by Tyler Frederick
Space, the final frontier
When I hear watches followed up with NASA, I immediately think of Omega and their extensive tenure with space exploration via the Omega Speedmaster. While Omega has a history of adventure through the cosmos, another well-known brand shares some of the same history through the fourth successful moon landing in 1971, Apollo 15. The brand in question is Bulova, and the watch is the Lunar Pilot 96B251.
It wasn’t until a few years ago that Bulova embraced its history of space exploration. By doing so, it re-issued a chronograph worn on the wrist of astronaut Dave Scott during the Apollo 15 mission. Now, Apollo 15 wasn’t Bulova’s first mission with NASA; their partnership consisted of 46 missions from the mid-1950s into the 1970s, which implemented Bulova’s Accutron technology for timekeeping and instrument panel clocks. In 1971, when Dave Scott’s crystal failed on his Omega Speedmaster, Scott would wear his own personal Bulova Chronograph ref. 88510/01 for the mission, thus the Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph was born.
Key Features of the Bulova Lunar Pilot
Having the opportunity to review the Lunar Pilot and wear a re-issue of a crucial piece of history made me happier than a kid in a candy store, and finally, having the chance to give my thoughts on it made me just as happy. The Lunar Pilot closely replicates the original Lunar Pilot Chronograph with some contemporary adjustments and modifications for the modern enthusiast. The stainless steel case measures 45mm in diameter, a 13.5mm case thickness (the sapphire crystal adds 1mm) and a 53mm lug-to-lug. While it is on the larger side, if you reference the context of how the original Lunar Pilot was used, legibility is vital, and so is functionality, and a more oversized watch can provide easier use, especially in space.
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The matte black dial features plenty of depth and detail; while it might look busy, everything has its place: a tachymeter scale around the dial for timing/tracking speed, three sub-dials ( a 1/10th counter at 3:00, seconds counter at 6:00, and a minute tracker at 9:00), luminous hands and markers and a date at 4:30. As I said, while this is a busy dial, everything serves its purpose, and it’s always fantastic to have a lot of functionality that closely resembles the original.
Many often question the 262hz labelled on the watch, referencing the movement powering the Lunar Pilot, the HPQ NP20. The NP20 movement contains a three-pronged quartz crystal that regulates at a frequency of 262hz, eight times stronger than your regular quartz movement. This increases the accuracy, with the NP20 only losing a few seconds per year.
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SPECS
| Case | 316L Stainless Steel 39mm Diameter 45mm Lug to Lug 13.5mm Thick (+2mm Dome) 20mm Lug Width Screw Down Case Back 50m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Flat Sapphire Crystal Applied Hour Markers Pencil Handset Super-LumiNova |
| Movement | HPQ NP20 High Precision Quartz Chronograph 262Hz |
| Strap | Textured Leather Strap |
Bulova Lunar Pilot
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Of Interest
Watches issued by NASA are considered US government property. Any watch that has travelled to space remains with the US government unless it’s gifted to the wearer or otherwise stated. In this case, because the Bulova Chronograph ref. 88510/01 is Dave Scott’s personal watch; he could keep it, space travel, re-entry dings and all. It would remain in his possession until it was auctioned off in 2015.
Quibbles
The Lunar Pilot is beautiful and a watch that I’ve enjoyed immensely. However, there are a couple of things I need to cover. The overall size of the watch is quite large, but it still feels comfortable to wear. However, those with a wrist smaller than seven inches may have difficulty with the Lunar Pilot. The lower water resistance (50m) was a surprise, especially considering this is a genuine tool watch, so increasing the water resistance to 100m would be appreciated. The last “quibble” is the inclusion of a date window. The original Lunar Pilot ref. 88510/01 didn’t have a date window, and I think they should be as close to the original as possible regarding re-issues.
Final Thoughts
The Bulova Lunar Pilot 96B251 is a treat, a fantastic tribute to a moment in history and the man who wore it on his wrist. I recommend anyone of any wrist size check it out, wear it, and experience it. I think the Lunar Pilot is one of the coolest watches available from Bulova, and I want to thank our friends from Gem Bijou for allowing me to check it out!
Pricing & Availability
The Bulova Lunar Pilot retails for $580USD. For more information or to check this watch out in the metal, visit the brand website or shop it at Gem Bijou.
About the author
Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.
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