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That the moon has different phases is something most of us are aware of, but some are yet to discover the many benefits that come with owning moonphase watches. These will accurately inform you about the current phase the moon is in. This is a practice that was once used to tell the month and to keep up with the calendar.
A moonwatch piece does not rely on Facebook or the internet for this, and instead, it has its own function that can be either mechanical or automatic, which gives you a clock that does so much more than just to tell time. Impress your friends by always knowing what phase the moon is in, and learn more about the different phases for your own entertainment.
A perpetual moon watch is a timepiece you want to own, both if you’ve previously owned one or if you are only just discovering the lune watches, and we are here to help you sort through the dauntingly large selection to find the best possible moon phase watches.
View The Best Moonphase Watches Below
1. Seiko Neo Classic Dial Leather Watch
We are starting with this moon phase complication watch, which shows you the phases in the built-in perpetual calendar. On top of this, it has a tachymeter on the outer rim, sizeable round dial with a stainless steel case.
The band is made with natural and authentic leather, has a tang buckle for safe- and easy closing scratch-resistant crystal (Hardlex) covering the dial and quartz movement. When adding this gorgeous timepiece to your collection – you get a moon phase complication piece with stunning gold details, lune features, a large diameter case, and much more.
This model was made by a brand that puts care and perfection into each timepiece that they make. A product like this will look great with any outfit and work well for any type of activity and/or occasion, and it is simply something you can’t go wrong with.
Pros:
+ Outer rim with Tachymeter
+ Non-scratch Hardlex crystal
+ Leather band and tang clasp
+ With a perpetual calendar
Why We Like It – It is thin, discrete, and beautifully crafted, and you can easily see every moonphase as it happens on the sky outside, making this a dream for anyone who wants the best available moonphase watches.
2. Casio Pro Trek Solar Digital Sport Watch
When using the power saving function on this master watch-product, you get a total of 23 months of battery time, which is am impressive power reserve for this type of product. It means you can wear it for days and years without having to worry about losing access to your perpetual moon calendar in case the battery runs out.
It has an altimeter, barometer, thermometer, a digital compass, and a tide graph, and all this makes it so much easier to prepare yourself for outdoor adventures and any pre-planned activity.
You can set a total of five alarms with the option to activate a snooze function, and enjoy the ease of which you can see the screen also in dim lighting thanks to the EI backlight with a lasting afterglow. For someone who wants all available functions packed into a durable and great looking timepiece – these are worth having a look at.
Pros:
+ Moonphase and tide graph
+ Solar-powered battery
+ Easy-to-use button operation
+ Resistant to low temperatures
Why We Like It – This is the master of digital perpetual moon calendar watches, with an unbeatable power reserve and easily activated button controlled features.
3. Bulova Special Edition Lunar Pilot Chronograph Watch
Here we have a premium limited edition moonphase timepiece that will blow your mind! The sleek design makes it look both luxurious and impressive. It has an analog quartz movement, a 45mm round case, a perpetual calendar, a beautifully crafted stainless-steel bracelet, 50-meter water-resistance, chronograph, sapphire glass, excellent power reserve, precisionist technology and more.
This watch by Bulova is a lune watch that was made with an earlier version in mind – the watch worn by the mission commander of Apollo 15. Being a very accurate replica of such a historical item- this is a product you need to have in your collection, and especially if you are on the hunt for a lunar watch.
Pros:
+ Black multiple-layer carbon fiber
+ 12-hour chronograph
+ Tachymeter and screw-down crown
+ Extra luminous watch hands
Why We Like It – If you are willing to pay the price for this stunning moonwatch, you will soon discover what a gem it is, in terms of both fun features and quality.
4. Orient ‘Sun and Moon’ Japanese Automatic Watch
The sub-dials of this water-resistant piece show you the days on the left, and the moon phases on the right. It is a lightweight and practical watch with Japanese automatic movement, large roman numerals and a gold lunar dial that you just won’t be able to resist. There is a date window at 6 o’clock, and everything about this watch is in perfect harmony – the price, the beautiful white gold design, the large 42.5mm case, and the celestial vibe it transmits.
You can enjoy both telling times, checking day and date, and keeping track of what the sun and the moon are up to out there in the universe. For someone who wants an automatic movement watch with the option to track the moon and sun during the day and night – this is the watch for you.
Pros:
+ Moon and sun indicator
+ Durable leather strap
+ Japanese automatic movement
+ Impressive 42.5mm case
Why We Like It – Who needs access to any other calendar when you have this alligator leather strap watch? It shows day, date, moon, and sun movements, and looks great in the process.
