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Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph 96B251 black dial front view

Bulova · Manufacturer image

Bulova · Archive Series — Lunar Pilot

Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph

96B251

A reissue of the chronograph worn on the lunar surface in 1971, driven by Bulova's 262 kHz high-frequency quartz movement.

Typical street price

$595

MSRP $795

Our editorial estimate, not a live retailer price.

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At a Glance

  • Quartz movement
  • Date display
  • Chronograph sub-dials
  • Tachymeter bezel
  • 50 m water resistance
  • Sapphire with anti-reflective coating crystal
  • Luminous hands and markers

Specifications

Brand
Bulova
Collection
Archive Series — Lunar Pilot
Movement
Bulova NP20 High Performance Quartz, caliber NP20 (HPQ), 262 kHz, battery of power reserve
Case
316L stainless steel, 45 mm diameter
Crystal
Sapphire with anti-reflective coating
Bracelet / strap
Black textured leather strap, supplied with an additional black nylon strap with a nubuck patch commemorating DOM 08021971, Pin buckle, 20 mm, 20 mm lug width
Water resistance
50 m (164 ft)
Dial colours
Black
Style
Chronograph, Sport
Recommended wrist
Large
Country of origin
United States

What we like

  • A high-frequency quartz movement with a smooth-sweeping chronograph hand
  • Sapphire crystal and a genuine 1/1000th-second chronograph capability
  • Direct lineage to a watch worn on the Moon
  • Considerably cheaper than any mechanical chronograph of comparable presence

Full specifications

Brand
Bulova
Model
Lunar Pilot Chronograph
Reference
96B251
Collection
Archive Series — Lunar Pilot
Typical street price
$595
MSRP
$795
Movement type
Quartz
Movement
Bulova NP20 High Performance Quartz
Caliber
NP20 (HPQ), 262 kHz
Power reserve
Battery
Stated accuracy
Not published
Balance spring
Not published
Case diameter
45 mm
Case thickness
—
Lug-to-lug
—
Lug width
20 mm
Weight
110 g
Case material
316L stainless steel
Crystal
Sapphire with anti-reflective coating
Water resistance
50 m (164 ft)
Dial colours
Black
Bracelet / strap
Black textured leather strap, supplied with an additional black nylon strap with a nubuck patch commemorating DOM 08021971
Bracelet material
Leather
Clasp
Pin buckle, 20 mm
Date
Yes
GMT
No
Chronograph
Yes
Style
Chronograph · Sport
Recommended wrist
Large
Country of origin
United States
Released
2015
Selection Score
Not published
Watch Size Database

Where to Buy

Selection Time is reader-supported. If you buy through a link on this page we may earn a commission. This never affects our scores or what we recommend.

Watch Brands: Bulova

Bulova's distinguishing technology is a 262 kHz quartz movement — roughly eight times the frequency of a standard crystal — which produces a smoothly sweeping seconds hand and unusually fine timing resolution.

All watches from Bulova

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