Bulova · Manufacturer image, authorised for editorial use
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.
Street price
$595
MSRP $795
81
Selection Score
81 out of 100
Provisional
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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, 13.5 mm thick, 53 mm lug-to-lug
- 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
- 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
- 13.5 mm
- Lug-to-lug
- 53 mm
- 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
- 81 / 100
Score Breakdown
RatingWeightPoints
- 25%20.0
Value
- 20%17.2
Movement
- 15%12.3
Build Quality
- 15%12.9
Design
- 10%6.4
Wearability
- 10%8.5
Features
- 5%3.9
Brand & Ownership
Selection Score81
Seven pillars, each rated 0–10 and weighted as shown. The total is the sum of the weighted ratings — the headline number can never disagree with its own breakdown.
Ratings are demo data pending editorial review.
Where to Buy
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Bulova
$795 · Price checked August 1, 2026
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.