5. Seiko Classic Stainless Steel Chronograph Wristwatch
A moonphase watch can be more than just brands like Omega Speedmaster, Patek Philippe, and Frederique Constant, and these affordable watches prove it! A classic stainless-steel design with a sizeable cream-colored dial, roman numerals, gold details, calendar, and many other features come together to create a fantastic watch at a surprisingly reasonable price.
The leather strap gives it an exclusive look you rarely see in watches in this price class. The clock function is highly reliable thanks to the automatic Japanese Quartz movement so that you won’t have to worry about winding it up, and the 100-meter water resistance is ideal if you would accidentally spill something on it or get caught in heavy rain.
Pros:
+ Alligator leather band with buckle closure
+ Analog display and Japanese quartz movement
+ Three well-placed chronograph sub-dials
+ Cream colored dial and silver case
Why We Like It – A good watch does not have to be too expensive. That’s why this classic timepiece is on our list! High quality, design, and functions, yet an affordable price compared to what you get.
6. Stührling Original Skeleton Watch
For some people, getting to see how something works is quite an experience, and this watch here allows you to see it “tell time”. It has a large size round skeleton dial – opening up to a whole world of watch mechanics, a premium alligator strap which can be adjusted to fit your wrist correctly.
It has a sun and moon strap up top and three other sub-dials, breathtaking white gold details, and an overall stunning appearance. By getting this one-of-a-kind watch – you double the fun, as it will not only tell you the time, each phase of the moon, and more, but it will just go right ahead and show you how it does it.
Pros:
+ Automatic mechanism technology
+ Genuine alligator leather strap
+ Available in three presentations
+ Gold and white gold details
Why We Like It – Brands like Patek Philippe or products like the Omega Speedmaster are great and all, but wear this watch and see how it will turn heads whenever you walk into a room!
7. Casio Shock Rescue Digital Black Resin Watch
The buckle closure resin band gives this moonphase watch that sporty look you might have been looking for, and the four-point design and buttons make it very easy to use also when doing sports and when performing an activity. It has a large digital dial and presents you with accurate moonphase data as well as data related to the tide, and it is both shock- and water-resistant to put up with heavy-duty use.
You won’t have to worry about it raining when you are wearing it or about accidentally dropping it or bump it into something, and the digital clock makes sure it continuously displays accurate data! This is a brand that has been manufacturing quality products for years, so this is definitely a timepiece you want to add to your list of potential options.
Pros:
+ Moon phase and tide data
+ Durable resin wristband
+ Four-point sports design
+ Large easy-access buttons
Why We Like It – Automatic digital movement makes this a definite contender on the list of the best moonphase watches, and it is the perfect product for someone who enjoys sports and physical activities.
8. Stuhrling Original Ascot Swiss Quartz Analog Date Wristwatch
You can get this product in silver, gold, white gold, blue, rose, black and more, and it will quickly make you the master of moonphase monitoring! The Stuhrling brand is known for producing among the best watches, yet the price is one that many would agree is surprisingly affordable. To be able to get a quality product at a reasonable price is nice.
These watches have a stunning and timelessly classic design. The Stuhrling is thin and low-weight, with a round dial (the dial comes in the colors mentioned above) with Roman numerals and a date window you can easily set up and manipulate. It comes with an international warranty to make sure you are always 100% satisfied.
Pros:
+ Round dials with Roman numerals
+ Quick-set date window
+ Multiple dial color options
+ Automatic clock movement
Why We Like It – A product like this is a great and affordable low price alternative to a Patek Philippe timepiece and any other high-end brand, and it comes in stunning colors like gold, silver, and black. If you want a stunning and straightforward product rather than, for example, the Omega Speedmaster – this is an excellent pick.
9. Victorinox Original Stainless Steel Watch
There is something highly sophisticated about this luxury brand timepiece. You’ll find it has a reliable clock movement, a decent price considering what you get for the money, beautiful gold details, anti-reflective triple-coated sapphire crystal to prevent it from scratching, 660ft water-resistance and many other features. It is a mid-priced timepiece that compares to some Patek Philippe models and the Omega.
Moonphase complication timepieces offer so much more than just a clock function, but sometimes something simple is your best call – and this brand makes products that take the concept ‘simple’ to a new and modern level. It has an analog quartz movement, just like the Complication Omega clock, military-time, and built-in end-of-life indicator.
Pros:
+ 43mm case with colored dial
+ Military-time and date window
+ Water and heat resistant
+ Swiss-made design
Why We Like It – Who needs a pricy Omega complication clock when you can get this sleek and classy moonphase complication timepiece – lightweight and exclusive looking, and perfect for everyday use.
