It's a yes but then it's also a no.
I must admit that @Aurelian managed to, not exactly upset, but more like give my confidence a bit of a shake when he expressed his disappointment in failing to de-influence me about the Bulova Lunar Pilot (ref 96A312).
Was he right that I let myself to be pulled meekly into buying a watch that is nothing to write home about? Am I a sheep? To test this I decided to keep the Lunar Pilot away and go on with my life for a week or two before trying it again on my wrist.
I have to be fair here and add another admission: I do share his opinion that the Lunar Pilot, far from being a glorious definitive moment in Bulova history, was actually a massive failure. The original was a rush job that NASA rightfully rejected as not good enough for the job, and its accidental participation in an Apollo mission was a once off and very short affair. The new quartz driven model is just a homage that happen to be made by Bulova itself, and wearing it during a transatlantic flight is probably the closest to the moon it will ever be.
Even Bulova managed to forget about it for close to 50 years, that alone should tell us how they really felt about it.
Two weeks later I still find it to be a bit too large on my wrist. The design lack the refinement expected from a brand such as Universal Genève and I can understand why they didn't shed too many tears when their prototype was whisked away by Bulova, and why they never pushed to finish and sell it themselves. The pseudo NATO strap that came with it also managed to annoy me just like a real one would, and was therefore replaced by a much better standard leather strap.
The conclusion is still the same: The current Lunar Pilot is 90% made of volatile marketing hype with very little substance to prop it up. Any failure at de-influencing me from buying it wasn't due to a lack of effort or convincing, because there was very little de-influencing to be done in the first place. The truth is that most of us would be better off with a Pagani Speedmaster homage if all we wanted was a cheap quartz driven clone of a watch that actually went to the moon in an official capacity and more than once.
So what about the other 10%?
Well, they are the reasons for why I did buy it in the end. The first was that I wanted a chronograph and I didn't want to fall into the trap of being saddled again with one that features the useless 24Hr indicator. I'm of the opinion that if you have to buy a chronograph then it should be one that excels at keeping time and it's hard to beat a UHF quartz movement in this field, especially one that has such a crazy in a nice way to count split seconds.
The next reason is the tachymeter bezel with its raised numbers. Now this is something that I've never seen done before and this unique design element managed to elevate my interest from just "meh" to "now you're talking!".
Titanium. The coffee cup in the background is proof to how much I love it. It's light and non irritating to my skin (some SS watch are), and it has a tint that makes it distinctively different from standard brushed steel. I didn't like at all the all polished case of the new 43.5mm models but I sure do like the sanded look of this one.
Meteorite dial. Most of the reviewers went gaga in their comments about it, but it's just a novelty for me. Which doesn't say that it's a novelty that I don't like because I do, but just not enough to justify a purchase all on its own.
The last reason is wearability because it does this quite well despite being a bit oversized for me. The light weight, together with the case shape and the better strap makes for a very nice experience on the wrist.
I'm a big fan of watches that are interesting because they are either unique, have interesting features, well designed or simply offer a great value for their price.
More from Catskinner
This is a watch I’ve thought of getting but never very hard. Maybe it’s all marketing, but it seems somehow less than a Speedmaster. I guess it should be given the cost difference.
I have mixed feelings on titanium. Most of the time I like the color and feel of it compared to steel. But sometimes I don’t appreciate the light weight. It’s a tricky thing, sometimes it feels comfortable and sometimes it feels cheap.
Anyway, great pictures as always.
This is a watch I’ve thought of getting but never very hard. Maybe it’s all marketing, but it seems somehow less than a Speedmaster. I guess it should be given the cost difference.
I have mixed feelings on titanium. Most of the time I like the color and feel of it compared to steel. But sometimes I don’t appreciate the light weight. It’s a tricky thing, sometimes it feels comfortable and sometimes it feels cheap.
Anyway, great pictures as always.
The honest truth is that I don't like the Speedmaster very much.
I think the lunar pilot is a very attractive timepiece with a lot of history. Definitely a conversation starter. (For watch nerds and enthusiasts 😇)
Hopefully there will be soon a smaller version. 39-41 would be amazing 🔥
Personally, I think that the modern iteration of the L.P. is just as valid as the modern Speedmaster, insofar as that NONE of them since 1972, have been to the Moon. ALL are, in their own way paying homage to those watches that actually did participate in the NASA missions ... and that includes the original Bulova prototype.
What @Savage61 said.
A 24-hour indicator is not useless if the watch is mechanical. Every time I pick up one of my mechanical watches - because I have so many - it has stopped and I have to figure out if it stopped in the a.m. or p.m., and so have to wind the thing around the dial to see if the date changes before I can do anything else - kind of annoying when it stops at 2 a.m., and you're checking it at 6 a.m.
It's also helpful when in Las Vegas when you wake up from a drug-addled and alcohol-infused blackout as it helps you get your bearings back more quickly.
Boom, 24-hour indicator to the rescue, like a calming hand on the shoulder.
I love the 24-hour indicator.
I tried one yesterday and I love it.
A 24-hour indicator is not useless if the watch is mechanical. Every time I pick up one of my mechanical watches - because I have so many - it has stopped and I have to figure out if it stopped in the a.m. or p.m., and so have to wind the thing around the dial to see if the date changes before I can do anything else - kind of annoying when it stops at 2 a.m., and you're checking it at 6 a.m.
It's also helpful when in Las Vegas when you wake up from a drug-addled and alcohol-infused blackout as it helps you get your bearings back more quickly.
