Bulova, one of the first names that come to mind among American brands, is under the spotlight with the Lunar Pilot 50th Anniversary Limited Edition, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of its participation in manned moon missions.
Bulova and NASA have a very old history. Accompanying NASA personnel in a total of 46 space missions, including Apollo 15, the brand was the guest of our review corner with the limited edition model, Lunar Pilot 50th Anniversary Limited Edition, which crowns its glorious past in this field.
Before moving on to the review, let's briefly talk about the original watch that inspired the model and its place in NASA history. The task of commanding the team that participated in the Apollo 15 mission in 1971 was given to Dave Scott. Scott, who also holds the title of the seventh person to set foot on the moon, was wearing an Omega Speedmaster that day, like all other astronauts. However, according to NASA's own rules and regulations, most of the timing instruments were manufactured by Bulova. That's why Bulova gave Scott, who commanded the Apollo 15 mission that day, a prototype Bulova that met NASA requirements and was overshadowed by Omega despite successfully passing the G-Force and other tests. Scott also brought this watch, the Bulova Chronograph, just in case. When the calendars showed August 2, 1971, Scott was about to perform the Moonwalk, known by the mission code EVA #2. However, there was a serious problem. The crystal of the Omega Speedmaster, which was attached to Scott's suit, had popped out. Without wasting any time, Scott pulled out his Bulova and made his historic walk with his unofficial prototype Bulova on his wrist. That very Bulova, who accompanied Scott on the Apollo 15 mission, was sold at an auction in 2015 for a whopping hammer price of $1,625,000. In response to the attention gathered around that watch, Bulova introduced a Re-Issue version in 2016 that brought the original model together with today's technology. The model, which attracted great acclaim from watch enthusiasts, had a slight yet important refresh a year later by removing the date window.
The model, Bulova Lunar Pilot 50th Anniversary Limited Edition, which we focused on in our review corner today, was designed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of this event. The new version, which offers a faithful look to the original model visually, has of course been produced per the standards brought by the developing technology. Now let's get to the details, shall we?
The retro-themed model comes with an elliptical case with a diameter of 45mm and a height of 13mm. Although the case with a 49mm lug to lug distance looks oversized on paper, it offers a more compact appearance thanks to its elliptical form and short lugs. The effect of the ultra-light Grade 5 titanium alloy contributes positively to the wearing comfort of the watch. Specially designed for the 50th-anniversary model, the case also includes components in yellow gold-tone. The yellow gold-tone, which offers a stylish contrast with the micro-sandblasted surface form and the unique darkness of titanium, finds its place on the bezel on the front of the case, on the crown with the Bulova logo, and the large chronograph pushers. The stylish case, which has a high-edged sapphire crystal on the front, sports a gold-tone metal case back featuring a perfect illustration referring to the theme of the model. The case back also features the limited edition number.
The dial, designed following the original model, hosts Tri-Compax layout chronograph instruments adjusted according to the 3-6-9 sequence. The chronograph instruments and the central second's hand continue the titanium/gold combination theme on the dial. Super-LumiNOVA filled baton indexes and hands offer optimal legibility in almost any environment. The inscription 262 kHz added to the sub-dial at 6 o'clock emphasizes the ultra-high operating frequency movement, which is more like a trademark for Bulova.
Inside the model, there is a quartz chronograph movement designed and produced by Bulova. Representing the current generation of the Accutron caliber family, the movement pays homage to the brand's past with its ultra-high operating frequency of 262 kHz. Equipped with a 60-minute chronograph function, the technological movement impresses with its annual(!) +/- 10-second accuracy.
Bulova Lunar Pilot 50th Anniversary Limited Edition comes with a very stylish leather strap designed in NATO style. The strap, which is made of soft gray leather, is fastened to the wrist with a Bulova signed matte titanium buckle. The bridge of the strap at 6 o'clock draws attention with its gold-tone and Bulova inscription.
The model, which is limited to only 5000 pieces, is available with an MSRP of 13,719₺. This stylish version, which has historical significance both as a brand and as the model it inspired, appeals not only to those looking for a retro-themed sports-chronograph watch but also to collectors who are well aware of the comfort of having Quartz models in their watch box.
We would like to thank the ERSA Saat family, Bulova Turkey Authorized Distributor, once again, for providing this stylish model for us in a very short time.
