Bulova launches its new moon watch with a 41mm all-black Black Hole edition
If you’re not familiar with the Bulova Lunar Pilot you’re probably not frequenting the affordable yet cool watch groups. Originally built around the same time as the Speedster, the Lunar Pilot has an interesting and often-overlooked back story.
During the Apollo 15 mission, commander David Scott wore a Bulova chronograph on the lunar surface after his issued watch, an Omega Speedmaster, failed when the crystal popped off. That detail was recorded, then buried and it wasn’t until recently that Bulova’s . NASA didn’t mention anything about the change and while Omega rested on its moon laurels it wasn’t until recently that Bulova was able to cash in on the mission. Luckily, they did it with a little class.
To commemorate the original moon watch, Bulova made a quartz version of the Lunar Pilot that many complained was a little too big. It was immensely popular, especially with affordable watch buffs, and is currently priced at an acceptable $895. Now, however, they decided to make this piece even more interesting by introducing the Black Hole, a new model that turns the bright and shiny moon watch into a murdered out, all dark timepiece.
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First, the Black Hole moniker comes from the dial which is coated in 99.4% light absorbing Musou paint. Further, Bulova created a new 41mm case that has been the most common request from collectors. The case and bracelet are sandblasted and PVD coated to keep reflections down. This is a watch built to disappear visually, which fits the name even if it limits some of the usual appeal.
The case is 41mm with a 48mm lug to lug. Inside is Bulova’s NP20 high precision quartz chronograph, accurate to 1/20th of a second. The crystal is sapphire with multiple layers of anti reflective coating. Lume is grey by day, blue in the dark. The caseback adds a graphic of the lunar surface and Apollo 15 details.
Production is set at 6,000 pieces, which is not especially tight for a “limited” run, but reasonable given the demand for a smaller Lunar Pilot. The package includes a themed box, a travel pouch, and a small clock modeled after instruments from the mission.
Specs
Case Dimensions: A new, smaller 41mm case (lug-to-lug 48mm).
Movement: Powered by the NP20 High Precision Quartz (HPQ) 1/20th second chronograph movement.
Case Back: Features a screw-down construction with a unique glass insert depicting a matte black and grey lunar landscape and Apollo 15 mission details.
Visibility: Includes grey Super-LumiNova indexes and hands that glow blue, protected by a flat sapphire crystal with a 5-layer anti-reflective coating.
Packaging: This limited edition of 6,000 pieces comes in a specialty “Black Hole” box, including a travel pouch and a travel clock inspired by the Lunar capsule instrument used in the Apollo 15 trip to the Moon.