Boom, 24-hour indicator to the rescue, like a calming hand on the shoulder.
I love the 24-hour indicator.
If it's so great how come it's mostly found on mecha-quartz chrono and it's not a feature that is universally adopted on every quartz and mechanical watch? Because it's f*cking useless that's why. Turning the hands until the date steps forward and then adjusting the time is not a problem and I know that because this is exactly what I do almost every day and it happens only once per day. OTOH looking at the useless 24Hr indicator that gives me exactly the same info that I can get if I stick my head out is a constant annoyance.
Got the original one when it first came out.
Don't wear it often,but love it when I do. 😁👍🏻
If it's so great how come it's mostly found on mecha-quartz chrono and it's not a feature that is universally adopted on every quartz and mechanical watch? Because it's f*cking useless that's why. Turning the hands until the date steps forward and then adjusting the time is not a problem and I know that because this is exactly what I do almost every day and it happens only once per day. OTOH looking at the useless 24Hr indicator that gives me exactly the same info that I can get if I stick my head out is a constant annoyance.
Quartz watches don't need it, no argument there, and in that case - useless.
And it's not universally adopted because of manufacturing decisions and design constraints - like a moon phase - which truly is a useless feature.
A 24-hour indicator is not useless if the watch is mechanical. Every time I pick up one of my mechanical watches - because I have so many - it has stopped and I have to figure out if it stopped in the a.m. or p.m., and so have to wind the thing around the dial to see if the date changes before I can do anything else - kind of annoying when it stops at 2 a.m., and you're checking it at 6 a.m.
It's also helpful when in Las Vegas when you wake up from a drug-addled and alcohol-infused blackout as it helps you get your bearings back more quickly.
Boom, 24-hour indicator to the rescue, like a calming hand on the shoulder.
I love the 24-hour indicator.
Good point!
Quartz watches don't need it, no argument there, and in that case - useless.
And it's not universally adopted because of manufacturing decisions and design constraints - like a moon phase - which truly is a useless feature.
A moon phase complication is very useful for lycanthropes, which I'm willing to bet are more numerous than those who will find a use for the 24Hr indicator, because if I have to travel for close to 12,000km until I reach Las Vegas, where it will maybe be useful in the unlikely event of me passing out from substance abuse, well...that just say a lot about its usefulness isn't it?
And before you scoff at the idea of lycanthropy, yes it's real and I already proved it.
Though I opted in for the Black PVD the sentiment is the same. Every thought expressed in OP's opening remarks is spot on and I've personally experienced the tug and pull between the emotions, history, and overall marketing hype. It's all real. In the end, I was still happy with my purchase and don't think I would ever regret it.
This is a watch I’ve thought of getting but never very hard. Maybe it’s all marketing, but it seems somehow less than a Speedmaster. I guess it should be given the cost difference.
I have mixed feelings on titanium. Most of the time I like the color and feel of it compared to steel. But sometimes I don’t appreciate the light weight. It’s a tricky thing, sometimes it feels comfortable and sometimes it feels cheap.
Anyway, great pictures as always.
I am wearing the titanium Fujitsubo and I am in love with titanium. I love the color and the light weight.
Personally, I think that the modern iteration of the L.P. is just as valid as the modern Speedmaster, insofar as that NONE of them since 1972, have been to the Moon. ALL are, in their own way paying homage to those watches that actually did participate in the NASA missions ... and that includes the original Bulova prototype.
From a pure technological point of view a titanium high accurary quartz chrono is better than a mechanical chrono. NASA would have chose the current titanium lunar pilot if it existed in the 60's (of course, if G Shocks were available in the 60's NASA would have chosen those).
So here we are talking about intangibles which, for me, are brand recognition and social "worth". The Speedy it's a watch that regular ppl might notice. For me I was skeptical about this watch but after trying one I really liked. The fact that it's quartz is a plus for me since I don't want mechanical chronos, I had one and it looked great but was very inconvenient.
Though I opted in for the Black PVD the sentiment is the same. Every thought expressed in OP's opening remarks is spot on and I've personally experienced the tug and pull between the emotions, history, and overall marketing hype. It's all real. In the end, I was still happy with my purchase and don't think I would ever regret it.
I had that, but I sold it when the blue one was released! Then I sold the blue one since I want the meteorite dial! I guess I what kind of new release would make me sold the meteorite one! A L.P. with lunar rock dial?!
Leather strap looks great, at least!
Though I opted in for the Black PVD the sentiment is the same. Every thought expressed in OP's opening remarks is spot on and I've personally experienced the tug and pull between the emotions, history, and overall marketing hype. It's all real. In the end, I was still happy with my purchase and don't think I would ever regret it.
The black PVD is the original 45mm isn't it?
Leather strap looks great, at least!
It does. It's a simple genuine leather from Dassari but the taper and the pattern are just right for a 60's era watch, which is basically what the design of the LP is.
The black PVD is the original 45mm isn't it?
Yes it is. I have a large wrist, so I opted in for the 45mm.
Owned the original re-issue. Too honking wide and the L2L is just goofy. The smaller version is smaller but still too wide and still goofy long L2L.
The five most overhyped watches of the last decade:
PRX
PRX
PRX
Lunar Pilot
PRX
Owned the original re-issue. Too honking wide and the L2L is just goofy. The smaller version is smaller but still too wide and still goofy long L2L.
The five most overhyped watches of the last decade:
PRX
PRX
PRX
Lunar Pilot
PRX
I admit falling into the hype but thanks ro how I'm built, it wasn't at all disappointed.