The REAL Affordable 'MoonWatch' - The Bulova Lunar Pilot
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
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Thanks again to Peter for the loan of his boxfresh special edition Lunar Pilot. Definitely one for the space nerds in this form, and space nerds with big wrists who like big watches, I fear. I tried again, but it is just not what I like to wear. I'm really looking forward the smaller version in April. Cheers, Jody
I thought the 262kHz movements were +/- 10 secs per YEAR !
I read my notes wrong, it is +/-5s/month! Apparently they used to claim an annual figure but have since walked it back a bit. Still not bad!
@@JustOneMoreWatch
I've got a Bulova Sea King with the 262khz movement that's gained 2 seconds in three months.
@@JustOneMoreWatch In the first year of ownership of my lunar pilot it gained 2.2 seconds, so I reckon Bulova have been quite conservative with their accuracy figures.
Where possible, I always leave the caseback stickers in place - it helps to keep the caseback clean.
@@maninthestreet01leaving the caseback sticker on can cause oxidation and rust if any water or sweat gets stuck inside. Had this happen to me.
The accuracy of my lunar pilot has been insane. It doesn't even deviate one second every 6 month so I only need to update the time for daylight savings. I've also worn it for about 200 days and the sapphire is still perfect.
That's because it's a quartz
The original watch that Dave Scott wore was 43mm (and a bit) so the new version will be historically accurate. It was never a small watch - compare it to similar watches of the period like the Speedy MkII and it feels right at home.
The original watch was not quartz.
@@22Epic Yeah, but there's no way you're getting a 12 hour mechanical chronograph for the same price as a Lunar Pilot. I'll take the quartz if it means I only need to set the thing twice a year and I can actually afford it.
Bulova has done a great job recreating their historical lineup. The a15 pilot, the hack and the lunar pilot are pretty close in appearance to their originals.
I got hands on with the 43 mm version on my channel. Its surprisingly much more wearable than the 45 mm version. Also, the 43 mm version is the exact dimensions of the original. Eventually Bulova will come out with a 40 mm I would imagine. But in speaking with Bulova they wanted to come out with period correct version first... The same exact size as the one worn on the moon. Awesome video! I love this limited edition.
When will it come out? Iv'e been planning of buying it before but i was always afraid of its size. So can't wait to try 43mm.
@@chupacabre99 It should be out in the US in fed 2023
@@WatchChris really needs to be the standard version.
@@WatchChris Can't wait. Is other one in Blue and white?
@@WatchChris Thanks so much Chris!! After watching your sneak-peak vids I've been excited to see these hit the street, especially that blue/white model you showed.
Is a future 40mm a guess on your part or is this from Bulova?
Was walking at a shopping mall yesterday and saw a short queue about 10 people outside the Swatch boutique, was told by the security guy that they have only 4 colors available, Mars, Uranus, Sun & Venus. So i join the queue just to get the Mars. After about 10 minutes when it was my turn i put on the swatch & turns out it was too small for my 7.5 inch wrist! All this while wanting one so badly for myself and it turns out it doesn't fit me. Imagine if i had queue for a few hours like they did on the first day or buy at resale price🤦😆. Now this Bulova looks like the one for me, 45mm diameter & 52mm lug to lug, yes!! Beautiful watch too...Thanks for the video Jody 👍
Did you buy one?
This is a beauty...I've tried the luner pilot a couple of times & can live with the size of it on wrist but I can't get past the fact of a watch this bulky only has a 20mm strap, to me it just doesn't look right, needs a 22mm in my eyes, as usual a great review
Exactly. This is a beautiful piece but not well proportioned.
I have a 7.5” wrist and mine fits great. It’s on the bracelet but the flat style fits my wrist very comfortably. Having half links also helps with the fit. I think the 43mm is going to be a hit for even more wrist sizes though. Kudos to Bulova for listening to its customers and providing a smaller version!
Well done, mate!
