Back in July, Bulova added some heat to its collection with the release of the Lunar Pilot “Blood Moon.” This fiery take on their iconic spacefaring chronograph comes with a bold red dial inspired by the crimson glow of a total lunar eclipse. And while it might not have the “first watch on the moon” crown (that belongs to Omega’s Speedmaster), the Bulova Lunar Pilot still claims a proud spot in space history. In 1971, during Apollo 15, Commander Dave Scott famously strapped on a Bulova Chronograph as he became the seventh human to walk on the lunar surface. Unlike the Speedmaster’s racetrack origins, Scott’s Bulova was tailor-made for space exploration — particularly for timing life-support-critical tasks — and the Bulova Lunar Pilot “Blood Moon” maintains that functionality while adding a bright pop of color.
On the wrist — and sadly I’m not in space — the Lunar Pilot “Blood Moon” is a surprising delight. Sure, at 43.5mm, it’s a bit chunky, but its thoughtful case design keeps it comfortable and well-balanced. It’s bold without being overbearing, and while red can be a tricky color for a watch, Bulova nailed the execution here. The main dial contrasts sharply with the silvered subdials at 9, 3, and 6 o’clock, giving it a unique sporty vibe. The black hands on the subdials (versus the white hands on the dial) add another layer of complexity. Imagine if it had a black tachymeter, though—I think it would really ground the fiery red tones and add even more versatility. One issue I did have is that the bracelet’s quick-release pins always find a way to dig into my wrist. I’ve found this true for me across all bracelets with this quick-release style. Hopefully, more brands switch to buttons or little tabs instead of pins.
Spec-wise, it’s as precise as you’d expect from a Lunar Pilot and Bulova. Powered by Bulova’s NP20 High Precision Quartz movement, it’s capable of timing to 1/20th of a second—perfect for anyone who’s quicker than light-speed (or just wants their chronograph to be). Even better, the movement’s accuracy is quoted at “seconds per year.” Anecdotally, I can confirm that this has been my experience with my own Lunar Pilot and the experience I’ve heard from others. The chronograph pushers are super easy to use, seeing as they’re rather large, and I’ve always loved the contrasting finish they have. Their sizing is perfect for when you’re wearing gloves and timing your life-support-critical tasks (like cooking!).
Whether you’re into space history, unique colorways, or just want a watch that breaks free from the black-dial norm, the Lunar Pilot “Blood Moon” is a stellar option that punches well above its weight—and wears well despite the chunk. The Bulova Lunar Pilot Blood Moon is priced at $895 USD. For more information, please visit the Bulova website.