From gleaming mini lunar sculptures to a gem-studded retrograde display, these moonphase watches feature exceptional artistry that takes a historical complication to greater heights.
From gleaming mini lunar sculptures to a gem-studded retrograde display, these moonphase watches feature exceptional artistry that takes a historical complication to greater heights.
THERE AND BACK AGAIN
Instead of a disc that rotates to reflect lunar waxing and waning, the Rotonde de Cartier Day/Night Retrograde Moon Phase by Cartier displays the various phases of the moon – set with diamonds and sapphires – on the lower part of its gold-flecked blue dial. A retrograde ring-tipped hand, which slowly travels along the dial’s lower arc before returning to its original position, indicates the current moon phase.
NEW EXPRESSION
Set against a glossy white grand feu enamel dial, the lunar display of Blancpain’s Carrousel Moon Phase stands out with its cheeky countenance. It’s one of the quirky details we like about this 42mm red gold timepiece, which also includes a delicate blued serpentine hand indicating the month. Another standout feature: the brand’s carrousel, a mechanism somewhat similar to a tourbillon.
SEEING DOUBLE
With its English maritime roots, it is no surprise that Arnold & Son pulled out all the stops when making a watch centred on the moon – a navigational tool of seamen of yore. The beautifully sculpted lunar indication of the HM Double Hemisphere Perpetual Moon is one of the largest on the market, and there are two of those gilded mini moons here. Accurate to 122 years, they reflect the moon as seen in the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere.
STAR PERFORMER
The Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon (Ref. 6002G-010) is far, far more than just a moonphase watch. The 12-complication, double-faced timepiece, which comes in a hand-engraved 44mm white gold case, also includes astronomical features such as (on its reverse side) sidereal time and a sky chart, as well as a minute repeater, perpetual calendar and tourbillon.
DATE WITH DESTINY
A mother-of-pearl moon progresses over the course of a month in a sparkling red aventurine night sky in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Rendez-Vous Moon. More than 190 diamonds further light up this pink gold watch, which has a whimsical feature we love: That little star (seen here at seven o’clock) can be adjusted to indicate the time of an important appointment known only to the wearer.