My Lunar Pilot is the plain, no date version and I immediately took it off the NATO and put it on a standard leather and now a Barton canvas. I think it wears fine and I don’t have a big wrist. As you said, it’s all about who you are not what the watch is or is not. For me, it’s a keeper.
As to the special edition, I’m too much of a cheapskate to be tempted.
Cheers
JR
I love some of the history associated with Bulova. I'm currently on the hunt for a Moonview, which is the modern version of the watch apparently used by the A-12 spy plane pilots.
Forstner A-12
Really excited to hear that they'll be releasing a smaller version! 43x49 might still be too big (41x47 would be amazing for this watch) for me, but glad to see they are moving in the right direction. Wonder if they'll be tackling the thickness as well
yeah 43mm still big! I wish they shrinked it to 40-41mm which fits most of wrists perfectly.
I have 8 1/2 wrist and this watch fits me perfectly. I have had it for over a year now, SN#80. One of my favs. Good review.
The smaller version will be very welcome. Your original one is going strong. It is a little big for me but I love it. I have a 7.5 inch wrist. It gets a fair bit of wrist time.
Jodi I have a 7 1/4 wrist .I bought my Luner pilot 5 years ago for under $400.The special edition is nice I could do without the gold pushers crown and besel though I think it cheapens the c look of the watch!!!As for tour adversion to its size you need to ware it for a week maybe once you get used to it the size won't matter.I just bought the new Aragon Man centipede at 48mm!!I love it. Yes it's a monster on the wrist but sometimes you you just have to say screw it and let your inner heman out to play and be his macho self.Fear not the big watch!!!
The funny thing about chronos that offer 1/10th of a sec or shorter intervals: the margin of error of hand-timing anything is approx. .24 sec.s. Meaning you have to take into account the reaction time of the individual activating the pushers. That's why only electronically timed events are considered official these days.
I have a 6.75" wrist that's fairly flat and it actually fits me surprisingly well. However I did swap out the original strap for a Komfit bracelet which may help with the way it sits
Lunar Pilot is on my list to get for my birthday in February... no size issues with my 7.5 inch wrist .... perfect timing for this Jody at 👍.
Not this version however - not a fan of the strap or the gilt or the price ... although I think that is fair for this limited edition.
Damn it J.O.M.W.
Found my next watch.
It scratches every itch. That Bulova. Damn it.
Just beautiful! I love the design, the color combination is very tasteful and I feel like it must be a sense of ocasion everytime you wear it. Great review as always!
I have a lunar pilot and it has not deviated by more than 0.5 seconds in two years. they are the greatest most perfect watch available.
I like Bulova and have several. I do not have a lunar pilot. This one looks great. BUT - I have never liked the pushers on these. Between that and the sub dials looking a bit small and set at an odd spacing I'll guess this one is not in my future. Now that Breitling though.... That one is a grail watch for me. Thank you for another great video Jody!
I'm a big fan of this watch. I own the stainless version and am quite happy the way it wears on my 7.5" wrist (on a bund strap, no less!) Had I known about this lovely special edition, I would likely have waited and picked one of these titanium beauties up. Nice review as always!
I'm yet to be convinced about Bulova, they've never really appealed due to garishness and bizarre sizing.
But this edition actually looks pretty good. I'm not taken by the strap either, falls short of making the watch look great instead of just ok.
Hello Jody! Glad to see as per your Best and Worst Video for 2022 you are really delving into quartz. Enjoy the rest of your day mate!
Nice little REM nod there.
Looks really good to me, a bit big and out of my price range though. Only watch I'm paying over $500 is the Hamilton Ventura.
A beautiful looking watch with great history but yes, too big for me. I owned one but sold it on. Might grab the 43mm when the hype has settled down a little. Cheers doc.
I have two. QC issues in that when you spin the crown , it wobbles like the stem is bent. It's arrived like that from the factory.
