Story Highlight
– Apollo 15 Commander used a Bulova watch on Moon.
– NASA’s Omega Speedmaster chronograph lost its crystal.
– Bulova watch sold for $1.6 million in 2015.
– New 41mm limited edition ‘Black Hole’ released by Bulova.
– Watch features light-absorbing paint and special chronograph movement.
Full Story
On 2 August 1971, Colonel David R. Scott, the Commander of Apollo 15, prepared for his mission’s concluding moonwalk.
Precise timekeeping is essential during lunar expeditions, but the NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster chronograph had experienced a malfunction due to a lost crystal. Fortunately, Scott had brought along an additional timepiece: an American-made Bulova chronograph, which he donned for the moonwalk and wore until the mission concluded at splashdown.
Post-mission, Scott provided testimony about the Bulova watch during a Congressional hearing. However, NASA opted to keep the brand’s identity from the public, resulting in a significant gap in the narrative of the Apollo 15 mission. Despite this omission, images from the mission clearly depict Scott wearing the Bulova chronograph on the exterior of his spacesuit while he conducted scientific experiments and operated the Lunar Roving Vehicle at the Hadley-Apennine landing site.
Scott’s decision to utilise the Bulova is not surprising; the firm’s Accutron timekeeping technology had been employed by NASA since the mid-1950s, aiding in navigation for a total of 46 missions.
For many years, the specifics of Scott’s Bulova watch remained largely unrecognised outside specialist collector forums. This changed in 2015 when it emerged at auction, fetching an impressive $1.6 million at RR Auction in Boston, thus joining the ranks of the most costly astronaut-owned timepieces sold.
In response to the heightened interest surrounding this auction, Bulova introduced a modern version of the Lunar Pilot chronograph in 2016. This new watch was not a mere vintage replica; instead, Bulova created a contemporary interpretation of the original design from the Apollo era.
The inaugural edition featured a substantial 45mm case, but Bulova has since diversified the Lunar Pilot line with varying case sizes, dial colours, and numerous limited editions, including a 43.5mm variant released in 2023.
Now, Bulova is launching a new limited edition model called the Luna Pilot ‘Black Hole,’ which draws its inspiration from both the aesthetic of the watch and the historical oversight regarding its 1971 predecessor.
The name ‘Black Hole’ holds deeper significance, as Bulova reflects, “In astrophysics, a black hole is characterised by the inability to retrieve information that passes its event horizon. For years, the account of Apollo 15 existed in such a void, largely unrecognised and uncelebrated. The Lunar Pilot ‘Black Hole’ pays homage to that silence.”
The watch features a unique Musou black paint on the dial, designed to absorb 99.4% of light, while both the case and bracelet are treated with a matte finish achieved through sandblasting and black PVD plating. The hour markers and hands are filled with grey Super-LumiNova, emitting a blue glow in darkness.
Beneath the caseback lies a NP20 High Precision Quartz chronograph movement that measures time in increments of 1/20th of a second.
Bulova plans to produce 6,000 units of this model, each packaged in a special “Black Hole” box that includes a travel pouch and clock, inspired by the instrumentation used in the Apollo 15 mission.
The Luna Pilot ‘Black Hole’ is now available for purchase at a price of $1,650.
