Introducing: The Bulova Lunar Pilot Black Hole [Live Pics]
What We Know
Bulova nerds, rejoice! Finally, after years and years of customers and collectors pleading, the Lunar Pilot is now available in a smaller size. Now, if you were hoping that you'd be able to run out and buy the classic Lunar Pilot design just downsized a bit, sadly, you're not in luck for now. But those looking for a twist on the original may be intrigued, as Bulova introduces the smaller case size in a new, blacked-out design called the Lunar Pilot Black Hole.
The new case maintains the cushion-cased silhouette of the original, but is slimmed down from the original 43.5mm diameter to 41mm. The case thickness is 13.05mm, and the lug-to-lug is 48mm. The matte finish of the case and bracelet is achieved through sandblasting and PVD coating, lending it a stealthy look with a darkness that permeates the entire design. Parts like the crown, chronograph pushers, and top bezel ring are in glossy black PVD.
The dial also leans completely monochromatic, with grey accents on the sandblasted hands and applied hour markers, and grey printing of the minute track, Bulova logo, and sundial markings. The base of the dial itself is coated in Musou black paint, which theoretically absorbs 99.4% of light for a truly black look. A nice touch is the grey Super-LumiNova on the indices and hands that glow blue in the dark. Sitting underneath the tall sapphire crystal is an internal tachymeter in relief, adding an extra layer of dimensionality to the dial. While the 60-minute counter subdial at 9 o'clock and the running seconds subdial might seem conventional, the subdial at 3 o'clock actually indicates the time down to 1/20th of a second.
As hinted at by the printing on the running seconds subdial, inside the Lunar Pilot Black Hole is the tried-and-true NP20 high-precision quartz movement, an exclusive Bulova movement that beats at a very high 262 kHz. It's multiple times faster in beat rate than any standard quartz movement, and leads to a much higher accuracy of timekeeping over a year (which Bulova describes as "an accuracy of seconds per year". What's also a nice feature of the caliber is a sweeping chronograph seconds hand—less impressive these days given the proliferation of mecaquartz chronograph movements in watches below this price point, but still good to see nonetheless.
The caseback offers a bit of a tribute to astronaut Dave Scott's history with the Bulova chronograph that inspired the Lunar Pilot, one that ties the brand in with genuine horological and astronautical history, which I'll steer you to here if you were ever so keen to read up about it. The printed medallion is covered by a mineral glass insert and nicely aligned on the back.
The new Bulova Lunar Pilot Black Hole comes with a specialty box and an accompanying travel clock, is limited to 6000 pieces, and is priced at $1,650.
What We Think
There are two main takeaways from this new Lunar Pilot Black Hole. The first, and in my opinion, most important, is the introduction of the 41mm case size. Yes, it's technically no longer faithful to its original inspiration, but then again, the original watch that went to space was a mechanical chronograph anyway. So why not take advantage of the more compact dimensions of a quartz caliber to downsize the watch and make it look better on a lot more wrists? It's kind of wild to think that the original Lunar Pilot sizing was actually 45mm, and so this case has truly gone a long way.
And is it noticeable? Yes, certainly. Having owned the 45mm version, this is a much less ridiculous slab of metal on my smaller wrist, so those looking for something more compact will be overjoyed. On the wrist, it feels like a nicely sized conventional chronograph, if not a bit tall, due to the crystal height and that bezel ring. At the same time, the blacked-out design helps visually downplay it.
The second takeaway here is on the execution of the all-black colorway. It's a move that's sure to be polarizing, given the hesitation many people have towards collecting PVD-coated watches and the durability of the coating. But I'll admit, in its brand-new, out-of-the-box state, the watch looks mighty cool. Legibility is very much not an issue on the watch thanks to plenty of contrast in the dial, and I personally love that subtle tachymeter with its raised details. I'd venture to guess that over time, you'll have to be prepared to accept some wear and tear on the bracelet.
What's mighty exciting, though, is that I'm willing to bet the farm that if you're looking for the classic sandblasted steel look in this new sizing, a little patience is all you'll need. A brand like Bulova doesn't just roll out an updated casing design for one limited edition, so I think the possibilities here bode well for the future of the line.
The Basics
Brand: Bulova
Model: Lunar Pilot
Diameter: 41mm
Thickness: 13.05mm
Case Material: Stainless steel, PVD-coated
Dial Color: Musou Black
Indexes: Applied
Lume: Grey Super-LumiNova
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Bracelet
The Movement
Caliber: NP20 High-Precision Quartz
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph with 1/20th second measurement
Frequency: 262 kHz
Pricing & Availability
Price: $1,650
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: 6000 pieces
For more, click here.
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