The Hamilton is the one for me. The size is sooooooooooo much better. I will wait for the new release in the smaller size. ( Mr Puny Wrists here)
This is stunning. It makes me wish I either had much bigger wrists or that Bulova made a 40mm version.
My wrist is slightly smaller than yours (around 6.75inch), and I regularly wear and enjoy the black PVD version. I just think the darker colour helps it to wear a little better.
Undoubtedly large, but you get used to it.
Good review and I think I'll stick with an old chronograph or the seagull because while I like the Bulova products as a rule I prefer the older ones and with a small wrist they fit better. But that is a sweet presentation.
It looks amazing, I'm definitely getting one
I love grey and gold. This would match my guitar. If only it was so much smaller
I picked one up & actually I didn't mind the size, but with the 20mm strap, is just too small for such a large slab 9f a watch. If Bulova released a 41mm I would probably revisit this but for me, it's proportions are just off & a 43mm is a just pointless release.
I have one and adore it, cheers Jodie
A few thoughts and some history to counter speculation.
Bulova did in-capsule/lunar module timing so they weren’t a stranger to the space program. They gifted Scott his “Lunar Pilot” prototype because of that connection. Scott’s Omega did fail because the crystal fell out. The LP was used for a lunar excursion instead. Because it was a personal item it didn’t have to returned at mission’s end. He kept it in a safe deposit box and made a fortune when he sold it.
There were three recent versions of this watch before this new special edition. One had a date complication (not on the original), used the new style Bulova logo, and had a bead blasted case. Another had no date, the original Bulova “block” logo, and a more polished looking case. A third was black plated (old logo, no date). Here’s the problem: The original had a bead blasted case. Go figure. I wanted mine to be as period accurate as possible so it went back to the factory (OK, customer service somewhere in the US) and had the bead blasted case, ring, and crystal module added. Now all I need is a NASA style Velcro strap.
My LP keeps crazy accurate time. It fits well (7.25” wrist). I wear it frequently and have never chipped the crystal edge. It looks less prominent in standard form than with the special edition gold ring. It wasn’t that expensive to pull all this off since the original watch was found on sale.
Liked the comparison with the other watches,
I have a regular model on the bracelet and I adore it. My wrist is 7.5-7.75 inches (depending how hot it is) and it fits great and doesn’t seem too big at all. Guess there are some advantages of being a bigger guy! It’s a really beautiful thing. Feels like an entry-level luxury piece to me. 8 tics a second on the chrono hand is really satisfying too.
Regarding accuracy, I know Bulova/Citizen no longer give the 10 sec per year figure, but I wasn’t aware they’d downgraded it that far! Mine runs in that ballpark. Set it when the clocks change and it’s always within 2-3 seconds.
I have a Classic lunar pilot. Does it fit big? Absolutely. Does it bother me? Not a bit. One just got to understand this is not a dressy watch. It won't fit under a cuff but for everyday wear on a t shirt it's quite nice.
Miyota would make a killing if it designed and manufactured a THIN manual-wind chronograph. That would be perfect for this Bulova Lunar Pilot, and people would go bonkers for it. Microbrands would also be in a frenzy to use it.
Thanks Peter!
Love love.... Love my LP.... brilliant
Chipped my sapphire crystal in quick time. I love it but could be better.
How does one get on the pre-order for the 43mm version? I've been looking but can't find any information?
Wait? Looking at your U.S. Space Force T ... is it me or does the logo look part Bulova and part Star Trek?
Great watch looks great but ( unpopular opinion) it feels a bit toyish for me. I wish it didn't, it looks great and works great.
So which watch was the first to use in the moon Omega or Bulova?
Titanium in 40mm would be a wild deal
Not sure what Bulova is thinking. If they released these in 40-41 mm they would sell so many. Definitely leaving lots of money on the table
I got to say, and no offense to the Swatch lovers. But I'm definitely staying away from the MoonSwatch. I rather use that money and save an little extra more for that Bulova which offers a much better value. Cool looking t-shirt by the way sir. 😁
I've just ordered this. I have an 8 inch.......wrist. So I'm hoping it will suit me. Otherwise, I'll have to sell it on.
