Bulova Moon Replica Watch Hands-On

Bulova Moon Replica Watch Hands-On Hands-On

I love it when replica watch enthusiasts on a budget have excellent options produced with their needs in mind. The Bulova Moon Replica Watch is an Omega Speedmaster for millennials or anyone who wants a cool historic-looking tool replica watch but can’t afford several thousand dollars for a serious mechanical timepiece. Better yet, the Bulova Moon Replica Watch isn’t just trying to be a fashion statement inspired by replica watches that went to the moon, it is, in fact, directly inspired by an actual Bulova replica watch that did go to the moon.

Bulova Moon Replica Watch Hands-On Hands-On

News of the Bulova Moon Replica Watch came to me late in 2015, but I wanted to wait and see the timepiece hands-on before making any conclusions about this good-looking monochromatic tool-style timepiece. In fact, if the Bulova Moon Replica Watch were made today as a novel model, it would serve equally well as a tool-timepiece for those who needed a high-legibility, high-accuracy instrument.

The story of the Bulova Moon Replica Watch began with a specially designed one-of-a-kind Bulova gifted to NASA Apollo Mission astronaut Dave Scott in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Dave Scott took the unique Bulova replica watch gifted to him by the brand with him on the 1971 Apollo 15 mission to the Moon. At the time, astronauts had government-issued Omega Speedmaster replica watches. The mere fact that astronauts had Omega Speedmaster replica watches was not without controversy, as Omega was a Swiss replica watch brand and certain people in the US believed that the astronauts should be wearing an American replica watch (at the time, Bulova was a fully American company).

Bulova Moon Replica Watch Hands-On Hands-On
Dave Scott’s original 1960s Bulova replica watch

Bulova Moon Replica Watch Hands-On Hands-On

As the story goes, Dave Scott’s Speedmaster became damaged and the front crystal popped off, which necessitated he wear his back-up Bulova. Colonel Scott went on to walk on the Moon’s surface and was the first person to operate a lunar rover vehicle. One his wrist at the time was reportedly the Bulova replica watch. After the Apollo 15 mission, the Bulova replica watch – as it was Scott’s personal property – remained his personal possession for many years. In 2015, Scott himself decided to auction off the Bulova replica watch, along with a few other items he had on the Apollo 15 mission with him. The price achieved for Dave Scott’s “Bulova moon replica watch” was a staggering $1,625,000 in late 2015.

Bulova Moon Replica Watch Hands-On Hands-On

Bulova Moon Replica Watch Hands-On Hands-On

Bulova then took the opportunity to recreate this timepiece as a production model for modern audiences. Larger than the original and using a high-precision quartz movement, the Bulova Moon Replica Watch of 2016 isn’t really a “re-issue” of the late-1960s replica watch as has been reported, but rather a modern timepiece inspired by the classic design. In a roughly 44mm-wide steel case, the Bulova Moon Replica Watch is very attractive in person with a gracefully curved case and distinctive, easy-to-operate chronograph pushers. If the Bulova Moon Replica Watch looks a lot like a Speedmaster, then all you need to do is look at the original and realize that Bulova was really just building the original replica watch off the specs NASA had indicated for replica watches meant to travel in space with astronauts.

Bulova Moon Replica Watch Hands-On Hands-On

The 2016 Bulova Moon Replica Watch is a faithful recreation of the style of the original, but in modern materials. The replica watch also has an AR-coated sapphire crystal and a case that is water resistant to 50 meters (though 100 meters of water resistance would have been nice). The replica watch also wears a bit smaller than you’d expect given the size and wide lug structure. What I really like is the totally monochromatic dial which is rare to find on replica watches today at this price point. Most replica watches of this type, in this price range, try to offer a lot of funky modern design elements for an audience that brands feel value style over substance much of the time. Brand’s often assume that buyer tastes will mature as their income increases. Finally, with the Bulova Moon Replica Watch, tool replica watch-loving enthusiasts with just a few hundred dollars to spend have something very appealing to get.

Bulova Moon Replica Watch Hands-On Hands-On

Bulova Moon Replica Watch Hands-On Hands-On

Inside the Bulova Moon Replica Watch is the proprietary Bulova “High-Performance” 262 kHz quartz chronograph movement. This family of movements was previously known as “UHF” (ultra-high frequency), and has since been renamed, according to Bulova (with that said, “UHF” and “Ultra-High Frequency” terms are on the replica watch in at least two places). Originally, these movements debuted in the very well-regarded Bulova Precisionist collection (review here).

Bulova Moon Replica Watch Hands-On Hands-On

What makes these movements special compared to most other quartz movements is that they are several times more accurate, deviating by no more than about 10 seconds or so per year (as opposed to 10-15 seconds per month). The movements have a battery life of about 2 years and the chronograph (which has a nice sweeping hand) measures down to 1/10th of a second. The replica watch offers the time, date, and of course chronograph complication. In person and on the wrist, the Bulova Moon Replica Watch replica watch looks great, offering the look of a traditional tool replica watch with a very reasonable price and excellent performance.

Bulova Moon Replica Watch Hands-On Hands-On

Bulova will offer two versions of the Bulova Moon Replica Watch. One version comes in a handsome steel three-link metal bracelet that looks excellent. The second is with a textured (to look like fabric weave) leather strap. This strap version also comes with a velcro-style “hook and loop” black fabric strap with thick metal hardware and a brown leather patch which has the 262 kHz speed of the quartz movement along with the original Apollo 15 mission date. I’m really quite happy that the Bulova Moon Replica Watch came out so well, and hope to see more sober-looking and timeless modern tool replica watches such as this come from the brand (the cool backstory doesn’t hurt either). Prices for the Bulova Moon Replica Watch are $550 on the strap and $675 on the steel bracelet. bulova.com