Before humans could accurately tell time with clocks and watches, the Sun, Moon, and constellations offered the only methods to measure the passage of time. While timepieces have largely replaced more primitive forms of timekeeping, the sky still functions as a guide to predict the coming days, weeks, months, and years. The relationship between the positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth is particularly important. As a result, moon phase watches serve as a celebration of the lunar cycle and its importance in our daily lives.
So, what is a moon phase watch? What’s the history of the moon phase complication? How accurate are moon phase watches? Are there different kinds of moon phase watches? Finally, how can you set a moon phase watch to ensure accuracy? We will answer all of these questions and more, but first, let’s look at the basic functions of a moon phase watch:
What Is A Moon Phase Watch?
Moon phase watches are timepieces that include a moon phase function. In other words, these watches tell the time and allow users to track the lunar calendar throughout the year. Today, the moon phase complication is largely aesthetic, though it can still serve a useful purpose for sailors and those studying the night sky.
“Moon phase” refers to the lit portion of the moon at a given point in time. As time passes, the moon’s position in relation to the Earth and the Sun shifts. That’s why we can look up at the night sky during some parts of the month and see a full moon, while we can only see a sliver of the moon — or even no moon — during other parts of the month. There are eight major moon phases in total, ranging from a completely unlit moon (we can only see the dark side) to a completely full moon (we can only see the light side).
While the underlying moon phase complication has drastically improved in modern times, moon phase watches have been around for years. Recordings of the moon calendar date all the way back to Ancient Greece with the invention of the Antikythera. This mechanism remained the most accurate way of tracking moon phases for thousands of years. However, with the introduction of astronomical clocks during the Renaissance, the world saw the first examples of moon phase timepieces.
The invention of the pocket watch in the 16th century and later the wristwatch in the mid-19th century ensured that timekeeping mechanisms continued to advance. While tracking of the lunar phase fell out of fashion for many years, it regained popularity with the introduction of the moon phase watch in the 20th Century. Today, moon phase watches represent a combination of modern timekeeping and the lunar phase traditions of centuries past.
How Accurate Are Moon Phase Watches?
The precision of each moon watch varies from one manufacturer to another. That said, some of the top moon phase watches can guarantee accurate moon phase measurements for more than a century! Since the movement of the moon can be easily measured, most moon phase watches ensure accuracy for decades — if not longer.
Every moon phase lasts for 29.53 days, which is why every month of the year lasts for roughly 30 days. The original Roman Calendar was adjusted so that it would align with the lunar calendar. As a result, days were added to some months and subtracted from others to ensure that the calendar could accurately predict the passage of time for thousands of years — without the need to change months in the middle of a day.
Since we know the length of every moon phase, it’s easy to see how modern moon phase watches can be so accurate. They simply display the current phase of the moon on a moon dial that functions in tandem with the standard timekeeping mechanism. Typically, the moon phase dial is a visual representation of the moon, giving lunar watches both functional and aesthetic appeal. However, there are also radial moon phase watches, which track the lunar cycle using a separate indicator hand.
How To Set A Moon Phase Watch
Generally, the moon phase complication will already be set when you purchase a moon phase watch. However, in the event that your moon phase watch is not in line with the lunar calendar, you will need to set it accordingly. To set a moon phase dial, you must first ensure that you know how long it has been since the last full moon. You will also need to know if the moon is “waxing” (going from no moon to full moon) or “waning” (going from full moon to no moon).
For example, let’s say that the last full moon occurred three days ago and the lunar cycle is in the “waxing” phase. First, you will want to ensure that you don’t inadvertently disturb the moon phase watch setting. Assuming that you have an analog moon phase watch, you should first adjust the time so that it reads 6:30. This ensures that you do not damage any of the mechanisms in the complication.
Once the time is set, you will need to adjust the moon phase dial. On most moon phase watches, this can be done by pressing the corrector button on the side of the watch face. You may not be able to press the corrector with your finger, as this could cause the moon phase complication to get out of sync on a regular basis. Instead, you will likely need to use a pin or something similar to press the button.
Every time you press the corrector button, the moon dial will shift positions. Assuming that it’s been three days since the last full moon, you should press the button until the moon phase dial is in the full moon position. Then, press the corrector three more times for the three additional days that have passed. If your watch has a standard calendar dial — as most moon phase watches do — you’ll want to set the calendar one day behind the current day. This way, when you go to set the correct time, you can advance by one day without undoing your moon phase settings. Now, you should have the correct moon phase, date, and time set on your moon phase watch.
It’s important to note that these instructions work for a “bosom” moon phase watch, which displays the moon phases in an aperture on the watch face. If you have a radial moon phase watch, the process will be a little different. Most radial moon phase watches have a separate crown or corrector button to adjust the moon phase complication. If you have a separate crown for the moon phase, you will simply need to get the dial to the correct moon phase, much like you would when setting the date or time. The same goes for a radial moon phase watch with a corrector button; you must click the corrector button until the indicator points to the current phase of the lunar cycle.
We hope you found our guide on moon phase watches useful! If you’d like to learn more about buying a moon phase watch, feel free to contact the experts at Ashford today!
