The Bulova Lunar Pilot Meteorite Limited Edition: Review

I’m thrilled to present the new Bulova Lunar Pilot Meteorite Limited Edition, generously loaned by Mimo's Jewelry for this review. These watches are just starting to appear in advertisements, but they’re still quite rare. Despite being a 5,000-piece limited edition, it seems that not many have been distributed yet, making this review even more special.

This model features a smaller 43.5 mm case size compared to the full-size 45 mm version of the Lunar Pilot. I find this size more wearable and comfortable. The original Lunar Pilot, which debuted in 2016, was a 45 mm watch. This smaller version feels more appropriate and is the same size as the prototype Bulova made for astrornaut Dave Scott of Apollo 15. In 1971, Scott wore this custom Bulova on the moon after his NASA-issued Speedmaster failed during the mission.

Bulova's connection to space exploration is profound. Besides Scott’s Lunar Pilot watch, Bulova provided Accutron movements for various scientific instruments used by NASA. These instruments, left on the moon during multiple missions, cement Bulova's place in space history, which is highly appreciated by watch collectors.

This Lunar Pilot edition boasts a meteorite dial made from the Muonionalusta meteorite, estimated to have fallen in Sweden about a million years ago. The poetic nature of a watch with extraterrestrial material, given Bulova’s space history, is compelling. The watch features a Grade 5 titanium case with a sandblasted finish, visually reminiscent of the "Gray Side of the Moon" Meteorite Speedmaster.

Limited to 5,000 pieces, the availability of this watch is currently scarce, with only a few hundred on the market. Despite potential production delays, this watch stands out due to its build quality. It’s not too big, tall, or hefty. The titanium case reduces weight while maintaining a substantial feel. It also features a stainless steel bezel, function pushers, case back, and crown.

Inside, the watch houses a Japanese-made high-precision quartz NP20 caliber, vibrating at 262 kHz. This is eight times the frequency of a standard quartz movement, making it incredibly accurate—only seconds off per year according to Bulova. The sub-seconds register on the dial displays "262 kHz" to highlight this precision.

The watch includes a proud sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatments, providing clarity and minimizing reflections. The luminescence is cyan-toned, bright, and clear, although the sub-dial hands could use better lume application. The watch comes with a leather strap featuring a quick-release spring bar system, housed in a dark wood presentation box with a storybook and limited edition card.

Retailing at $1,495, the watch offers considerable value for a quartz chronograph, especially with a Grade 5 titanium case and a meteorite dial. However, the leather strap feels subpar, and a bracelet option would enhance the overall feel. Fortunately, Mimo's Jewelry offers a discount with the code “Bruce.”

Would I buy this watch? I’m drawn to its history and design. However, I prefer wearing watches on bracelets. Since there is no bracelet option for this model, I might consider sourcing a stainless steel case and bracelet to create a custom piece, albeit at a higher cost.

Feel free to leave any questions in the comments. Check out Mimo's Jewelry and use the code “Bruce” for discounts on their website.