Review of a field watch with a Moonphase complication
I’m someone who thinks that a moonphase complication is an incredibly pointless complication for me, but I’m also someone who doesn’t care and has been wanting a moonphase for a while now. My problem before finding this was that most proper moonphase watches are far out if my price range a most seem to be on more dressy watches, and as a fan of tool and sport watches I just wouldn’t make enough use of a dress piece.
This is definitely a field watch. The styling and of the case and general rugged look mean that there is no mistaking this for anything else. With a 39mm diameter and a lug to lug of 46 this wears really well on my average sized 7 inch wrist. The mainly brushed case with the few polished features I think look really stylish while still being quite understated.
The dial fulfills one of my main requirements for a field watch legibility. The black dial with white indices and hands make telling the time really simple, and despite the date and moonphase complications the dial doesn’t look overly busy. That along with some nice touches like the colour matched date dial and red and white tipped second hand help make this an attractive face.
The lume isn’t too shabby either, with the large quarterly indices and large but pointed hands all well illuminated, this dial is still easily legible in the dark.
When I was researching this watch, I found a review of the three hand version of this by one of my favourite youtube reviewers Jody at JOMW, who’s main gripe appeals to be the size of the name, and yes Echo/Neutra Averau 39 Big Moon us a bit of a mouthfull. I still prefer it to the random seeming string of letters and numbers you get with Seikos and Casios. If the size of the name bothers you than maybe give this one a miss. But I am struggling to find much else wrong with this the movement is a Sellita SW-280-1 which seems fine for the price. As well as the time being easy to read so is the phase of the moon, with a simple double headed arrow telling you what phase we’re in. The bracelet looks great and is comfortable on, the clasp is a little small and could probably use a bit more micro-adjust. The nylon strap that came with the watch isn’t anything special and also is too long making it stick out a lot.
The specs are great for the price 100m wr with a screw down crown, a good Swiss movement with 41 hours of power reserve and I’ve already talked about the dimensions.
All in all a great field watch which I would happily recommend.
Review of a field watch with a Moonphase complication
Yes
No
- Highly legible
- Nice looks
- Reasonably priced
- The name is long
Based in Stockholm Sweden, always been interested in watches recently began taking a special interest in more independent watch brands.
That's an interesting watch. I don't own a moon-phase, and agree with you that there's really no point to it. Then again, there's no point to mechanical watches, so I'm obviously not too hung up on the point of things. Regarding the name...as much as I hate marketing, there's a value in a name that conjures an image. If you've named your company something that doesn't conjure the correct image, I think it's best to use a symbol as much as possible. In this case, I think they should have come up with a good logo and used that on the face of their watches. Watch dials tend to be too busy already, and a long name isn't helping.
That's an interesting watch. I don't own a moon-phase, and agree with you that there's really no point to it. Then again, there's no point to mechanical watches, so I'm obviously not too hung up on the point of things. Regarding the name...as much as I hate marketing, there's a value in a name that conjures an image. If you've named your company something that doesn't conjure the correct image, I think it's best to use a symbol as much as possible. In this case, I think they should have come up with a good logo and used that on the face of their watches. Watch dials tend to be too busy already, and a long name isn't helping.
That’s a good idea on the name. Christopher Ward did it and it worked out well.
I happen to like the name very much, has this 70s-modernist-designer-furniture ring to it, and it goes well with the techy style - looks like an astronomer's tool :) Indeed, it's one of my favourite watches of the last years, especially in black PVD.
As a keen amateur astronomer I find the moonphase would be handy - & it could be argued that the moonphase complication is far more useful than the date for soldiers, hunters, fishermen etc...
As a keen amateur astronomer I find the moonphase would be handy - & it could be argued that the moonphase complication is far more useful than the date for soldiers, hunters, fishermen etc...
I’m sure you’re right. I just said that the moonphase complication is pointless for me, someone who spends most of his time indoors and doesn’t need to know about the tides or even looks up especially often. I also have no use for a tourbillon but would guess that pocket watch enthusiasts can see the use in them.
I’m sure you’re right. I just said that the moonphase complication is pointless for me, someone who spends most of his time indoors and doesn’t need to know about the tides or even looks up especially often. I also have no use for a tourbillon but would guess that pocket watch enthusiasts can see the use in them.
Lol, I've zero use for a tourbillion but I would sure love one 😉
Cheers 👍🏻
#wornandwound also did a review on this a while back. I recall liking the looks and the seemingly contradictory nature of a field watch with a moonphase. I hope to add a moonphase to the collection someday. 🤤
https://wornandwound.com/review/review-echo-neutra-averau-39-moon-phase/
#wornandwound also did a review on this a while back. I recall liking the looks and the seemingly contradictory nature of a field watch with a moonphase. I hope to add a moonphase to the collection someday. 🤤
https://wornandwound.com/review/review-echo-neutra-averau-39-moon-phase/
I saw that and it was one of the things that helped me pull the trigger. This has definitely scratched the moonphase itch for me.
#wornandwound also did a review on this a while back. I recall liking the looks and the seemingly contradictory nature of a field watch with a moonphase. I hope to add a moonphase to the collection someday. 🤤
https://wornandwound.com/review/review-echo-neutra-averau-39-moon-phase/
I dont know why they would think a moon phase is contradictory to a field watch, i can find way more reasons to know if there is moonlight at night when in the field than when attending a fancy dinner with a dress watch on (although a moon phase looks cool).
A moon phase indicator is to me a great advantage when being in the wild as you can actually plan ahead with which nights there might be ligth for travel and which there are complete darkness that could be bad if traveling in rough terrain 👍
I really like the look of this watch and think it's a nice take on a modern field watch with an old school complication 😁🙌
I think JOMW objected to the lettering 'date' with an arrow pointed towards the date window, and he also objected to the 42 millimeter size it was at the time of the review. Both objections are no longer relevant.