A bigger better moon

To many of us watch enthusiasts there is no complication more romantic than the moon phase.  On a clear night we all enjoy looking to the heavens to see stars sparkling against the blackness of space and the star of the show is the bright reflection of the moon.  Without the moon half of the Speedmasters sold to date wouldn’t exist but that’s for another conversation.

Getting back to the moon, it makes a complete cycle from full moon to full moon in approximately 29 Days 13 hours.  Any watchmaker talented enough to add a date wheel to a watch can create a moon phase complication just by altering the gear ratio slightly.  They must than decorate the wheel and determine where to place the moon phase viewing window on the dial.

So this is where I have an issue (and you know I always have one).  Most watches have a tiny window and the same pathetic artwork to display the moon phase(see above photo).  I love the moon phase complication and need one in my collection but I want something large and special to represent what can be done.  So I searched for impressive moon phase watches. 

Arnold & Son HM Perpetual Moon packs a 29 mm moon phase in this 42 mm diameter case.  The gigantic moon with all of its detail surface detail is set on a blue guilloche wheel.  They come with Arnolds in house movement and list for $30,000 new but can be had for half that price preowned.

The Meister Singer Lunascope puts a large viewing window at 12 o’clock for their stunningly detailed gold colored moon.  The watch has only been available since 2018 and features an ETA 2836-2 movement.  The Meister Singer comes with only one hand and I have no idea how you use it to tell time but it is so nice to look at I really don’t care.  They sell new in the $3000 to $4000 range.

The Bvlgari Lvcea Moon Phases watch complete with two hands and a 36 mm case also displays the moon at 12 o’clock. Bvlgari takes the watch to the next level of elegance with a mother of pearl dial, diamond indexes, precious metal cases and lots of optional bling.  Approx $29,500.00 

Girard-Perregaux Cat’s Eye Celestial is a unique35.44 x 30.44 mm oval. The beautiful face of this watch is surrounded with 62 diamonds.  The moon is a large round piece of mother of pearl and indices are multiple diamonds.  $33,000.00  

Christopher Ward C1 Moonglow is a 40.5 mm diameter is made with their in-house JJ04 calibre.  What makes the C1 unique is the Grade X1 GL C1 Super-LumiNova® which emits an otherworldly ‘moonglow’.  The C1 features a date ring instead of a window.  $2195.00

I bought the Christopher Ward and will review it after I have had some time with it but the Arnold & Son could possibly be a replacement for it some day.