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.
