Bulova "Lunar pilot" 3 reasons its better than the Omega Speed Master Moon Watch. Yes I said it.

In this episode we explore three reasons I believe the Lunar Pilot is a better watch than the Speed Master. The only two watches to have walked on the moon. Hear me out before you dig out the pitch forks.

[@TheBimmer74]

I have them both and they are both great watches in their own right. The BLP is a grab and go. It can time events to the nearest 10th of a second for the first 30 seconds. It has a saphire crystal that protects the tachometer scale from scratches. The 45 mm wears large on most wrists and the 43 is better. It has a butterfly clasp on the bracelet which takes some getter used to and no microadjust, only half links. The Speedmaster with the saphire sandwich is scratch resistant although the tachymeter scale is exposed. It doesn't time to the nearest 10th but can time up to 12 hours wheras the BLP is limited to 60 minutes. The modern speedy is 40 mm, fits more wrists and has on the fly micro adjust. The watch wears like a dream on my 7.25 inch wrist. Both are super legible. Both are great watches in their own right and both deserve a place in one's collection.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Great points, thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Pianoman999]

Great review. I have the smaller Lunar Pilot with a nice stitched black strap. Crazy accurate and a joy to wear.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

The true to original size. Very nice. Yeah I love mine.

[@davidcrandall4958]

All timing for the entire Space Program except for the official moon watch was Accutron!

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Great point! Thanks for commenting and watching.

[@xKmotx]

I bought the Bulova "Moon Watch" in the 45mm size as soon as it was introduced. Moon Watch is what Bulova originally named it, but I think Omega got their knickers in a twist about that and sued. So Bulova renamed it Lunar Pilot. Like you I would love to own an Omega Speedmaster, but I would never personally pay that much for a watch. However, I recently purchased a Pagani Design homage to the Speedy and it looks almost exactly the same, is a well made watch, and fits my budget at $100.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Good info did not know that. Wouldn’t surprise. Thanks for watching.

[@SquireSCA]

Yeah, the Pagani is using Seiko internals, so its basically a Seiko in Speedmaster clothing...

[@danielcustodio9650]

I cant decide between blue ou black 😅

[@SquireSCA]

@@danielcustodio9650 They both look great.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

@SquireSCA that they do. Would love speedmaster for sure.

[@antonhallergren588]

Simple reason. It costs less than the service of the movement of the omega. I get expensive service costs in like an ap but omega charging 1k for a service on a 4k watch used is insane

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Excellent point. The interval on the Bulova is probably 5x. Thanks for commenting and watching.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Good information, thanks for sharing. If we ever get back to the moon what will be the watch 😂. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@skylerphoenix8880]

Hi. Note the Command Module isn’t the one that lands on the moon. Rather it’s the Lunar Module that lands on it. The Lunar Module is composed of two halves: the lower lander half, and the upper return spacecraft. After the moonwalk, the two astronauts climb back into the upper half and blast off by breaking away from the lower landing section since it isn’t needed anymore and is just dead weight containing the spent lander engine and landing legs and moon rover. The upper half uses a smaller engine since it’s lighter, and ascends to dock back up with the Command Module waiting in orbit with the third astronaut. Neil never wore his watch on the moon. He left it in the upper half of the lunar module because the ship’s clock had failed and he needed a reliable timepiece to time their mission. Neil’s watch is in the Smithsonian space museum today. But Neil’s partner Buzz Aldrin wore his watch on the moon and when he got back to earth he mailed it to the Smithsonian and it mysteriously never got there and was never seen again.

[@nigelbowler1601]

Good review sir the Bulova is a outstanding high precision quartz movement i own both the 45mm edition & the 43mm Snoopy putting a Black French Marine Nationale strap on my 45mm version looks awsome recommend it all the best from the UK.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Very nice. Is there a noticeable difference from the 45 to 43?

[@nigelbowler1601]

only a slight difference not significantly as you know the 43mm being the original seize Commander Dave Scott wore.

