The Moon Watch - 1972 Selection Trails
The Omega Speedmaster, was NASA's watch of choice through out its Apollo space program. But as the date approached for the last manned flight to the surface of the moon, Apollo 17, Bulova exerted more pressure on NASA to use its products. Letters were sent to the special assistant to the president at the white house indicating Bulova's displeasure with the use of Swiss Chronographs in the American space program. NASA's response was to conduct further tests such that Bulova could compete for the right to become watch of choice for teh space program..

Bulova did not manufacture chronographs in America at this stage, so they were forced to submit 16 chronographs that they made in Switzerland, then shipped to the US where they dissembled and replaced the crystal, case, manufactured pin, crown and stem, dials and several gaskets.

This testing stage was done in two parts. The first part was to become flight qualified, which meant meeting the following general requirements. The watch had to be a chronograph, anti-magnetic, water-proof, shock resistant, case finished in non-reflective characteristics, crystal of chronograph anti-reflective, and accurate to within 6 seconds in a 24 hours period in the face up and face down positions. The watches that met these requirements were then subjected to the following seven tests :-

1. Vacuum Testing
2. Oxygen Atmosphere Testing
3. Low Temperature
4. Acceleration
5. Random Vibration
6. EMI Test
7. Humidity Testing

At the end of testing in 1972, the Bulova watch failed the tests, while the Omega Speedmaster Professional passed all the tests. NASA then named the Omega Speedmaster Professional the watch of choice for the space program.