the adjustment of your Accutron was borderline in the first instance and you will have to have the movement professionally adjusted.

 CAUTION:  If you found an old Astronaut in a drawer and put a battery in it, you may be quite pleased to find that it runs, but may I suggest that you remove the battery immediately and have the watch serviced before it self-destructs. For an explanation please visit the  Q & A Page 

 PLEASE NOTE:   A readily available 1.55V silver oxide battery usually works well and most 214's can be adjusted to run properly through years of normal use without any difficulty but there are some movements which can only be described as over-active. The adjustment of an over-active movement with a 1.5V battery is so tenuous that any external force will cause the movement to speed up. This explains why some watches run great on the dresser but too fast when worn while others will run well for a while until a hard bump causes them to slip out of adjustment. 

The bottom of each tuning fork tine was notched at the factory to set the frequency (click photo). A relative few have tuning forks that were cut to the lower end of their tolerances. This was OK when the magnets were energized by 1.3 volts but at 1.5 volts these forks are over-active. This causes them to index two teeth instead of one either periodically or with every stroke. Previously the only way to correct the problem was to replace the tuning fork with one that has thicker tines but that is not a reliable solution to the problem. Experience has shown that quite often, the watch will run well for months after the fork is swapped but the movement is still susceptible to speeding up after suffering a severe shock. 

  Is your Astronaut running too fast on 1.55V batteries?  The electronic circuit in your Astronaut (commonly referred to as the coil) was designed to run on 1.35 volt mercury batteries which are no longer sold in the USA. Currently available batteries produce 1.55 volts. The micro-thin coil wire used in your 214 is already working against the ravages of age. Running an over-voltage of .2V through the delicate wire can't possibly be a good idea. The other delicate components in the circuit will not benefit either. Even if your 214 runs well with the new batteries, the longevity of your coil could be at risk. There is no longer any doubt that all 214's will benefit from a reduction in voltage back to the original 1.35 volts.

Fortunately there is a way to permanently solve the problem. A diode which lowers battery voltage in the circuit by 0.2 volts can be installed in the coil. This is really the best possible solution to the problem. The watch will perform as it did when new, battery issues will be resolved, and the life of the coil will be extended. Whether actually needed or not, this inexpensive modification is highly recommended. It is not noticeable and it is reversible.

 IMPORTANT: TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE COIL, MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE METAL PART OF THE BATTERY IS SEATED FLAT AGAINST THE CIRCUIT BOARD. IF YOU FEEL PRESSURE BEFORE THE BATTERY CAP IS SCREWED ALL THE WAY DOWN, REMOVE THE CAP AND RE-SEAT THE BATTERY.

STARTING YOUR WATCH
Most 214’s will start spontaneously when a new battery is installed but some will not. Over the years the permanent magnets on
the tips of your tuning fork may have lost some of their strength. If this is the case you will need to jump-start the movement. A sharp
smack with the palm or knuckles of your hand at the 3 or 9 o’clock position should cause the tuning fork to start to vibrate.
Once started the watch will perform normally until the battery dies.                           

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