Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details
For decades, the moon phase complication has been an intricate aesthetic feature inherent to luxury watch brands. The likes of Omega, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Patek Philippe boast some real pieces of art that make every dress watch admirer drool.
However, the array of moon phase watches has become broader than ever before in recent years, allowing even an average Joe to pamper his wrist with such a visual treat.
For all the “Joes” out there, we’ve compiled the best men’s moon phase watches that are sure to catch some envious looks from friends and co-workers with the inclusion of this prestigious complication.
Our list consists of watches from affordable to premium class, from a mere couple of hundred to a couple of thousand dollars, and from widely known brands to relatively unfamiliar newcomers.
So stay tuned to find out the best fit for your style and wallet.
- Karl-Leimon Moonphase Watch
- Tissot Carson
- Rotary Windsor
- Graf Zeppelin Hindenburg
- Citizen Calendrier BU0057-54E
- Mathey-Tissot Edmond
- Raymond Weil Maestro Moonphase
- Longines Master Collection Watch
- Frederique Constant Classics Business Timer
- Glycine Combat Classic
- Orient Star Open Heart
- Edox Les Bemonts
- Omega Speedmaster Co-Axial Moonwatch
- MeisterSinger Lunascope
- Zenith El Primero
The Background of Moon Phase Watches
Before heading to the shortlist, let’s briefly explain the term and other important things about moon phase watches.
A moon phase watch is a timepiece that features an aperture depicting the different phases of the moon.
The most prevalent type of moon phase watch is the bosom style, where the two bumps help to present waning and waxing phases. The other prevalent type is where an overlapping disc covers the unlit part of the moon.
A typical moon phase complication comprises a 59-tooth wheel that advances once a day. The wheel has two identical moons opposite each other to cover two complete lunar cycles – one moon for a 29.5-day cycle.
Moon phase watches don’t have much of a practical purpose in wearers’ everyday lives. These days, the phases can be easily checked from smartphones. Therefore, the purpose of a moon phase complication is purely visual.
If you wish to learn more about this eye-catching type of watch, visit our guide to moon phase watches.
Now, let us head to the shortlist that is categorized by price groups, starting with affordable options.
Moon Phase Watches Under $500
Karl-Leimon Moonphase Watch
Case Size: 38mm
Movement: Japanese quartz
Crystal: Sapphire
I’m sure quite many of you haven’t even heard from such a brand as Karl-Leimon. To be frank, the majority in the watch industry hasn’t because it is a fresh, crowdfunded Japanese manufacturer that first emerged in 2017.
The brand aims to create affordable luxury watches for all admiring the classic style.
The Karl-Leimon Moonphase watch does provide the classic appeal they pursue, but moreover, it comes with quality materials you typically find from premium watches, and it features an intricate moon phase complication as well.
You’ll find the watch in a high-grade 316L stainless case that houses a Japanese quartz movement. The deep blue dial is covered with an anti-reflective and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, the best you can have in a watch these days. Last but not least, the quality leather strap provides both comfort and stylish appeal.
The aperture for the moon phase complication has a classic appeal where the moon is yellow and the background is scattered with stars.
Besides the moon phase, the Karl-Leimon watch is also fitted with a complete calendar feature with separate subdials for the date, day of the week, and month.
In terms of comfort, the watch is spot-on for medium and small-sized wrists due to its 38mm case diameter. What makes it suitable to wear with a suit and tie is also the fact the watch measures a modest 10mm in height. Hence, it slips neatly underneath the sleeve.
Although the brand may be unknown to the broader community, its watches are worth trying due to premium quality at very affordable rates. The 2-year warranty also boosts the confidence that they’re not any throwaway pieces.
Karl-Leimon has the broadest selection of moon phase watches that any watch manufacturer provides. For example, besides this model, you’ll find a silver-black Karl-Leimon and an all-black Karl-Leimon moon phase watch. They are equally good to the blue version, but offer nice alternatives in terms of appearance.
Tissot Carson
Case Size: 40mm
Movement: Swiss quartz
Crystal: Sapphire
The Tissot Carson is a spot-on wearable for men admiring blue dress watches.
It has a blue sunray dial, combined with a dark blue leather strap. The watch pairs wonderfully with blue shoes and a belt and doesn’t look out of place with jeans either.
What makes it a suitable dress piece is its classic appearance. Surrounded with Roman numerals and paired with an elegant moon phase aperture, the dial couldn’t get any dressier.
Moreover, it is a practical watch as well as it is highly legible and features a date window.
The physical dimensions of 40mm diameter and 8mm height only cement its suitability with smart outfits.
When it comes to quality, the Carson is a classic Tissot watch. It has a scratch-resistant sapphire covering the subtle dial, Swiss quartz powering the timekeeping module, and a 316L stainless steel case protecting from hits and knocks.
