🌟 Why Bulova Still Matters in 2025
In a watch industry dominated by hype, heritage, and high prices, Bulova continues to stand out as one of the few brands consistently delivering innovative, beautiful, and functional timepieces at accessible price points. Founded in 1875 in New York City, Bulova has pioneered some of the most important moments in horology—from the Accutron tuning fork movement in the 1960s to a lunar mission chronograph worn on the Moon.
Now, in 2025, Bulova is back in the spotlight with two show-stopping releases that are getting serious attention from collectors and everyday watch lovers alike: the Bulova Oceanographer GMT Automatic and the Bulova Lunar Pilot Meteorite Chronograph. One travels the oceans. The other holds a piece of the stars.
Let’s dive into the details of each timepiece and find out which one belongs on your wrist.
🌊 Bulova Oceanographer GMT Automatic Review: Dive Meets Flight
✈️ A Dive Watch for Jet-Setters
Known among enthusiasts as the “Devil Diver” (a nod to the original 666ft depth rating), the Oceanographer line is a retro-modern dive watch with serious charm. But in its newest form, this watch becomes much more than a reissue—it becomes a travel-ready true GMT.
Housed in a 41mm stainless steel case, the Bulova Oceanographer GMT Automatic features a Miyota 9075 movement, known for its reliability and true GMT functionality. That means the local hour hand is independently adjustable, perfect for travelers who frequently hop across time zones. No more resetting your watch every time you land—just jump the hour hand and keep the world spinning.
Whether you’re sipping coffee in Vienna or exploring coral reefs off the coast of Thailand, this is a watch built for mobility.
98B407 Automatic Oceanographer Devil Diver GMT
🔍 Key Features of the Oceanographer GMT
- Case Size: 41mm stainless steel
- Water Resistance: 200 meters (660 ft)
- Movement: Miyota 9075 True GMT (Automatic)
- Bezel: Bi-directional 24-hour, available in Pepsi (red/blue) or Green/Black
- Crystal: Domed sapphire
- Lume: Bright Super-LumiNova on indices and hands
- Bracelet: Stainless steel oyster-style or retro rubber strap
- Price Range: Around $895 USD
The design is unapologetically vintage, calling back to Bulova’s 1970s dive roots. But the internal specs make it a thoroughly modern travel tool.
🌍 Who is it For?
This is one of the best affordable GMT watches available today. Perfect for frequent flyers, digital nomads, or collectors looking to add a mechanical travel watch under $1,000 to their rotation. It’s also a fantastic alternative to more expensive Swiss models like the Tudor Black Bay GMT or the Longines Spirit Zulu.
Whether you’re a seasoned watch collector or simply searching for a stylish and robust automatic GMT watch, the Oceanographer ticks every box.
🌑 Bulova Lunar Pilot Meteorite Chronograph Review: A Piece of Space on Your Wrist
🚀 A Watch With Real Moon Heritage
Let’s rewind to 1971. During the Apollo 15 mission, astronaut Dave Scott wore a Bulova prototype chronograph on the Moon after his issued Omega broke. That very watch later sold at auction for over $1.6 million, cementing Bulova’s place in spacewatch history.
Fast forward to today: Bulova has taken that legacy and added something extraordinary—a real Muonionalusta meteorite dial. Yes, you read that right. This new Lunar Pilot is crafted with material older than Earth itself, estimated at 4.5 billion years old.
96A312 Lunar Pilot Meteorite
✨ Design and Engineering
The 2025 Lunar Pilot Meteorite Chronograph is not only visually stunning, it’s also hyper-accurate. Inside is Bulova’s signature high-frequency quartz movement, beating at 262kHz, delivering accuracy to within 10 seconds per year—far beyond most mechanical chronographs.
Each meteorite dial features Widmanstätten patterns, natural crystalline formations created over millions of years in space. No two dials are the same, making each piece a one-of-a-kind artifact.
🔍 Key Features of the Lunar Pilot Meteorite
- Case Size: 45mm stainless steel
- Movement: Bulova 262kHz high-frequency quartz
- Chronograph Function: Yes, with 1/20th second sub-dial
- Dial: Genuine Muonionalusta meteorite with unique crystalline patterns
- Water Resistance: 50 meters
- Crystal: Sapphire with anti-reflective coating
- Bracelet/Strap Options: Polished stainless steel bracelet or leather strap
- Price Range: Around $1,495 USD
It’s a serious statement piece and one of the most affordable meteorite dial watches available today.
Lunar Pilot 96K115
🌌 Who is it For?
If you love space history, crave individuality in your watches, or want something that sparks conversation—this is your piece. The Lunar Pilot Meteorite is ideal for collectors who appreciate limited edition watches, chronograph functionality, and eye-catching aesthetics.
⚖️ Bulova GMT vs. Meteorite: Which One Should You Choose?
Here’s a side-by-side comparison to help you decide which new Bulova best fits your lifestyle:
| Feature | Oceanographer GMT Automatic | Lunar Pilot Meteorite Chronograph |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | Miyota 9075 True GMT (Auto) | 262kHz High-Frequency Quartz |
| Case Size | 41mm | 45mm |
| Water Resistance | 200m | 50m |
| Special Feature | Independent GMT Hand | Real meteorite dial, Moon legacy |
| Dial Style | Sunburst with color bezel | Grey crystalline meteorite patterns |
| Chronograph | No | Yes |
| Price | ~$895 | ~$1,495 |
| Best For | Travelers, dive watch lovers | Space fans, chronograph collectors |
🧭 Style Meets Story: The Lifestyle Angle
Imagine checking the time on your Oceanographer GMT as you board a train from Milan to Zurich, the bezel catching the sunlight. Or picture walking under a starlit sky with the Meteorite Chronograph on your wrist—literally carrying a piece of the universe.
Both watches tell time, but more importantly, they tell stories. The GMT tells yours—where you’ve been and where you’re headed. The Lunar Pilot reminds you how far humankind has come and how far we still dream of going.
These aren’t just tool watches—they’re time-travel machines, filled with history, art, and future potential.
🛍️ Where to Buy the New Bulova Watches in 2025
Both models are available via Bulova’s official website, select authorized retailers, and boutique stores worldwide. Quantities of the Lunar Pilot Meteorite may be limited due to the rarity of the material, so act fast if you’re considering a purchase.
📝 Final Verdict
Bulova is making bold moves in 2025, proving that you don’t need to spend $5,000+ to own a timepiece with real innovation, beauty, and history. The Oceanographer GMT Automatic is one of the best automatic GMT watches under $1,000, while the Lunar Pilot Meteorite Chronograph brings cosmic luxury to earth without the Swiss markup.
Whichever model you choose, you’re getting exceptional value, a unique look, and a watch that tells more than just time—it tells a story.
Which would you choose—the global traveler or the stargazer’s timepiece? Let us know in the comments.