A new Frederique Constant Slimline Perpetual Calendar Manufacture Designed by Peter Speake, nearly a year after their first collaboration
Moon phase
The moon phase or lunar phase is the shape of the sunlit portion of the Moon when you look at it from Earth. These phases change cyclically as the Moon orbits the Earth, according to the changing positions of the Moon and Sun relative to the Earth. The Moon’s rotation is tidally locked by the Earth’s gravity, therefore the same lunar surface always faces Earth. This face is variously sunlit depending on the position of the Moon in its orbit. There are four principal lunar phases: new moon (0% sunlit), first quarter, full moon (100% sunlit), and third quarter (also known as last quarter).
The average calendar month, which is 1⁄12 of a tropical year, is about 30.44 days, while the Moon’s phase (synodic) cycle repeats on average every 29.53 days. Therefore, the timing of the Moon’s phases shifts by an average of almost one day for each successive month. (Lunar year=354 days.) The approximate moon phase can be calculated for any date by calculating the number of days since a known new moon (such as January 1, 1900 or August 11, 1999) and reducing this modulo 29.530588853 (the length of a synodic month). Can you imagine how watch makers manage to create a moon phase complication?
Watches with moon phase
The A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar Platinum is the third model in the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar collection
Frederique Constant Manufacture Classic Power Reserve Big Date Steel
Frederique Constant introduces the Frederique Constant Manufacture Classic Power Reserve Big Date Steel, after launching earlier versions
F.P. Journe introduces the F.P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu Furtif for Only Watch 2023, engaging with this event for the fifth time
The Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300GR-001 is today’s most complicated wristwatch the brand has ever produced
A. Lange & Sohne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar White Gold
The new A. Lange & Sohne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar White Gold is a new addition to the 1815 collection
Patek Philippe is introducing another member of the Aquanaut collection, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Luce Annual Calendar Ref. 5261R-001
A new dress watch by Longines in the Heritage series (Est. 1957): the Longines Flagship Heritage Moon Phase
The Christiaan van der Klaauw Ariadne 2023 comes in three new versions which revives the classic Ariadne
HYT launches two new variants of their Moon Runner: the HYT Moon Runner Ghost and the HYT Moon Runner Desert