The other Moon watch

[Otherjohn]

Late last year I read about the 'other Moon watch' and decided to treat myself to the Bulova Lunar Pilot for Xmas. H Samuel's had sale on with 25% off so it was a good time to buy.

Having just adjusted the time for BST the watch seems to be running +0.5 sec a month, pretty impressive for a relatively low price watch.



Otherjohn

[earlofsodbury]

Late last year I read about the 'other Moon watch' and decided to treat myself to the Bulova Lunar Pilot for Xmas. H Samuel's had sale on with 25% off so it was a good time to buy.

Having just adjusted the time for BST the watch seems to be running +0.5 sec a month, pretty impressive for a relatively low price watch.



Otherjohn

That is impressive! Do like these, but missed the last keenly priced one that popped up.

Perhaps it's a Bulova thing - I bought one of the recent "Devil Diver" reissues last year, and it's a phenomenal timekeeper - not formally measured it, but I keep it on a winder and it's the best mechanical I own, bar none - on a par with the quartz watches I own!

[KAS118]

Yeah, I bought one of them for my daughter last year when we were going to Florida with a view to visit Kennedy Space Centre...

....shame its to big for her wrist so her Dad has to wear it from time to time 😜

They are very nice watches.

[weaselid]

OP what size us your wrist? It looks really good on you.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[sweets]

It is especially good that they have now got these, more faithful versions with the steel case, the plainer Bulova script and no date, just tlike the original.
Great watch

[abraxas]

It is especially good that they have now got these, more faithful versions with the steel case, the plainer Bulova script and no date, just tlike the original.
Great watch

The OP's is the polished version. They still don't make a faithful reproduction.

[Mr Curta]

Losing the date window and making the Bulova script more discreet are big improvements over the 96B251. I'd like to see a version with a mechanical movement with 12 hour chronometer (or at least lose the 262 kHz) and painted lume batons to bring it much closer to Scott's 88510/01.

[snowman]

These UHF Bulovas are all nice enough watches, I had one of the Moonwatches and a 666 diver for a while, but I think they're nice watches for 'normal' people, rather than enthusiasts.

I found the Moonwatch nice enough, but not a watch I'd often go to the box for when deciding what to wear - It's legibile, attractive and the smooth second hand is a nice feature, but I can get all that from many mechanical watches and the Moonwatch, for me, just didn't feel that special.

I suspect Mr Curta's suggestion would definitely help in that respect.

I bought the 666 when I broke my original hummer version and I felt much the same about that. Once the hummer was fixed, the UHF was surplus to requirements and hardly ever got worn.

In the days before having a watch collection, I would have found either a perfectly acceptable, even desirable, daily wear, but with a few watches in the box, neither felt special enough to wear often and so both went.

I fear this may sound a bit snobbish, but I have many cheap watches that I do wear, so it's not about value.

Of course, there's nothing to say I was right and others are wrong, indeed I wouldn't say there is anything WRONG with these Bulovas, watches are a very subjective thing in the end, but my experience was that my enthusiasm for them was short-lived.

M

[weaselid]

If only they were between 40mm and 42mm, however I believe the movement is too big.

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[Otherjohn]

Yeah, I bought one of them for my daughter last year when we were going to Florida with a view to visit Kennedy Space Centre...

....shame its to big for her wrist so her Dad has to wear it from time to time 

They are very nice watches.

I like your philosophy.

[Otherjohn]

OP what size us your wrist? It looks really good on you.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Only 7.5 inch wrist, Its wears well for its size, and I like the nylon strap.

[Otherjohn]

The OP's is the polished version. They still don't make a faithful reproduction.

I agree, the satinised case version has a date window and different Bulova font on the dial. Ideally I'd like to same dial in a satin case. If prices drop enough I might be tempted to buy another and do a movement swap. But the 96B251 is a limited edition and sells for £100 more for a box and an extra strap.