All in all, the Carson watch is a safe bet if you want a long-lasting timepiece.
If you’re not quite into blue-toned watches, you should see the silver-toned Tissot Carson. It has also swapped the leather strap with a luxurious-like 5-link stainless steel bracelet that makes the watch a real eye-catcher.
Rotary Windsor
Case Size: 40mm
Movement: Japanese quartz
Crystal: Sapphire
The Rotary Windsor is the most classic moon phase watch you can get for a couple of hundred bucks. It also comes with plenty of quality for the money, which makes it an excellent value deal.
Like several moon phase watches, the Rotary Windsor has four subdials – day, date, month, and moon phase.
The calendar feature is easy to follow due to the contrasting blue hands on a white background. The numbers and letters are also legible, so there will be no squinting when checking the date or the day of the week.
The moon phase aperture comes with a standard yellow-blue color combination, coupled with a classy Rotary branding underneath it.
The functions run on a Japanese quartz movement that keeps a +/-15 seconds a month accuracy and works like a charm.
Excellent addition to the watch is the inclusion of a sapphire crystal. It is the best type of watch crystal in wristwatches due to its ultimate scratch resistance and superb transparency. Not many timepieces have it at a given price point.
The Rotary Windsor is, therefore, an excellent moon phase watch with enough quality to last you for years to come. Moreover, it looks damn good and can fool people into thinking it’s an expensive luxury watch.
Graf Zeppelin Hindenburg
Case Size: 40mm
Movement: Swiss quartz
Crystal: Hesalite
Honoring the achievements of the inventor Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the German brand amazes with refined vintage watches. The Zeppelin Moon Phase piece takes us back in time with its archaic numbers font and Breguet hands.
Although a vintage style generally suggests a minimalist approach, the watch’s actual looks are a total opposite.
First off, the calendar reads days and dates on two subdials, while the weeks are present on the dial’s outer ring, indicated by an extra hand.
The moon phase indicator occupies the third subdial. It lets you check the current phase at a convenient position at the bottom of the face. What makes the moon phase especially eye-catching is its classic yellow-blue color scheme, which, in my opinion, is the best design of all.
All these features, as well as the main timekeeping, are powered by a 5-jewel Swiss Ronda quartz movement known for its accuracy and durability.
If there’s one thing that falls out of the ensemble in terms of quality, it’s the Hesalite crystal (commonly known as acrylic glass). It receives scratches fairly easily (though they can be easily polished out) and doesn’t have the best transparency compared to sapphire and mineral.
The reason acrylic is used in this watch is because of the watch’s vintage style and not because the brand wished to cut costs (hopefully). Back in the day, even Rolex and Omega employed acrylic. Therefore, we can forgive the fact that quality is sacrificed to serve the retro feel you get with this Zeppelin.
All in all, this Made in Germany watch is definitely worth a chance, especially considering the more-than-affordable price tag.
Citizen Calendrier BU0057-54E
Case Size: 44mm
Movement: Solar quartz
Crystal: Mineral
Among the vast selection of Citizen watches that stretches from professional dive watches to classy dress pieces, you can also find a couple of moon phase timepieces. Although they are not the classic types with bosom apertures, they are still as accurate as any other moon phase watch.
The Citizen Calendrier BU0057-54E depicts the different phases on a circle with a black overlapping disc. With every 24 hours, the disc moves one notch, covering the entire lunar cycle.
As the name suggests, the Calendrier’s primary features are to do with calendar auxiliaries.
It has a date subdial at the top, the day of the week wheel on the left, and the month indicator on the right. Both the day and month indicators lay on a rotating wheel. That is why you can’t see all the weekdays and months at the same time.
What makes this Citizen especially coveted is the highly acknowledged Eco-Drive solar technology that ensures the watch never needs a battery replacement. When the watch is fully energized, it can run for up to half a year without requiring any light.
Read more: Guide to solar-powered watches
In terms of appearance, this relatively large 44mm stainless steel watch never stays unnoticeable. It has a masculine dark grey polished and brushed case and bracelet that combines swiftly with the dark-toned dial. The hour indices and hands are also noteworthy for their legible copper tone.
However, if you prefer leather watches and not-so-dark dials, check out the Citizen Calendrier BU0050-02L. It is a similar watch feature and design-wise, with the only differences being the strap and the color of the dial.
Mathey-Tissot Edmond
Case Size: 42mm
Movement: Swiss quartz
Crystal: Sapphire
Mathey-Tissot is often mixed with another Swiss brand, Tissot. In reality, they are totally different watch manufacturers. But one thing they have in common, though, is the Swiss quality.
What makes the brand noteworthy is that the vast majority of the watches are sold for less than $500, making Mathey-Tissot one of the most affordable Swiss brands. One of the moon phase watches from the brand, the Mathey-Tissot Edmond, for instance, sells just a little north of $200.
