I was recently given a nice gift: a Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph, which is the other moon watch.
Everybody probably recognizes the Omega Speedmaster Professional that went to the moon. It’s iconic. It’s on my “want list” to buy someday.
But lesser known is that there was one other watch—a Bulova—that went to the moon on Apollo 15 in 1971. The watch I was given is a reissue of that watch (though with modern changes, both in size and the underlying technology).
I made an Instagram video telling the story behind the watch and showing some close-up details. Check it out below.
It’s a cool watch and I’ve really enjoyed wearing it this past week since receiving it. I recommend it for having that classic moon watch look, while being about 1/10th the cost of the Omega if the Swiss archetype is out of reach for you. Mine has a metal bracelet, but I love how it looks on a black NATO strap. Macy’s is actually selling it on a black strap for under $400 until July 13. MSRP is $750, but most places have it for much less, including sellers on eBay like this one which has it for $380 with metal strap.
There are a couple other articles about it that give some background, including more technical information. One from watch site Worn & Wound here as well as another from them diving into the movement inside the original prototype, and another from Hodinkee back in 2015. Also check out this comparison video between the Bulova and the Omega, also embedded at the bottom.
Let me know what you think! As someone whose interest in watches is primarily aesthetic, with an appreciation for mechanical watches over quartz and my tastes influenced by the luxury Swiss watch world, I definitely appreciate this watch and its backstory.
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There are a couple of versions. The one closest to the original is the Archive Edition, which doesn’t have the date window. I happen to be wearing mine as I type this.
I had no idea! Just looked at the various ones and see now what you mean. The typeface is also different on certain ones (and I also see there are matte stainless finish, shiny and also matte black). Very cool, thanks for sharing! Practically speaking, I like the date window. But I prefer the sans-serif typeface of the name Bulova on the other versions. Ah well, such is life!
There were a few funky little details on the Bulova prototype that Dave Scott wore on Apollo 15: the use of “tachometer” and beige markings on the tachymeter scale, for example. But overall, it’s faithful enough (there are a lot of Omega Speedmaster references that bear limited resemblance to the original Moonwatch) that I don’t really mind the difference. Plus, the thing is really accurate: mine has gained maybe a couple of seconds in the past three months.