The Christiaan van der Klaauw Real Moon Stella Nebula has a dial from ammolite, a gemstone formed from 71 million years old shells
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.
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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).
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Timing of the Moon’s phases shifts
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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.)
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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 complication like this?
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Watches with a moon phase
The moon phase complication of this Christiaan van der Klaauw Real Moon Joure Horizon is so accurate it deviates one day in 11,000 years
A tourbillon, moon phase and day/night indicator with a stunning 3D view: the Girard-Perregaux Planetarium Tri-Axial
The Christiaan van der Klaauw Supernova is a light version of the Hypernova; no chronograph but still an attractive design
The IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph with a round case is back, like the Ref. 3750 from 1985. No tonneau cases anymore
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Black Ceramic is the first Royal Oak with quantième perpétuele that has a ceramic case
Vacheron Constantin
Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600
The Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600 is the most complicated wristwatch ever made by VC
The Hermès Slim D’Hermès Quantième Perpétuel Platine looks much more attractive than the rather conservative rose gold version
These are the 16 best watches of 2016. We think. And we have categorized them by topic. Sort of. Here we go!
The F.P. Journe Octa Automatique Havana comes in two new versions: the Octa Automatique Reserve and the Octa Automatique Lune