Bulova has contributed to the past 46 spaceflights and has worked with NASA as an integral part of U.S. space development.
The historic moment, especially for Bulova, was on August 2, 1971. The captain of Apollo 15, who drove his first lunar rover, was wearing a Lunar Pilot Chronograph watch personally presented by Bulova on his arm as he walked on the moon for the seventh time in humanity.
In 2021, the 50th anniversary of the Bulova watches' rise to the moon, we will release 5,000 limited editions worldwide.
Background and original model of space development cooperation
In recognition of its advanced timekeeping accuracy technology, Bulova signed a support agreement for space development in the 1950s when NASA and the United States requested cooperation. The partnership continued from the mid-1950s to the 1970s, and NASA incorporated wristwatches with Bulova's precision tuning fork movements into many space programmes, including panel clocks and timekeeping devices.
On August 2, 1971, when the spacecraft Apollo 15 successfully landed on the moon for the fourth time, the captain wore the Lunar Pilot Chronograph in Bulova and landed on the moon. In a special environment called outer space, Bulova watches accurately ticked without interfering with simple life support devices that supply oxygen, water, and power. It was also used as a backup for board clock timers needed to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. Withstanding ever-changing atmospheric conditions, temperature and gravity fluctuations, and other conditions, the Lunar Pilot Chronograph was unblemished.
In 2015, the original, privately owned Lunar Pilot Chronograph, which returned from that moon, was also talked about for its high bid at auction.
New Lunar Pilot Chronographs
The Lunar Pilot Chronograph 50th Anniversary Limited Edition is the first in the series to use titanium as a case material. The TITANIUM-coloured NATO strap to match the case is a soft leather strap that is familiar to the skin. Reprinting the details of the model worn on the moon, the logo, hands, crown, pushbuttons and side dials are contrasted with yellow gold reminiscent of the moonlight.
Equipped with a high-performance quartz movement with a high accuracy of 262 kHz, which boasts about 8 times the frequency of a standard quartz movement. The case back is engraved with a serial number and a design inspired by the moon landing at the time. The watch is a special package that comes with a NASA commemorative coin engraved with the date of "August 2, 1971" to commemorate the special box.