by Michael Satterfield 03/30/2023
With all the watch world's attention focused on Geneva and Watches and Wonders, I wanted to focus on a classic watch you can buy right now, and one that I have been wearing as my daily for the last month, the Bulova Lunar Pilot, which is one of just two watches to have been worn on the moon, the other being the Omega Speedmaster which inspired the Bioceramic Swatch X Omega collaboration which had people lining up and paying hundreds over the $260 MSRP on the secondary marker. But when Bulova offered to send me a sample of the Lunar Pilot to review, I was excited to get my hands on the iconic watch.
Omega has long touted its moon credentials, as the official watch of NASA at the time, but in 1971 Astronaut Dave Scott wore his personal Bulova chronograph on the Apollo 15 mission to the moon. The original Bulova moon watch sold at auction in 2015 for over $1.6 million, but you can take home a Lunar Pilot Archive Series on a nylon NATO strap for around $625. With a stainless steel bracelet and leather NATO strap, it comes in at $895. There are a few other versions, including a titanium limited edition, a white and blue dial, and a few versions with a date complication.
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The caseback is engraved with the dates of the Apollo 15 mission and the Bulova logo, the caseback is screw-down and water-resistant to 50 meters. The sample that I was sent came on a stainless steel bracelet I wore for a few days before switching to a NATO strap more like the one that would have been worn in space, but swapping the bracelet and strap is very easy thanks to the built-in quick-change spring bars. I did have to remove a few links in the bracelet which were simple to do with a basic set of watch tools.
At 43.5mm wide, 13.5mm thick, and 52mm lug to lug, the Luner Pilot is large, but once it is on the wrist it doesn't feel oversized. The size does reflect the original function of the design, to be used in space and to be easy to read even at a glance. The design of the bracelet also flows into the case nicely which doesn't make the already large watch look any bigger. At 20mm
Based on the original moon watch and other than a few minor updates the dial is a dead ringer of the original, which is important for a heritage watch. Just like the original, it is very legible and features three subdials including a 1/20 chronograph seconds counter at 3 o’clock, running seconds hand at 6 o’clock, and a 60-minute chronograph counter at 9 o’clock. The classic dial is understated which is good for a larger watch, as it doesn't draw too much attention, it won't fit under the cuff of most dress shirts so don't plan on wearing it to your black tie events. But it is the perfect daily watch for smart casual or a pair of jeans and a teeshirt on the weekend.
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The best part for me about the Lunar Pilot is the story, it isn't a retro-inspired watch, it is a true heritage watch from one of the most storied watchmakers in the world, and it actually went to the moon. It offers a level of sophistication, style, and heritage almost never seen for under $3,500 let alone under $1,000. You can check out the full collection of Lunar Pilots at bulova.com.
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