Like our previous entry, the Citizen Calendrier, the Edmond watch comes with four distinctive windows on the magnificently textured white dial – the day, date, month, and moon phase indicators. The latter is, this time, a classical version with yellow and blue colors.
This Mathey-Tissot makes it the perfect dress piece for being, above all, decently sized – the case is at 42mm, while the thickness measures 11mm. The bold Roman numerals add to the overall elegant appeal, as do the classic silver stainless steel case and black leather strap.
Besides the appearance, the watch also strikes with quality. Namely, it is powered by a Swiss quartz movement and is equipped with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
All things considered, the Mathey-Tissot Edmond may not be the most known moon phase timepiece out there, but it is worth every dollar due to its sophisticated appeal and Swiss quality.
Premium Moon Phase Watches
Raymond Weil Maestro Moonphase
Case Size: 40mm
Movement: Automatic RW4280
Crystal: Sapphire
The Maestro line from Raymond Weil is dedicated to fine classical music, which vividly reflects from the Raymond Weil Maestro Moonphase. The watch is the best Swiss automatic moon phase timepiece you can get for $1,000 since it combines a sophisticated appeal with renowned Swiss quality.
The Maestro employs an automatic caliber with 38 hours of power reserve, a date window at a standard 3 o’clock position, and a posh crescent-shaped moon phase aperture. Since the caliber is Swiss-made, you can expect workhorse reliability and adequate accuracy.
The appearance of this watch is simply stunning. The bold Roman numerics surround the wave-like motif and the moon phase complication. The full 29.5-day cycle is displayed in silver and blue colors, which is the prime coloristic of the model.
And when you turn the watch around, you will be able to admire the magnificent art conducted by the automatic caliber. The see-through caseback allows you to delve into the intricate mechanism powering the watch.
If you’re the type of guy who appreciates exquisite handcraft, then you’re in luck since this Maestro Moonphase is hand-assembled by the top Swiss watch professionals. Considering this particular fact makes this Raymond Weil a no-brainer for anyone after a premium-level moon phase watch.
Longines Master Collection Watch
Case Size: 40mm
Movement: Automatic L687
Crystal: Sapphire
This Longines watch may be among the priciest on this list, but for a good reason too. Being an entry-level luxury brand, Longines pays extra attention to every little detail that goes into the watch.
The dial that might give a crowded impression at first is actually neatly finished with no excessive design elements. It has a patterned dial with well-placed subdials and a multi-functional moon phase window.
What makes the watch unique is that the wise designers and engineers have managed to equip the watch with both a chronograph and a full calendar. The complications share the subdials and are, quite surprisingly, pretty easy to follow.
While the dial stays true to a modest classic approach, the automatic movement of the watch roars with power.
The ETA/Valjoux chronograph caliber is equipped with 25 jewel bearings and an energy reserve of up to 54 hours. It is one of the most famous calibers ever created and rarely lets you down.
When talking about some negatives, the first on my mind is the fact there’s no luminosity. I understand a dress watch with such beautiful blue hands is difficult to equip with luminescence, but it would’ve made the watch almost perfect.
What also caught my attention was the similar length of the week and minute hands that slightly hinders a quick glance at the time. However, it’s only a tiny drawback.
Frederique Constant Classics Business Timer
Case Size: 40mm
Movement: Swiss quartz
Crystal: Sapphire
Frederique Constant is a Swiss brand that doesn’t give away in quality in any terms. Sophisticated dials, precise movements, and high-quality materials ensure that whichever watch you go for, the reliability is guaranteed at the highest level.
The Frederique Constant Classics Business Timer is a fine example of that.
The watch beams vintage vibes with its archaic Roman numerals and spade-shaped hands. It comes in a gold-toned 40mm stainless steel case with a classic brown leather strap that perfectly combines with the overall retro appeal.
What adds sophistication to the appearance is the moon phase complication at the 6 o’clock position. It is a classic yellow-blue bosom aperture that covers the whole lunar cycle.
When it comes to the third hand, besides the minute and hour hands, it’s not for the seconds. Instead, it indicates the weeks and the current month. It’s a unique and practical feature for jobs where keeping an eye on the exact week numbers is prevalent.
In terms of quality, this Frederique Constant represents the level the Swiss brands operate at.
It runs on a reliable Swiss quartz caliber and receives protection against hits and knocks with a premium-level sapphire crystal. Even the leather strap is long-lasting and comfortable, which isn’t always the case with such types of bands.
All in all, there isn’t much to complain about the watch but only to admire. Maybe the only tiny negative I’d like to point out is that it’s a quartz watch with a price tag of more than a thousand dollars. For that money, many already set their sights on an automatic watch and not quartz anymore.
