{"id":36777,"date":"2021-12-06T19:17:31","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T19:17:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/?p=36777"},"modified":"2025-06-02T13:50:52","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T11:50:52","slug":"the-bulova-lunar-pilot-chronograph-2021-watches-hands-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/en\/the-bulova-lunar-pilot-chronograph-2021-watches-hands-on\/","title":{"rendered":"The Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph 2021 watches hands-on"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Bulova Lunar Pilot<\/strong>\u2018s saga is exciting and reveals Bulova<\/strong>\u2018s paramount role in the US race to land a man on the moon. Back then, Bulova<\/strong> joined the party and the original competition, yet failed NASA<\/strong>\u2018s first assessment and couldn\u2019t pride itself on the \u201cMoonwatch\u201d nickname and the Apollo 11<\/strong> mission.<\/p>\n

\"bulova<\/p>\n

The American brand, whose technology has far gone over a wristwatch \u2013 let\u2019s think about the\u00a0Accutron<\/a><\/strong> devices extensively adopted \u2013 tried once again and succeeded to participate in phase two of the agency\u2019s space program by attending the Apollo 15<\/strong> mission.<\/p>\n

David Scott, the Apollo 15 mission, and the first Bulova watch on the moon.<\/h2>\n

Astronaut David Scott<\/strong> was wearing a Bulova<\/strong> chronograph during his walk on the moon; his timepiece was hammered by RR Auction<\/strong> in 2015<\/strong> and gained the headline news when the watch fetched an outstanding $ 1,300,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Source: Bulova<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That\u2019s much money, isn\u2019t it? Well, I think it\u2019s not that outrageous given what this Bulova<\/strong> watch stands for in space exploration. Since then, the brand has built on that heritage, re-issuing the original as faithfully as possible.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the Bulova Lunar Pilot<\/strong> has triggered and extended the Bulova Archive<\/strong> collection to include more and more pieces from the brand\u2019s history moving forward, like the lovely Devil Diver<\/strong><\/a>, the cutting-edge Computron<\/strong><\/a> and more. From a technical perspective, the most significant leap between old and new is adopting ultra high-frequency quartz technology to replace a \u201cstandard\u201d mechanical movement.<\/p>\n

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Source: Bulova<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Bulova Lunar Pilot<\/strong> housed a Universal Gen\u00e8ve Space Compax<\/strong>\u2018s mechanism, hence a Valjoux-based calibre showcasing a three-register layout, as found on the Moonwatch.<\/p>\n

That configuration proved to pass NASA<\/strong>\u2018s strictest criteria. Bear in mind that, back then, Universal Gen\u00e8ve<\/strong> was a Bulova<\/strong>\u2018s subsidiary. In 2016<\/strong>, the re-issue hit the market despite offering a technical package in line with the brand\u2019s current positioning and its technological pedigree.<\/p>\n

The 2016 Bulova Lunar Pilot<\/h2>\n

As said, Bulova<\/strong> launched the first modern Lunar Pilot<\/strong> five years ago. The project raised general appraisal and grew Bulova<\/strong>\u2018s reputation as a pioneering brand, usually connected with Accutron<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Bulova<\/p>\n

Bulova<\/strong> belongs to the Citizen Group<\/strong>; hence high-frequency technology is at the brand\u2019s core and, without any doubt, the most relevant technology on the shelf. The modern re-edition comes equipped with a 262kHz high-frequency quartz calibre<\/strong> which outperforms the competition when it comes to running accuracy.<\/p>\n

\"Bulova<\/p>\n

The high-frequency quartz calibre ensures a 10-seconds-per-year accuracy according to specs. With that said, you won\u2019t miss any mechanical movement since the watch looks and feels \u201cmechanical\u201d while not breaking your bank account and with the remarkable build quality.<\/p>\n

