2023 Bulova Archive Lunar Pilot Chronograph Blue 43.5mm 98K112
Ref: 98K112
Specification
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : Box & Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its original Bulova presentation box and paperwork. It comes paired with its 20mm polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet with a signed concealed clasp; all links are provided, plus an additional 20mm blue Bulova-signed leather strap. It is from April 2023 and is in worn condition, but overall, it is fair, as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yANctHpYhReK0O5bf4o_Va2ARZTV1XnW?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 22:52 - https://youtu.be/1bA13ZVSwjg
The Watch
It was on August 2nd 1971, when Bulova would be walking on the Moon. But you say I thought Omega Speedmaster was the only NASA Approved Watch' and you'd be right. Still, under NASA’s own rules and regulations, Bulova made many of the timing instruments. The 46 missions and Lunar landings all used them. Therefore, Bulova presented Commander Scott of Apollo 15 with a Bulova prototype that met all the NASA requirements and passed the g force tests. But was overshadowed by the Omega as the first choice of Time device, without telling anyone he brought it on board with him. “Huston, we have a problem.” As luck would have it, his Speedy crystal popped out, so he slipped on his Bulova, and he became the first man to use an unauthorised watch while driving the Moon Buggy on the lunar surface. He made history on this day. Commander Scott decided in 2015 that he would put up for auction his beloved prototype, which reached an incredible record-breaking $1.3 million. In response to this, Bulova chose to make a special edition of the Lunar Pilot Chronograph. The Specifications were in keeping with the original case design alongside the dial and chronograph pushers but with a modern movement. Here we have a curvaceous 2023 Bulova Archive Lunar Pilot Chronograph Blue 98K112 with its distinctive polished 43.5mm Stainless Steel case; down the right side, we have the blue chronograph pushers and a signed crown in the centre. The polished bezel holds the flat, thick, Anti-Reflective Sapphire crystal. A blue Tachymeter chapter ring sits above the textured white dial. Bulova has created a multidimensional dial, keeping the indices simple and the minute track easy to read with the large sweeping chronograph seconds hand. The blue sub-dials at 9 o’clock read the minutes up to 60 mins total, the 3 o’clock spins 10th of a second to save battery, this stops after 30 seconds, but when you press the top pusher, it will read the seconds as if it has been spinning all the time and finishing the compliment off at 6 o’clock the 60 seconds hand ticks at two ticks per second. To reset the chronograph, you press the bottom pusher, and the hands sweep back into position. The pushers have a tactile click, which is very satisfying. Deciding not to use the manual wind Universal Genève movement of the original but to use their highly accurate UHF 262 kHz quartz movement, which gives the chronograph hand its distinctive sweep at eight ticks per second, while the 60-sec sub-dial ticks at two ticks per second. Unlike the standard quartz movement, it operates at 32748 kHz with an accuracy of a few seconds a month. It comes paired with its 20mm polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet with a signed concealed clasp; all links are provided, plus an additional 20mm blue Bulova-signed leather strap and comes with its Bulova presentation box and paperwork.
Personal Note
The Bulova Lunar Pilot, a watch with its own claim to fame on the moon. It was on August 2nd 1971, when Bulova would be walking on the Moon. But you say I thought Omega Speedmaster was the only NASA Approved Watch' and you'd be right. Still, under NASA’s own rules and regulations, Bulova made many of the timing instruments. The 46 missions and Lunar landings all used them. Therefore, Bulova presented Commander Scott of Apollo 15 with a Bulova prototype that met all the NASA requirements and passed the g force tests. But was overshadowed by the Omega as the first choice of Time device, without telling anyone he brought it on board with him. “Huston, we have a problem.” As luck would have it, his Speedy crystal popped out, so he slipped on his Bulova, and he became the first man to use an unauthorised watch while driving the Moon Buggy on the lunar surface. He made history on this day. Commander Scott decided in 2015 that he would put up for auction his beloved prototype, which reached an incredible record-breaking $1.3 million. What an incredible story and this is an incredible modern interpretation by Bulova for well under £500. Snap it up today!
The Brand
Bulova Company was founded in 1875 by Joseph Bulova. Based in New York, they moved to 580 Fifth Avenue in 1920. In 1923, Bulova Watch Inc was introduced. 1927, on the rooftop of 580 Fifth Avenue, he set up an observatory to be able to determine the universal time precisely. In 1941, Joseph Bulova decided to increase his company's reach by utilising television advertising, producing the world’s first television advert. It was the first time that commercial advertising was allowed on US television. He developed standardised watch production and was the first to create a fully electronic watch using tuning-fork technology. Bulova has collaborated with many people and organisations, including Lindbergh and NASA. During the very first moonwalk, a Bulova timer was placed in the sea of tranquillity. The company was bought by Japan’s Citizen Watch Company in 2008.