I own a special edition all black lunar pilot. I love that watch. I recently saw this new, smaller lunar pilot and immediately jumped on it. When I received it, it just looked beautiful. The finish of this watch is very impressive. The bracelet look great and feels high quality. This watch is a great overall with an awesome story. If you are in the market for a chrono and want a watch with history, look no further. To the moon!!
Shrinking down the case size of these new models is perfect, and exactly what this line needed. It wears like a dream now on my 6.75" wrist. Bonus points for keeping the ideal 20mm lug width. Only minor complaint is that the chrono seconds hand isn't perfectly centered at 12 (the manual adjustment doesn't quite get it there), but that's how every Lunar Pilot I've seen has been so I expected it.
I love the watch especially the anti glare crystal. Really makes the dial look like there's nothing in front of it. Bracelet looks great but there's no microadjust. The half links at the clasp have pins that will not release so you only have full links to remove for sizing. This watch ranges from $300 for the older model to nearly a grand for this model with tax. It's time to give customers micro adjustment. Come on Citizen, please update the bracelet.
Here is why the Lunar Pilot is so important to me. First the specs- 43.5mm, anti reflective saphire crystal, high end 262 kHz three pronged quartz with insanely smooth movement, very cool black leather NATO strap, polished base..all very cool stuff including the rich history of being on the moon. I did the research and thought I would treat myself and get one in Dec, 2023. It is important to note that i have worn it and love it but I never looked at the back of it until today. The reason I bought the watch in the first place was to treat myself after losing two parents this year. Today I was doing more research on the particular mission this watch was on the moon for and realized that it was in the year I was born, 1971. I thought how cool would it be to have that year noted on the watch itself so I removed the NATO strap and low and behold there is an inscription that reads- "Apollo 15, July 26, 1971 to AUGUST 7, 1971, EVA 3, August 2, 1971" as well as the moon coordinates where the watch was worn. Why this is all so very important to me is that not only is 1971 the year of my birth, my mom's birthday is August 7. It is a replica of a watch from the year of my birth that she had me and it has my mom's birthday on it. Moreover I bought it in the year of her passing. Very strange. Owned the watch for over a month and never noticed this until today. The watch has taken on a whole new meaning for me. Here is another aspect of my story, my father, the first to pass this year, left me a vintage 70's Bulova watch and believe it or not it did NOT influence my decision to purchase the Lunar Pilot. It was just a happy coincidence...like father like son I suppose. I fretted at spending so much on the watch but I guess I had their approval all along. Thanks guys. I will never get rid of this watch.