2018 Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph 45mm 96B251

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 it was overshadowed by the Omega as the first choice of Time device; without telling anyone, he brought it aboard. “Houston, 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 to put up for auction his beloved prototype, which sold for 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, including the dial and chronograph pushers, but featured a modern movement. Here we have a curvaceous 2018 Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph 96B251 featuring its distinctive brushed 45mm Stainless Steel cushion case that sits comfortably on your wrist with tapered lugs. The lug-to-lug length of 53 mm and the case thickness of 13.5mm give the watch a comfortable cushion fit. Down the right side, we have the sloping chronograph pushers and a coin-edged crown sitting slightly recessed. The polished bezel holds the flat, thick, Anti-Reflective Sapphire crystal. A raised Tachymeter chapter ring sits above the black dial. Bulova has created a multidimensional dial, keeping the indices simple and the minute track easy to read, with a large, sweeping chronograph seconds hand. The 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, a date window sits at 4 o’clock 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 button pusher, and the hands sweep back into position. The pushers have a tactile click, which is very satisfying. Decided 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 and has an accuracy of a few seconds per month. The Bulova Quartz Calibre NP20 operates at 262 kHz, achieving an accuracy of a few seconds per year. Comes paired with a 20mm black Bulova strap and pin buckle, plus a special Bulova NATO, and comes with its Bulova presentation box, spring bar removal tool.

This watch is sold with its original Bulova presentation box, springbar removal tool and paperwork and is fitted with a fresh battery. It comes paired with its 20mm Bulova-signed strap, plus a special 20mm NATO. It is from March 2018 and is in worn condition, but overall, it is in very fair condition, as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months Warranty.

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 it was overshadowed by the Omega as the first choice of Time device; without telling anyone, he brought it aboard. “Houston, 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!

Reference : 96B251
Movement : Quartz Caliber NP20
Age : March 2018
Year : 2018
Case Size : 45mm
Case Thickness : 13.5mm
Lug to Lug : 53mm
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box and Papers : Box & Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months Warranty
The wrist model's wrist size is 7inch

Bulova Company was founded in 1875 by Joseph Bulova. Originally based in New York, it moved to 580 Fifth Avenue in 1920. In 1923, Bulova Watch Inc. was introduced. In 1927, on the rooftop of 580 Fifth Avenue, he set up an observatory to precisely determine the universal time. 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.