Bulova pays tribute to its rich and storied history with NASA and the U.S. space programme with a new Limited Edition Meteorite Lunar Pilot watch.
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 on August 2nd, 1971 (below). 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 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 a 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.
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. The 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.
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 individualised number. Limited to only 5,000 pieces worldwide the Meteorite Limited Edition Lunar Pilot is available for £1,195 and is presented in special packaging with storybook, Limited Edition card and Certificate of Authenticity.
Technical Specifications:
| SKU: | 96A312 |
|---|---|
| Price: | £1,195.00 |
| Band: | Black Leather Strap with Buckle |
| Case: | Sand Blasted Super Titanium |
| Functions: | 6 Hand Chronograph |
| Dial Colour: | Meteorite |
| Case Size (MM): | 43.5MM |
| Crystal: | Sapphire Crystal |
| Water Resistance: | 50 Metres |
For more information please visit Bulova