Moser ChroniclesKnowledgeComplications— MOON PHASE, explained: meet our most celestial complication

9 April 2024

MOON PHASE, explained: meet our most celestial complication

From new moon to full moon, explore one of the earliest complications ever made.

The Moon Phase,
explained by our
talking complication

Hello lovelies, I am a Moon Phase crafted by H. Moser & Cie. My watchmaker says that I am one of the earliest complications ever made. (He’s quite charming…I think he’s a Virgo.) I am designed to dance to the rhythm of the moon. Think of me as a timely reminder of our place in the cosmos. Fun fact: if you set me up correctly, I can remain accurate for 1,027 years.

Don’t believe me? Well, watch my film. I’m sure you’ll be sufficiently dazzled.

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The Moon Phase,
explained by
our watchmaker

The Moon Phase is one of my favourite complications. It is proof that high horology can be infused with a touch of magic. A Moon Phase complication tracks the lunar cycle, displaying the current phase of the moon. This poetic feature is a nod to ancient times, when lunar cycles were essential for timekeeping.

Mechanically, the complication usually operates via a disc that has two identical moons painted on it. This disc rotates slowly beneath an aperture on the dial, which reveals a portion of the moon, representing its current phase. The typical Moon Phase watch will have a 29.5-day cycle, which is an approximation of the moon’s actual lunar cycle of about 29.53 days. This means a typical Moon Phase watch would be off by one day every 2 years, 7 months, and 20 days if not adjusted.

At H. Moser & Cie. we have found an elegant way of incorporating this complication into our collections. The Endeavour Perpetual Moon, for instance, is a visual delight that can also boast of being one of the most accurate moon phases in horology, deviating by only one day every 1,027 years. Even if I wasn’t an H. Moser & Cie. watchmaker, I’d be quite impressed.

Keep your eyes peeled, our talking watches have a lot more up their sleeves. 

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