Category: Moon phase

Frédérique Constant Updates the Slimline Moonphase Manufacture with New Display and Case

As we already showed you in several articles, Frédérique Constant watches have some impressive qualities. In fact, they allow collectors with a smaller budget accessing to a luxurious and elegant design, classical complications and even manufacture movements (as we showed you in our video report). This is what the brand calls “accessible luxury”. With this in mind, Frédérique Constant has decided to update one of its best-sellers, the discreet and elegant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture, with a new display – all of that being available in a relatively small case.

7 years ago

Ulysse Nardin Goes Back To Astronomical Watches with the Complex Moonstruck Worldtimer

Ulysse Nardin’s history is deeply linked to Marine chronometers, yet there’s another speciality, rather forgotten, that the manufacture masters (and which is not that far from Marine watches), the astronomical watches. Some may recall the mid-1980s Trilogy – Astrolabium Galileo Galilei (introduced in 1985), Planetarium Copernicus (introduced in 1988) and Tellurium Johannes Kepler (introduced in 1992). This year, UN introduces yet another astronomical watch, the Moonstruck Worldtimer, combining the movements of the moon and sun in relation to the Earth, as well as a map of the tides and (novelty) a world-time display. You say complex, we say exciting.

7 years ago

Women’s Watch Wednesday – Blancpain’s New Quantieme Phases de Lune Has a Tiny Secret on the Moon

Since its inception back in 1984, Blancpain has never built a quartz watch. In fact, I remember the unveiling of the first-ever Blancpain watch at the Basel Fair, wherein the then 34-year-old Jean-Claude Biver announced in the midst of the quartz era that this was a brand dedicated to mechanical watches. The announcement shook attendees at the event, with many naysayers insisting the brand could not last with a mechanical focus. Fast-forward 33 years and not only is Blancpain still a pure mechanical brand, but also it is creating simple mechanical complications for women, just like the recently introduced Blancpain Villeret Quantième Phases de Lune.

7 years ago

Hands-On – The IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase, A Classic Modernized

Over the last few years, IWC has been steadily re-positioning its various collections in a decidedly upward direction. Most notably, the Portugieser has moved up a few rungs on the price list, whilst the Portifino now occupies the space this move created. Although at first this may not seem like great news for your wallet, it has resulted in the introduction of several interesting and attractive pieces into the Portofino range, including this gorgeous IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase. Today, we go hands on to find out what all the fuss is about.

7 years ago

Hands-On – Elegant and Balanced, The Drive De Cartier Moon Phases

At the SIHH 2017, Cartier introduced a watch that I considered a hit (this remains of course very personal), the Drive de Cartier Extra Flat. Slim, refined, elegant, perfectly proportioned, featuring a nice engine… Well, in fact, this watch might be problematic for some. Obvious reason: its price, as only available in gold. Then, it might be too clean, too simple for some. In addition to the existing models (time-and-date and dual-time), Cartier introduced a Moon Phases version of the Drive, with quite some arguments to fell satisfied.

7 years ago

Jaeger-LeCoultre Updates The Master Ultra-Thin Collection With Colored Dials

At SIHH 2017, some new Master Ultra-Thin watches went almost unnoticed, as the cool Master Control with Sector Dial somehow stole the show. However, the old Maison was not short of watches to feed the 2017 catalogue. Today, we take a look at 4 unapologetically elegant new watches with classic style and functions, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra-Thin Small Second, the Master Ultra-Thin MoonPhase, the Master Ultra-Thin Power Reserve and the Master Ultra-Thin Perpetual Calendar, all of them now paired with grey or blue dial.

7 years ago

When The Crown Goes Classic… The Rolex Cellini Moonphase Ref. 50535

Usually, when you imagine a watch bearing the name Rolex, you have something purpose-built, casual-sport (not always, but usually the dressier you can think about is a Day-Date) and quite simple in terms of complications (to the exception of the Sky-Dweller… but it is one watch in the middle of mainly time-and-date pieces). Yet, in 2014, Rolex revived a name synonymous of elegance and dressed watches: Cellini. Built around a classical and subtle case, this watch already introduced several complications, with all of them being rather practical. But what if The Crown goes where you don’t expect them… into poetical complications. Not very Rolex you’ll admit. Though, this is what you’ll get with the new Rolex Cellini Moonphase Ref. 50535 and it feels very satisfying.

8 years ago

Baselworld 2017 – Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Moon (Hands-On)

For Baselworld 2017, Jaquet Droz integrates what certainly is the most poetical complication in their very poetical watch, unique in its display, the Grande Seconde. Based on the now iconic 8-shaped dials, with a second larger than the rest of the time, what the brand has done is a perfect example of integration. Indeed, this moon-phase feels like it has always been part of the concept, as natural evolution of the watch… Here is the new Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Moon. And you already know that it is a perfectly achieved watch by just reading this introduction.

8 years ago

Hands-on with the new Jaeger-leCoultre Reverso Tribute Moon

It is hard to imagine that a watch like the Reverso could become even more successful. With the creation of the “Reverso Tribute”-collection, this is exactly what happened. Now that Jaeger-LeCoultre has released the Reverso Tribute Moon it moves to even higher ground.

8 years ago