[@George_Lewis]

Thank you for mentioning some of the other watches that went into space with our astronauts. I read one article where it claimed the Seiko 6139 Pogue was the first chronograph into space. I'm not sure how they can make that claim. When I was stationed in Thailand in the early 1970's Seiko Pogues were quite popular and several of my friends bought them. I had to outdo them and bought a Seiko 6138 Panda. I still have this watch and recently had it restored. It still scratches my itch for a chronograph, as I am now retired and can't always run out and get another watch whenever I feel the urge.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Thanks for watching. Yeah the pogue was on the space station. The story goes the astronaut can’t recall his name was issued an omega but did all his training with the pogue. So when he went to space he had it in his flight suit and when in space put it on instead of the omega cause he was more comfortable with it from training.

[@George_Lewis]

@@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri Yes, William Pogue wore his Seiko 6139 on Skylab, hence the "Pogue". It is claimed that his watch was the first 'automatic' chronograph in space. Based on that, apparently the early Omega Speedmasters weren't automatics... I don't know...

[@nedflanders3769]

I have the 45mm BLP and it’s a bit large, even on my 8.3 inch wrist. I’m thinking about selling it and getting the 43mm version. Better than the Omega Speedmaster, though? I’d have to disagree. 😊

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Thanks for watching. I knew people would disagree, for me three reasons. Price, didn’t break and variations, I’m sticking with them lol thanks for watching.

[@gerrystarchild]

Mic drop 😊Bulova didn't break 😊. The size fits me perfectly.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Perfect! I think it’s a great watch. Thanks for watching and commentingz

[@danielcustodio9650]

I cant decide between black dial and the white/blue 😅

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Oh man that’s a tough decesion 😂. Well for the price of speedmaster you could easily get both lol. If you want the purist side then the black. The but blue is also great. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@BozgorSlayer]

IMO, blue looks the best, black is traditional.

[@davidcrandall4958]

The New Bulova MoonWatch Movement is not An Accutron!

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

No it is not.

[@valengreymoon5623]

I've got the 2 strap 45mm edition, and really, the only thing I don't like, is the 20mm lug width. It just looks a bit narrow for the case size. 22,mm or even 24mm would have balanced it out nicely.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

I think the narrowness might be in keeping with how watch’s were back in the 60’s & 70’s. Just my thought. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@daleydose6851]

Awesome review. Love the watch.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Thanks for watching!

[@coolsam2045]

Nice review. My local dealer has one of these in stock. In person its a lovely watch but its a bit on the big size for my wrist.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

It’s a gorgeous watch. But this is the main gripe is the size. Take a look at the 43mm. Might be perfect for you. Thanks for watching.

[@oscarhernangb]

Agree 1,000 %

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@defender1006]

OK, so I'm lucky enough to own an 'Ed White '65 Speedmaster' that I've owned since May 1978, it still runs very well and keeps time to with in a few seconds a day after 58 years! However, the Bulova has a very different movement from the original, which you get with the Omega over the Bulova. PLUS, there's a world of difference between the Omega Speedmaster's mechanical hand wound movement and the Quartz Bulova Luna Pilot. I also own a reissued Bulova Luna Pilot and a Sea King Chronograph with the same movement, that movement is far more accurate than the 'Speedmaster, but that's just not the point, if you want a great value analogue chronograph movement, then buy a Seiko Quartz Flightmaster or whatever?

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

That’s awesome. As I stated in the video the movement in the 71 Bulova prototype was a Valjue 72 automatic movement. I still stand by the three reasons for the two watches they walked on the moon. I don’t think you watched the whole video. I said it wasn’t what is the best chrono out there. It was between the two watch’s that walked on them on which based on cost, variation and not breaking on the moon which was better. Thanks for watching and your comment, that watch to have it awesome. Congrats.

[@richardlucero3429]

Was the bulova on the quartz?

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

No I think it was a valjoux automatic as it was a prototype he took up with him.