10. Akribos Mechanical Moonphase Design Watch with Automatic Dual-time Dial
This tourbillon moonphase complication timepiece is the master of masters when it comes to these types of products! It has a beautiful moonphase display, showing AM and PM with the sun and the moon, a small skeleton sub-dial, which will have even the Omega take a step back. It is a complication moonphase timepiece that makes this list thanks to the many design features.
With a fluted onion style crown for mechanical self-winding, golden Roman numerals, a leather strap (why not get a moonphase complication product that has both the look and the functions?) and tourbillon caliber movement. Oh, and it fits comfortably on most wrists. If you are not quite sure what kind of a product you are looking for, and if you struggle to choose between a more classic look and a skeleton dial – this one right here has it all!
Pros:
+ 42.5mm Roman numeral dial
+ Skeleton window and sun/moon dial
+ Fluted onion style crown
+ Self-winding mechanical movement
Why We Like It – To top off the list – this master of a moonphase complication timepiece has a skeleton window and is an overall stunning fashion statement with multiple features.
Moonphase Watches Buyers Guide
Moon phase watches sound exotic and exciting, and it is the kind of name that draws attention to itself instantly. However, far from everyone knows what a moon phase complication watch is, and much less how one works or how you might benefit from owning one! If you are still not convinced you to want to add one to your collection, then perhaps the following buyer’s guide will help.
Names like the Omega (all Omega models), the Omega Speedmaster, Patek Philippe watches, Frederique Constant, and more may not mean much to you unless you know what moonphase watches actually are. So, let’s have a look to help you figure out if a strap watch like this is something you could benefit from, and which one on the list is the right moonphase product for you.
Moon Phases
Before we can go into what a moon watch is and how they work, we need to look into what an actual moon phase is, and why this is relevant. You have probably seen that the moon looks different sometimes and that you can’t always see the whole thing. This is because the moon is not always in the same position compared to the earth and sun.
Because of this – you will see more or less of it. It is almost always the same part of the moon that can be seen from earth. However, how much is lit by the sun depends on the position of the earth, sun, and moon.
During a full moon, 100% is lit up, while a new moon means 0%. This is not relevant for when purchasing watches with moon phase, but it can help you see how interesting it could be to own one.
What a Moonphase Watch Is
Most people know that the sun can be used to tell the time of day, what day it is, and even the season, but the moon also plays a massive role in time-telling! It was the moon that was initially used when counting and keeping track of every month, and a moon phase watch basically allows you to see what phase the moon is currently in.
It is almost like carrying a small moon around with you, attached right there on your wrist, and the moonphase timepiece will be showing you continuously – and accurately – what moon phase you will see if you look out the window and look at the sky above.
How a Moonphase Watch Works
Moon watches show time just like any other watch. Still, they also have the dial display each moonphase, and this is usually executed by using a disk that rotates inside the dial, with two moons on it, to accurately demonstrate the way the moon changes.
It takes 29 (29.53) days for the moon to complete a full cycle and go back to how it was on the first day, and a mechanical hand inside the dial will – with the use of a 59-tooth gear – move the disk with the two identical moons forward one step per day.
The result is a very accurate demonstration of the actual moon phases, but due to how these systems work, you are likely to need to make a small adjustment for accuracy every two years or so.
Why Needs a Moon Phase Watch?
The truth is, a moon phase watch is no longer needed, necessarily, as this is not anything we have to rely on to tell the time in this day and age. We now use our smartphones, smartwatches and more to check what month it is, but this does not mean that a moon phase watch can’t be fun to use.
Many people will agree that there is something enchanting about the moon, and having it with you at all times – being able to look down on your wrist to see if it’s a full moon outside – is just not something a smart device can do. Sure, you can search the internet for information about the current moonphase, but the mechanical movement of the best moonphase watches has a charm of its own.
So, the simple answer is that few probably need one, but many would benefit greatly from owning these watches. Who knows, keeping track of the moon might even develop into something of a hobby, turning you into a master of moonphase movements!
Conclusion
Don’t overthink it when you set out to get a watch with moonphase and try to focus on the clock as a whole rather than on this one feature. Moon phase watches are fun and interesting, both if you have previous experience (moon phase enthusiasts – we know you are out there) of the phases of the moon and if you are new to the concept of what goes on in the sky at night. But, you will want to make sure you get a timepiece model that accurately displays this, and also one that goes with your personal style and preferences. That is what this list is for.
Expert Tip
Before starting to use moon phase watches, it is worth it to take some time to learn about the different moon phases, what they mean and how to recognize them, as this will make having a moon master watch a lot more fun.
Did You Know
The moon is located approximately 250 000 miles away from planet earth, and its age is believed to be somewhere around 4.5 billion years.