You'll be fine! Enjoy.
Really cool stuff
But too large for me
Yes
There is one thing that would make this watch truly great - a different crystal. Sorry but it's hard to get over the sticking out flat crystal in real life... it just looks like someone forgot to press it in all the way. This needs a domed crystal that is almost flush with the bezel ring, then it would be truly amazing. Now - it only looks good when you look at it straight on :/
Great review as always. How about the fake moon landing conspiracy, if true--this watch is certified for having been on the movie set?
Anyone spending around 300$ for a plastic ( throw away watch in case of any issue ) need to sit down and seriously rethink their purchase, and those that spent over 1,000$, well….. sorry but you got screwed.
Another great video, Thank You.
Does anyone know what wrist size does Joey have?
I've looked at the "normal" version more than once, but shied away at the 45mm size. But 43mm? Still sounds a bit too big. But maybe it's not possible to cram all of the dial markings and/or movement into a 40 or 41mm case. Bless them for understanding the issue with most of us, anyway....
Had to run back and point out that there are two versions of the "normal" Lunar Pilot on JomaShop for $305 and $350, respectively. IF you can handle the 45mm, they are apparently blowing them out before the 43mm arrive?
@@tkindschi It is for sure. The current version will be very hard to get buy it is too big for most of us
Hello Jody,
It's a good idea to have invested in good shooting equipment, finally with a good microphone and a real lighting system.
You will now have to plan a budget for makeup because you have shiny skin.
It's a shame when you have a pretty face like yours. I work on TV and I know what I'm talking about...
Good continuation and thank you again for these interesting videos.
Regards,
A.
.. addicted to watching watch addicts.. 😮
Its a beautiful watch but also a bit to big for me
It's so big it could trap the Seagull in its gravitational field!
Still don't get the thing people don't like big watches!! I preferred big watch of 48mm than a small one of 40 or 39mm!! Then you see buying those Richard Mills that are almost 48mm or bit more.
That's spooky I have a Bulova LP arriving tomorrow 🤣
Enjoy it Mark! I'm going to borrow a Parking Meter next month, which should be really cool.
@@JustOneMoreWatch that's a vegemite kind of watch mate , not sure it's my style
hah more than once i had a watch come in and im wearing it the very 1st time when Jody features the same watch in a new video. the Pagani Design GMT worldtimer was one of those
@@JustOneMoreWatch If u ever get a chance to do a review of the surfboard chronos as well I'd love to see it. picked one up for black friday last year and it's a cracker of a watch
@@JustOneMoreWatch LP on wrist for 2 days now and absolutely taken with it ! So much presence , thus one won't be leaving the collection 😍
the watch is nice but I really want that coin
Nice
Ahhh the Bulova Lunar Pilot, one of my most favourite watches ever. Just a shame it's so big. I tried it on in a shop and the way it sat on my 5.5 inch female wrist was like having an aircraft carrier parked. One of those watches I will ever only be able to admire from afar. Even the 43mm version I think.
Well, they say the black one LOOKS smaller if that is a help......??
@@JustOneMoreWatch unfortunately no matter how it looks it's still like wearing a plank on the wrist 🤣
i'll go try the 43mm on when it comes out but im not holding my breath for a decent fit 😅
I'm 6' 4" with a 7.75" wrist, and mine also felt like an aircraft carrier
They are bringing out a smaller version. I think it’s 41mm so not too much smaller but might work better on your wrist.
Spoke too soon! Jody confirmed it’s 43mm in the intro! 🤦♂️
There's what most people like but it doesn't have to be quite the same as what we like. The actual rule is wear what makes you happy and never criticize or ridicule anyone else's choice. My big, manly wrist is 6.5" and I'm fond of big watches. I'm not telling you to wear any particular beast of a watch, just saying that it's up to you.
