Episode 30, Part 1: Bulova's Smaller Lunar Pilot with Michael Benavente
Originally aired: January 23, 2023
Original watch release date: January 24, 2023
Watch the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPs0x1kysx4
Quick Pour
One legendary space-watch story. One very large chronograph. And a whole lot of collectors saying the same thing:
We love it. Can you make it smaller?
Back in January 2023, Bulova answered that question with a new 43.5mm Lunar Pilot.
And The Springbar Podcast got an early conversation with the man helping make it happen.
In Episode 30, Mike, Joe, and Casey welcomed Michael Benavente, Managing Director of Bulova Watch Company, to discuss the new release, its design choices, and what collectors had been asking for.
The question wasn't whether Bulova could make the Lunar Pilot smaller.
It was whether they could make it smaller without losing what made it special.
The Debate in One Sentence
Mike's take: The larger Lunar Pilot already had plenty going for it. He liked the original size, its history, and that unmistakable space-watch personality.
Joe's take: The original was simply too big for his wrist. A smaller case with a cleaner dial could make the watch much more appealing.
Casey's experience: He had actually sold his larger Lunar Pilot because of its size, making him particularly interested in the new proportions.
And Michael was there to explain what Bulova had changed.
Fast Takeaways
What Bulova introduced in January 2023
43.5mm case instead of the previous 45mm version.
Two choices: a classic black dial or a blue-and-white panda design.
A cleaner, no-date dial.
High-performance quartz chronograph movement.
Sapphire crystal.
Both a bracelet and a strap included.
An original launch price of $895.
What got the guys talking
Could 1.5mm really change how a watch wears?
Why keep the larger model in the lineup?
Should a historically inspired watch stay true to its original proportions?
Was the panda dial the surprise winner?
And what would happen if Bulova ever made a mechanical Lunar Pilot?
That last question nearly sent Joe into orbit.
Watches That Came Up at the Bar
Part of the conversation
The earlier 45mm Bulova Lunar Pilot
The new 43.5mm black-dial Lunar Pilot
The new blue-and-white panda Lunar Pilot
The 50th-anniversary Lunar Pilot limited edition
The historic Bulova chronograph associated with Apollo 15
The Accutron Astronaut, teased for Episode 30, Part 2
There's more than one reason this conversation became such a popular episode.
The Three Biggest Lunar Pilot Questions
1) Was the original really too big?
The previous Lunar Pilot measured approximately 45mm.
For some collectors, that was part of the charm.
For others, it was the reason they admired the watch from a distance.
Joe and Casey fell closer to that second camp.
Mike, meanwhile, was perfectly comfortable defending the larger model.
And that's what made Bulova's solution interesting.
Don't replace the big version. Offer another size.
The new 43.5mm case brought the design closer to the dimensions of the historic watch while giving modern collectors another option.
Sometimes the answer isn't redesigning the entire watch.
Sometimes it's a millimeter and a half.
2) Why did Bulova choose those two dials?
The traditional black dial was the obvious heritage choice.
It's recognizable, familiar, and closely associated with the Lunar Pilot's identity.
Then came the panda.
White dial. Blue subdials. Matching blue strap.
Michael explained that Bulova had considered different color combinations, with blue emerging as a particularly commercially appealing choice.
Collectors looking for the traditional look had their black dial.
Collectors wanting something different had an alternative.
Same lunar DNA. Two very different personalities.
And yes, the guys had opinions.
3) What did Bulova actually improve?
This wasn't simply a smaller watch case.
The 2023 release also brought several thoughtful choices:
A no-date dial for a cleaner appearance.
Polished case finishing.
Sapphire crystal.
A supplied bracelet and strap.
Easy-release spring bars for switching between them.
Michael also explained how Bulova could retain its high-precision quartz movement while reducing the case dimensions.
The important part was keeping the watch recognizable.
Best Point of the Episode
A smaller Lunar Pilot wasn't necessarily about making the watch better for everyone.
It was about making it work for more people.
The larger model still had fans.
But collectors who loved the heritage, design, and movement now had an alternative that might make more sense on their wrists.
Good watchmaking isn't always about reinventing something. Sometimes it's about listening.
And that idea makes this conversation worth revisiting years after the original announcement.
Where Mike and Joe Actually Landed
What Mike appreciated
The existing Lunar Pilot already had a strong identity.
Its history remained central to its appeal.
The classic black dial was particularly attractive.
Offering more choice didn't require abandoning the larger watch.
What Joe appreciated
A more manageable case size.
The cleaner no-date dial.
The high-precision quartz movement.
The possibility of a version he might actually enjoy wearing.
And then came the mechanical Lunar Pilot conversation...
The guys raised the possibility of a future automatic or mechanical Lunar Pilot.
Michael entertained the discussion, but this was speculation during a 2023 interview, not an announcement of a production model.
Still, Joe's enthusiasm for the idea was hard to miss.
One watch conversation.
Several very different wish lists.
That's Springbar.
Final Pour
Looking back at Bulova's January 2023 Lunar Pilot release, the most interesting thing wasn't the smaller measurement.
It was the decision to give collectors more choice.
Some wanted the bigger case.
Some wanted something closer to the historical dimensions.
Some wanted black.
Some wanted a panda.
And some were already dreaming about a completely different movement.
The lesson? A legendary watch doesn't have to fit everyone the same way.
Sometimes preserving a watch's legacy means knowing which details to keep.
And which ones can change.
Pull Up a Stool
Time for the collector verdict.
Is 45mm too big for a chronograph?
Would you choose the black dial or blue-and-white panda?
Does the Lunar Pilot's spaceflight history influence your decision?
Would you buy a mechanical version if Bulova made one?
And the big question:
Did the 43.5mm Lunar Pilot solve the size problem, or would you still go smaller?
Tell Mike and Joe what you think in the Episode 30 comments.
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