[@joshsher6327]

They went to space. But the moon? I don't think even the Speedmaster can get through the Van Allen radiation belt and reach the moon. But I'll get the Lunar Pilot coz it's a cool looking chrono and is a lot cheaper than a Speedmaster. ;)

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Ok 😂, and the earth is flat, checks in the mail, Elvis is alive and it was colonel mustard in the library with the wrench. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@joshsher6327]

@@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri That's a different thing. And has no scientific basis. The Van Allen belt is based on science. That's why people who analyze the moon landing photos can see two light sources when there is only one sun as the light source. That the US flag is flapping in the wind when there is no wind on the moon. Also the cross focus lines on the photos are inconsistent and appears superimposed. And of course there is a reason behind it. They faked it because they wanted to bankrupt the USSR via the space race. ;)

[@camarocarl7130]

Your history of Neil A. watch is in error as far as being left on the moon. Too many errors to mention. on history and watches.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Now we get to the reference that turned the Speedmaster into the Moonwatch - the reference 105.012 worn by the Apollo 11 astronauts. Neil Armstrong, the first man to step on the Moon, was also provided with this timepiece, but legend has it that it stayed on board of the Lunar Module.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Dark_Asteroid]

Lol. You must be high.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Not at all lol. My 3 points are valid. It’s costs less, less variations from the original only two, unlike Omega with 18 and fact 3 Omega broke on the moon and Bulova didn’t. Thanks for watching.

[@artamutt5485]

Neither the Lunar Pilot nor the Speed Master Moon Watch are true copies of the watches worn on the Moon. So your number one reason why the Lunar Pilot is better is meaningless. The Lunar Pilot is a cheap quartz watch (the unmodified quartz movement sells for under $30) while the Bulova that went to the moon had a mechanical movement.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Ok, the omega did break, the Bulova didn’t. Fact. Bulova is sub $1k fact. Omega has super variation, fact. The lunar pilot and omega speedmaster share the horology from the first one. That’s like saying modern corvettes are not corvettes cause they are not like the first one lol. Thanks for commenting. Cheers. Look forward to your full review of the watch.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

You also didn’t watch the whole video cause I did state the original lunar pilot was an automatic with a Valjoux 72 mechanical movement. And I also state the new lunar pilot 43.5mm is the same dimensions as the original. So thank you again for commenting. Always appreciated. Cheers

[@artamutt5485]

The current Luna Pilot is based on the Miyota 6S20 movement which can be purchased as a single unit for around $20, no doubt less in large quantities. It has the three pronged Bulova quartz crystal in it that vibrates 8 times faster. The finishing of this watch is simplistic. I would guess the watch costs less than $100 or so to manufacture. I got a new one from Amazon a few years ago for $275 and after 3 years and a battery replacement the minutes counter does not zero and Bulova wants over $100 to repair it. This is a well documented failure of the watch and could be caused by mixing and matching movement parts without well thought out engineering. If you are lucky enough to get a new one for under $300 and it does not fail after a simple battery change, then you have done okay. If an electric Corvette was released for around $20,000, would you consider it a "true" Corvette?

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

@@artamutt5485 I cant speak to your issue with your Lunar pilot. I have had zero issues with mine and other Bulova's I own. As to my three points I still stand by them as valid. The lunar pilot didn't break on the moon, the Omega did. The speed master has 18 variations of it, and the lunar pilot on price is sub $1k. A factual true point. As for the Corvette being electric. If it is a Chevrolet Corvette and is from the lineage of the Corvette then yes its a corvette. Battery cars seem to be the future and lineage doesn't die because what powers it does. Thanks again for the comments. Cheers.

[@blackhawk5950]

The Speedmaster did not break on the moon, neither Neil's one, nor even Dave's one. Check the 'non official history'

[@karlcoutet1477]

This guy is really paranoid about comments.

[@DivingIntoWatches-jb5ri]

Ah, yes, the elusive “Commentphobia.” It’s a rare condition where one believes that every comment is secretly plotting against them. The symptoms include excessive sweating, rapid heart rate, and an irrational fear of semicolons. The cure? A healthy dose of reality and a side of self-deprecating humor. 😉