Otherjohn

[Otherjohn]

These UHF Bulovas are all nice enough watches, I had one of the Moonwatches and a 666 diver for a while, but I think they're nice watches for 'normal' people, rather than enthusiasts.

I found the Moonwatch nice enough, but not a watch I'd often go to the box for when deciding what to wear - It's legibile, attractive and the smooth second hand is a nice feature, but I can get all that from many mechanical watches and the Moonwatch, for me, just didn't feel that special.

I suspect Mr Curta's suggestion would definitely help in that respect.

I bought the 666 when I broke my original hummer version and I felt much the same about that. Once the hummer was fixed, the UHF was surplus to requirements and hardly ever got worn.

In the days before having a watch collection, I would have found either a perfectly acceptable, even desirable, daily wear, but with a few watches in the box, neither felt special enough to wear often and so both went.

I fear this may sound a bit snobbish, but I have many cheap watches that I do wear, so it's not about value.

Of course, there's nothing to say I was right and others are wrong, indeed I wouldn't say there is anything WRONG with these Bulovas, watches are a very subjective thing in the end, but my experience was that my enthusiasm for them was short-lived.

M

Totally agree with all of the above:

Its not special in any way and doesn't get a lot of wrist time.

But I think its a great watch for a £300 budget and I really like the accuracy.

Otherjohn

[weaselid]

Only 7.5 inch wrist, Its wears well for its size, and I like the nylon strap.

Cheers.

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[RS404]

Loving mine...


Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[hughtrimble]

Losing the date window and making the Bulova script more discreet are big improvements over the 96B251. I'd like to see a version with a mechanical movement with 12 hour chronometer (or at least lose the 262 kHz) and painted lume batons to bring it much closer to Scott's 88510/01.

Oh yes, that is very lovely:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberta...r-1-6-million/

[Otherjohn]

Loving mine...


Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Looks good on the khaki strap.

Otherjohn

[Velorum]

If only they were between 40mm and 42mm, however I believe the movement is too big.

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In total agreement with this

For goodness sake Bulova - make a smaller version!

[abraxas]

This watch is just too much.

It's too big, too black, too cheap, too precise, and too well made for the price... if it was three times the price, enthusiasts would have liked it three times as much.

I've had my Looney for nearly two years and if it came to it, it could be my only watch. Its best feature is the four-level dial and its worse the weak lume.

[abraxas]

In total agreement with this

For goodness sake Bulova - make a smaller version!

It's not the watch that is too big. Your wrists are too thin.

[RAJEN]

It's not the watch that is too big. Your wrists are too thin.

Or tastes not refined enough😂

[abraxas]

Or tastes not refined enough

There is no accounting for taste. Quantity has its own quality.

[2012]

In total agreement with this

For goodness sake Bulova - make a smaller version!

Agree with this. Tried it on and was just too big. My wrist size is the same as the original posters (7.5inches), but for me was too large.

My sweet spot is 34-37mm for dress style watches and 38-40mm for sports watches. I do however have bigger sports watches, but then the size is part of the aesthetic.

[sjedwardz]

I had one when they first came out. It is a great watch for the price, well made and very accurate.

But as others have said just a bit too big. I don’t know if it’s the movement that dictates the size but it would be good if they could make a smaller version.


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[Dougal]

I’m an enthusiast and a fan of the UHF Bulova. I find this Bulova movement a joy to own and quite mesmerising.

This watch is just too much ... too precise, and too well made for the price... if it was three times the price, enthusiasts would have liked it three times as much.

I agree. Some people understandably swoon over the Spring Drive, yet the Bulova UHF’s sweeping seconds provide the same visual treat.

[abraxas]

...

I agree. Some people understandably swoon over the Spring Drive, yet the Bulova UHF’s sweeping seconds provide the same visual treat.

The Lunar Pilot chrono-seconds beat at 8 beat per second (so it looks like a mechanical)... whereas the 3 handers, beat 16 times per sec and look more like a spring drive.