(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK – Bulova pays tribute to its rich and storied history with NASA and the U.S. space program with a new Limited Edition Meteorite Lunar Pilot timepiece. Continuing to build the Archive Series franchise, Bulova replicates the original watch that traveled to the moon with an upgrade of a unique meteorite dial.
On August 2nd, 1971, Apollo 15’s mission commander, the seventh man to walk on the moon and the first to drive the Lunar Rover, made history while wearing a Bulova chronograph wristwatch. Crafted specifically for astronomical conditions, the Lunar Pilot watch was used in space to track time, ensuring no one ran out of oxygen, water or battery power in the portable life support-system backpack. It was also used to back up the on-board timers for the critical reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere. The timepiece could—and did—perform flawlessly, withstanding pressures of changing atmospheric conditions, fluctuating temperatures and gravitational shifts. Bulova celebrated the 50th anniversary of this mission in 2021 bringing renewed interest and excitement to the Lunar Pilot collection.
Bulova now brings inspiration from the elements of space in their new Limited Edition Lunar Pilot timepiece, specifically larger meteoroids during meteor showers that fall to Earth and strike the ground as meteorites. Heated by combination of gravitational compression, the impact energy created by collisions and the decay of isotopes, the meteorite goes through an extremely slow-cooling process. Over the course of millions of years in space a unique crystalline pattern called,
“Widmanstätten,” is created as structures are formed by chemical interactions with the parent asteroid. The unique patterns cannot be recreated in laboratory, therefore allowing for no two watch dials to be alike.
Bulova’s new Meteorite Limited Edition Lunar Pilot is the exact size of the original at 43.5mm featuring a sandblasted titanium grade-5 and stainless steel case. The two-tone chronograph dial boasts the oldest meteorite type known to man, Muonionalusta Meteorite, which scientists believe is 4.5653 billion years old. This new Lunar Pilot is powered by the brand’s proprietary NP20 High Precision Quartz (HPQ) chronograph movement accurate to 1/20th second – a perfect collector’s piece for watch and space enthusiasts alike. Offered on a black genuine leather NATO strap with latched spring bars for interchangeability, other features include sapphire crystal, stamped and dimensional Tachymeter Scale on the dial, Super Luminous hands and markers, and 50m water resistance with screw down case back featuring a lunar relief design with individualized number. Limited to only 5,000 pieces worldwide the Meteorite Limited Edition Lunar Pilot is available for $1,495 and is presented in special packaging with storybook, Limited Edition card and Certificate of Authenticity.
“There is no denying the success of the Lunar Pilot and the genuine story behind such an incredible timepiece,” says Jeffrey Cohen, President of Citizen Watch America. “To be able to integrate space materials into the watch brings a fresh perspective to this original design.”
To shop the new Meteorite Limited Edition Lunar Pilot watch please visit, here.