The Lunar Pilot<\/strong> is sturdy and well designed, and you end up wearing something whose design is mechanical chronograph-based. The tachymeter scale is raised and filled with plenty of luminescent material; finally, the Chrono push buttons activation and the overall weight \u2013 108 and 184 grams, without and with bracelet, respectively \u2013 are what you\u2019d expect wearing a mechanical timepiece this big.<\/p>\n

\"Bulova<\/p>\n

Bulova priced the Lunar Pilot<\/strong> in between 500 and 550 Euros<\/strong> (for the standard steel options); here is why the recipe works and has proved successful from day one. My only criticism is the tiny, useless date window confirming its commercial pedigree.<\/p>\n

However, Bulova<\/strong> \u201cfixed it\u201d by launching the full black reference 98A186<\/strong> and the premium Bulova Lunar Pilot 50th Anniversary Limited Edition<\/strong>, the 2021 highlight, to celebrate the first 50 years since the Lunar Pilot<\/strong> landed on the moon (3 August 1971).<\/p>\n

\"Bulova<\/p>\n

Please forgive us for associating the latest iteration to an Apollo 11<\/strong> lunar module instead of an Apollo 15<\/strong>; we won\u2019t change history, yet we believe the only American watch brand to walk on the moon deserved first-page news on here.<\/p>\n

The Bulova Lunar Pilot 50th<\/sup> Anniversary Limited Edition watch<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re praising Bulova<\/strong> for offering high quality on a standard Lunar Pilot<\/strong>, you won\u2019t be surprised to find out that the commemorative edition sets the bar higher by introducing a Grade 5 titanium<\/strong> alloy.<\/p>\n

\"Bulova<\/p>\n

I guess product marketing specialists opted for titanium to celebrate history rather than lightness (despite being a welcome addition, given the Lunar Pilot measures 45 mm across). Titanium became popular from the seventies and appeared more frequently on commercial timepieces.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no doubt that titanium is the celebration model\u2019s \u201ctalking point\u201d and a primary technical feat, given that Bulova<\/strong> belongs to the Group that first marketed a titanium watch<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Bulova<\/p>\n

While I won\u2019t associate Bulova with Citizen<\/strong>, I admit that being part of a Group that masters titanium technology like no other in the watch industry makes the Bulova Lunar Pilot 50th Anniversary Limited Edition<\/strong> a far more compelling and attractive proposition to look at.<\/p>\n

The Grade 5 titanium case comes paired with a blinky gold-looking treatment, thus creating a vivid contrast between titanium\u2019s matte dark greyish hues and shades of gold, especially on the case back, where the seventh man to ever walk on the moon is standing alongside the lunar module.<\/p>\n

\"Bulova<\/p>\n

The celebration limited edition piece reminds me of what Omega<\/strong> offered in 2014<\/strong> with the gold and titanium Speedmaster Apollo 11 45th Anniversary Limited Edition<\/strong><\/a>. The case exclusively comes with a grey NATO<\/strong> strap and gold tones, and the watch comes in a commemorative box, including an Apollo 15<\/strong> badge.<\/p>\n

Final thoughts<\/h2>\n

This review was a chance to get our hands on plenty of Bulova Lunar Pilot watches for the first time, rewind the timepiece\u2019s history in brief, and what made it so sought-after by the watch community. It indeed is a Holy Grail watch per se.<\/p>\n

\"Bulova<\/p>\n

Probably I\u2019ll not pick the Anniversary<\/strong> edition as a first choice, even though the 50th is the most refined Lunar Pilot<\/strong> so far. It sets this model apart from the original scheme, despite appreciating the brand\u2019s effort to make it more sophisticated with the adoption of a grade 5 titanium alloy, one of my all-time favorite materials; but I would not say I like the polished gold accents; I would have gone for a matte finish throughout.<\/p>\n

\"Bulova<\/p>\n

Conversely, I like the \u201cno date\u201d layout and appreciate the superior finishes, but I don\u2019t think a 5000 pieces collection is an authentic Limited Edition<\/strong>. The Bulova Lunar Pilot 50th Anniversary Limited Edition<\/strong> retails for 890 Euros<\/strong>.<\/p>\n