The Bulova Lunar Pilot Returns In Red: Introducing The Blood Moon

Bulova continues to stake its claim to spacefaring history with a new Lunar Pilot chronograph that presents its boldest colorway yet. The newest member of the brand's Archive Series receives a striking red dial inspired by the hue of the moon during a total lunar eclipse, sometimes referred to as "blood moon." It’s a break from the more sober executions of this watch that we’ve seen from Bulova in recent years, and while the vibrant dial offers a unique personality, the DNA of the design remains unfazed (or should that be "un-phased?"). And that’s a very good thing, because this is a watch that represents an important part of the brand’s history. 

Bulova cemented its place in history when Apollo 15 Commander David R. Scott wore a Lunar Pilot on the surface of the moon. The Apollo 15 lander module touched down in the Hadley–Apennine region of the moon on July 30th, 1971, where it would remain until August 2nd. During this time, Scott, along with Lunar Module Pilot James Irwin, would spend over 18 hours exploring the moon’s surface, through four EVAs (extravehicular activities). During the second EVA, the crystal of Scott’s Speedmaster would succumb to pressure differences, and pop off the case of the watch. For the remainder of the mission, Scott would use his own personal watch, the Bulova chronograph whose design inspired the modern Lunar Pilot. This would become the only watch other than a Speedmaster (the only watch officially flight certified by NASA) to be worn on the lunar surface. 

This being a personal watch of the astronaut somehow makes the story more compelling, if you ask me. Clearly, the Bulova was up to the task. Legend has it that there are yet other watches involved in the U.S.’s space program in an unofficial capacity, and the fact that a mission commander had his own personal watch (a prototype made by Bulova using a Universal Genève movement) with him as backup certainly lends credence to those rumors. The Bulova watch worn by David Scott on the moon was sold at auction in 2015 for $1.6 million dollars.

However you slice it, there’s no denying the Lunar Pilot’s historic bona fides, and when Bulova brought back a modern rendition of the watch in recent years, it stuck to the original formula. The dial uses a classic symmetrical three-register layout placed within a steel cushion case that measures 43.5mm in diameter (a touch smaller than the original). Among the unique features of the watch are its long, slim pushers above and below the crown. Bulova decided against the round button type of pusher, opting instead for a long lever-like pusher that would, theoretically, make it easier to use by merely pressing on the side of the case. This distinctive feature remains intact on the modern examples.

The biggest departure is found on the inside. Universal Genève is obviously no longer a subsidiary of Bulova, and as cool as a hand wound mechanical movement would be here, Bulova uses an exclusive, high-precision quartz movement resonating at 262khz (as labeled on the dial at 6 o’clock, a detail I could go without, frankly). What stands out here is the vibrant red dial, which works surprisingly well with the design, which hasn’t really changed since the ‘70s. The watch is fitted to a steel, three-link bracelet, and comes packaged with a black leather unit with red stitching. 

The Bulova Lunar Pilot Blood Moon is a regular-production reference, and is priced from $895.

The Bulova Lunar Pilot Blood Moon 43.5

Case: 43.5mm

Lug Width: 20mm

Dial: Red

Case material: Stainless steel

Crystal: Sapphire

Water Resistance: 50m

Movement: NP20 (3-pronged quartz crystal with a frequency of 262 kHz)