Dhe moon has always played a special role for mankind and not without reason. It orbits the earth like a satellite and is therefore the brightest visible object in the sky after the sun. The gravity of the moon plays a crucial role in life on our planet. Not only would a day be just 8 hours instead of 24 hours, we would also miss the beginnings of today's calendars, because many hundreds of years ago a month corresponded to a phase of the moon.
Moon phases occur at regular intervals. They indicate the position of the moon in relation to the earth and the sun. Over the course of a moon phase, the sun illuminates different areas of the moon depending on which part the earth casts its shadow on. However, the side of the moon that we see on earth is always the same.
The current phase of the moon
The different phases of the moon
Purpose of a moon phase calendar
Clocks with moon phases
What is the current moon phase today?
The animated calendar shows the current status of the moon phase. Over a period of about 29.5 days, the moon seen above moves from bottom left to bottom right until it can no longer be seen (new moon) and the phase begins again. When the moon is in the middle at the top of the calendar, then it is full moon reached. If the moon is in the left area of the window, the moon is waxing. If it is in the right area of the calendar, the moon is waning.
You can easily set your watch according to the current status of our moon phase calendar.
What does a moon phase show?
The different phases of the moon include new moon, waxing moon, full moon and waning moon. At the new moon, the moon is between the sun and the earth, i.e. it is illuminated from its back and is as good as invisible to us on earth. It moves from there via the waxing moon to the full moon as soon as it is behind the earth and the earth is between the sun and the moon. Thus, the front of the moon is illuminated by the sun, making it fully visible to us. After that, the visible area of the moon decreases again until, after 29 days and almost 13 hours, it is again between the earth and the sun as a new moon.
What can you tell from the different phases of the moon?
In addition to the position of the moon in relation to the earth and the sun, the strength of the tides, i.e. the ebb and flow, can be read from the moon phase. Whenever the sun, moon and earth are in line, the tides are particularly strong. These two points in time are always at new moon (no visible moon) and full moon (fully visible moon) with a slight delay due to inertia.
From the regular sequence of the moon phases, the moon already played an important role in determining time spans thousands of years before Christ and probably served as the basis for the first calendars. Thus, the time from one full moon to the next was counted as one month, which is approximately 29.5 days. The moon played a very valuable role and the display of the moon phase became part of watchmaking with a long tradition very early on.
Watches with a lunar calendar
Today, of course, the moon phase has a different relevance than hundreds of years ago. Nonetheless, it has become an increasingly popular feature on watches. It is usually not only presented in a very stylish way, it also evokes a long tradition and an object that has always played a special mythical or religious role in our cultures, namely the moon. The moon phase display has its origins in mechanical watches, where it is considered a minor complication. Mechanical watches with a moon phase calendar are still considered luxury items with a special elegance and high value. So fits most of these models simple leather watch strap, which does not divert attention from the watch itself.
Watches with a moon phase display are often priced in the four-digit, if not five-digit range. We have put together some of the most beautiful models.
A very prominent model is certainly the Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph. Every lover knows the model mentioned under the legendary Moonwatch, since it was the first watch that NASA took to the moon. This watch is also available as a variant with a small moon phase and date display. Of course, this no longer corresponds to the original Omega Moonwatch model, which was so popular, but in our opinion it is a nice variation on the legendary design.
Rolex presented a relatively new variant of its collection at Baselworld, namely the Cellini Moonphase. This is the first time Rolex has launched a watch with a moon phase display since the 1950s. This already shows an increasing trend for this function. In addition to the unusually open display of the moon phase, the moon itself is said to consist of a meteorite fragment that immediately catches the eye. In addition, Rolex has patented its model in the movement for the display, as it could be developed with an astronomical accuracy of 122 years.
The Jaeger LeCoultre Master Calendar also offers a moon phase complication, which finds an expressive place on a simple and uncluttered dial. The beautiful moon phase is shown in a classic way with a date display and is located in a particularly flat movement.
Arnold & Son has with the Perpetual Moon launched a collection of moon phase watches that offers an extra large display for a prominent moon. The moon disc is engraved by hand and made of either silver or gold.
In addition to the comparatively more expensive luxury brands such as Rolex, Jaeger LeCoultre, A. Lange & Söhne or IWC, there are also somewhat more affordable models such as these Junghans master calendar with classic display of the moon phase and in combination with the date. But even in this segment, most models are in a price range above 1,000 euros. The vild Moonphase watch with lunar calendar in a simple Bauhaus style therefore offers a timelessly classic and inexpensive alternative.
vild moon phases clock
The You can find the current moon phase here. According to the status shown there, the lunar calendar of watches can also be set.