Nice
I was extremely excited when you said that Bulova was making a smaller version, which was almost immediately dashed by that smaller version being 43mm. Maybe in another 50 years they will shrink it another 2mm and I can wear it on my deathbed.
Female wrist is the issue.
@@RamxesArcangel Better than needing to compensate for another small thing being an issue.
@jimsutter2748 sounds like something a little man would say. I'm 19.7 cm
I loved the way you summarised how Dave Scott's Omega "somewhat conveniently" failed. I own the standard version of this watch, but have always suspected that it was an unlikely coincidence that Dave "just happened" to have a spare on hand. Thanks for your efforts Jody. Your honestly is an industry benchmark.
Bulova tried everything they could to be the official moon watch. I'm wondering how much Dave got paid by Bulova.
Most astronauts carry multiple watches, it’s not that crazy he had backups
@@saynototheborg Nope. Weight is limited on a space flight and each astronaut can have 1 personal object, so you don't carry multiple watches.
Also the Bulova was a prototype so it could not have been his personal watch. Everything leads to believe that the malfunctioning Omega was staged from the beginning so that Bulova could have a "lunar watch".
@@22Epic Lots of astronauts smuggled things aboard. They literally smuggled a golf ball and golf club to the moon. There are plenty of images showing astronauts wearing watches on both wrists, most notably the famous Pogue pictures.
@@sethmoyer Did they smuggle coke too? I heard aliens like it a lot like Miami did.
Funny thing is that your comment didn't even contradict mine, try better mate ;)
This watch is so lovely (if not oversized)
It's a shame more of Bulova's offerings aren't this tasteful
Well said!! Except for their archive offerings, Bulova's management seems intent on only releasing retina burning models that are way too big also.
That Bulova is a beauty !
Yes, the crystal does look like it's on a collison course with a door handle or worse! Beautiful watch which sadly seems to want to belong in a museum. Good price, but for me, too expensive to risk damaging. And a Nato strap making it even clumsier. I had a bulova field watch last year and gave it to my friend. Just too flat, too bulky. Bulova don't get their proportions right I feel. But that's just my opinion and plenty may disagree! :) Thank you for the review Jody.
I love the style/look of this watch and the heritage is a cherry on top. Sadly my 6 1/5" wrist will have to miss this one, or it will end up looking like a dinner plate on my wrist.
This looks absolutely beautiful. The colors on the dial etc are just so good.
Gorgeous watch. Definitely a massive improvement over the moonswatch.
That's like saying prime Wayne Gretzky was a massive improvement over the guy who played center on your beer league team. That Bulova is beyond gorgeous.
7:17 I think they claim +/-15 sec per year, not per month...
Actually, I read my notes wrong, it is +/-5s/month! They used to claim an annual figure, apparently, but walked it back. Still better than the average quartz, but not super accurate like GS or Citizen's top end stuff. Cheers!
@@JustOneMoreWatch I was unaware that they changed the claimed accuracy, thanks for updating me!
I have the stainless steel one and I love it. In the paperwork it states +- 15 seconds a year. It comes with a carbon fiber weave leather strap and a nato strap but I wear it on a James Bond grey and black nato. It was on special offer when I bought it and I paid just £218 sterling.
Bought mine back in 2019 on Black Friday special on Amazon for $CAD 230! Never looked back, what a value it was. All I needed was to put it on a rallye strap and it looked great on 7” wrist. Fantastic on a black and Grey Spectre NATO strap!
Me too!
Wow well done.
38 or 40 would be cool!
What bothers me more than the size are the dimensions. I find the 20 mm lugs weirdly small, compared to the rest of the watch. I like wearing big watches sometimes (Mudmaster on a 7 inch wrist), but for me the dimensions have to be right. They're not with this great Bulova, unfortunately. I hope they'll keep the 20 mm lugs with the smaller version, that might bring the dimensions to a more favorable set for me.
43mm was the size of the original Bulova worn on the moon by Astronaut Dave Scottl. So the upcoming version is historically correct in that respect.
This watch looks amazing. But for me it is too expensive. Not that I would not have the money. But I would not pay more than 300 € for it.
I'm a large human being, and I just couldn't get on with it all day. Beautifully finished, great design, but just too large. Flipped it after a few months.
Odd that you didn't mention your LP experience 🤔
BTW - Where's the The Citizen review? Want to add one to my collection this year, and waiting on the JOMW review first
I have several vintage Bulovas, but all of their new offerings seem to be 42mm and above. Those won't work for me.
It's a beautiful watch just let down by its size. I guess it's intended for the Alien to wear 👽 not human 😪
I have the dark side of the moon version and it is a staple in my weekend rotation (the others in rotation being the Flightmaster and G-Shock GMW-B5000). Though one of the first things I did when I got it was to change the strap to a black marine nationale strap with black hardware. I've had it for close to a year now and it still makes me smile every time I look at it. The one thing that bothers me, I feel like the seconds hand is off centre at times but what more can I expect from the "budget" moon watch.
I have the original model with the date. I quite like it, but have a 7.5 inch wrist. It's a little on the big side, but I really like mine, and it fits me ok.
Thanks for the video review. Nice watch but just too chunky for me - too wide and too thick. I took look forward to a review of the Lunar Pilot "reduced". I hope they continue to use Ti for the case but reduce the thickness and adjust the shape (e.g., angled lugs) to make it wear better on a smaller wrist.
Was the preorder for the 43mm only to a select few? Can’t find a preorder on the bulova website
I don’t think the preorder will be available for the general public.
You will have to wait until February 7th to hit that buy button if you have a spare 1k to spend
I love my Lunar Pilot, it will never leave my collection. You can find a great deal through Amazon’s Warehouse Deals.
Just a tad bit too big..how perfect would a 40mm be
I have 6.25 inch wrist and I enjoy the Bulova Lunar Pilot a lot.
I have the black case model of this watch and I can’t explain it but it doesn’t wear like a 45mm watch but smaller. The only gripe I have is the strap it comes with. I replaced mine with a leather rally strap and it’s much more comfortable.
43mm is still to big ! I really like the look of the Lunar Pilot 40 mm would be better for most of us. Great review as usual Dr Jody 🤘
Yeah, this look in 40mm would have me reaching for my wallet immediately.
Thanks Jonathan! The 43 could end up being chunky but funky. We shall see!
@@JustOneMoreWatch I got the Baltany Chronograph on your say so. Love it 🙂 thanks for the fantastic content.
best case ever!!!!
my wrist is 7 1/2 and I love the size and the watch, my go to watch since I got it, my only quartz one too, totally changed my quartz perception, this watch is remarkable, in six months only lost 2 seconds, and absolutely beautiful, surprisingly it doesn't wear much larger compared to my rose gold Tiffany & Co CT-60 chrono which is only 42mm, but has a huge lugs and is pretty hefty and much heavier too.
Lovely looking watch, but for the love of God folks, don't pay 'Peter' over MSRP. He didn't just buy the watch and then decide he had too many. He bought a limited item which he didn't want, in the hope he could flip it for a massive mark-up. Don't fall for it!
I have the same wrist size as you Jody. I bought the original version some 4 years ago, not being in a position to buy an Omega. I love the Bulova! A tad big? Maybe. But for the money it was an easy decision! I recently put mine on a leather rally strap which takes the bulk down a little. I bought my Omega Moon watch 2 years ago. I rotate these occasionally. As yet I haven’t hit a doorway!🤞🏻🙏🏻🤪👍🏻
If it makes you feel any better the original lunar pilot had the same top hat crystal, but mineral. And judging by the auction pictures that seems to have held up alright during the rigors of space travel lol. I used to have one of these and I wore it daily, I worked in a warehouse so it definitely took some knocks but you wouldn’t have been able to tell going by the crystal. Held up great.