Glycine Combat Classic
Case Size: 40mm
Movement: Automatic GL280
Crystal: Sapphire
Another Swiss moon phase watch on this list is the Glycine Combat Classic. This time it is an automatic watch that combines the elegance of the moon phase complication and the simplicity of a field watch. Although the combination may sound awkward, it works brilliantly.
The light-toned sunray dial is made up of tritium-toned hour indices and a beautiful moon phase aperture with a shaded moon and a blue sky. The design makes it a unique timepiece with no similar product to challenge it.
However, this particular design has a slight drawback – due to the similar tone of the dial and the watch hands, the time isn’t always easy to capture. Therefore, the watch isn’t an easy-to-read everyday wearable but an elegant dress watch for an office job and festive events.
When it comes to movement, the Glycine Combat Classic runs on a Swiss automatic caliber that is based on the Sellita SW280-1. It beats at a higher frequency than standard automatic calibers at 28,800 vph, ensuring a smooth sweeping motion with 8 steps in a second.
This Glycine is also special for featuring luminosity in the watch hands and hour markers. It’s something that is not very common in moon phase watches.
If you wish to see other similarly designed Glycine moon phase watches, check them here.
Orient Star Open Heart
Case Size: 41mm
Movement: Automatic F7M63
Crystal: Sapphire
The Star collection has a defining story to tell in the successful comeback of the Orient brand after it went bankrupt in the 1940s. The line caught attention with its quality mechanical movement and fine design in the 1950s, which eventually paved the way for the reputation Orient holds these days.
The Star watches are also unique for being entirely Japanese-made.
The Orient Star Moonphase we have up next is also made entirely in Japan, and it represents that same exquisite style the line is so famous for. However, compared to several other Orient moon phase watches, it has taken one step further in terms of design with its wavy background and water motif.
The moon phase and open-heart cut combine perfectly in these waves, forming a tandem to glance at and admire.
They are coupled with a neat power reserve indicator at the top of the dial that lets you keep an eye on the remaining energy level. It has approximately 50 hours of power reserve, which is about 10 hours more than with standard automatic calibers.
When talking about the caliber more closely, it is Orient’s in-house F7M63 movement produced specifically for open-heart watches. The mechanism allows for manual winding and seconds halt as well, so it has everything that a quality caliber typically has.
When overall, this Orient watch seems to be almost perfect, it still has one negative to it, namely the date complication. Although it looks practical for being in the same aperture with the moon phase complication, the hand obstructs the view of the upper half of the circle.
However, if you can forgive that particular drawback, the Orient Star offers heaps of quality and elegance for the money paid.
Edox Les Bemonts
Case Size: 42mm
Movement: Swiss quartz
Crystal: Sapphire
The Edox Les Bemonts is one of the top watches with a moon phase complication that you can get for less than $1,000. What makes it so good is that it looks like a million bucks and comes with a practical chronograph feature.
Only a few moon phase watches have been coupled with a chronograph, so it’s a combination to cheer for. The chronograph’s seconds run centrally, which means the watch’s seconds lie on the bottom subdial.
The Swiss-made watch also stands out from the crowd for the unusual placement of the moon phase aperture. Instead of the classic 6 or 12 o’clock position, you’ll find it between 1 and 2 o’clock. The design of the aperture is a standard yellow-blue with two humps.
Another element making this Edox an eye-catching watch is the sleek design of the pushers. When most chronographs have high pushers that tend to stay on the way when bending the wrist, then this one has low pushers that are barely visible.
All in all, leaving aside the fact that the legibility isn’t the greatest in daylight due to the low contrast between the hands and the background, the Edox Les Bemonts is a wonderful quartz-driven moon phase watch.
Luxury Moon Phase Watches
Omega Speedmaster Co-Axial Moonwatch
Case Size: 44mm
Movement: Omega Automatic 9904
Crystal: Sapphire
The Omega Speedmaster watch is one of the most iconic timepieces ever created. The watch took part in all of the six lunar missions when astronauts wore the Speedy during their explorations.
However, the Speedmaster is more than just a historic moon watch – it’s a masterpiece of horology with impeccable quality and fantastic looks.
What makes it a masterpiece is the co-axial escapement attached to the Omega 9904 automatic caliber, ensuring better precision, stability, and durability. It is also a chronometer watch, meaning it doesn’t deviate more than only a couple of seconds per day.
The ultra-durable caliber powers the realistic-looking moon phase complication.
Unlike affordable moon phase watches, the Omega Speedmaster ensures much better accuracy of the different phases when the adjustment is required every 10 years (as opposed to 3 years with standard moon phase watches).
Being the most famous chronograph watch, you can also expect that function to feature in this watch. The chronograph is paired with a tachymeter bezel, and the seconds run on the main counter, leaving the watch’s seconds to run on the subdial.
If there’s one timepiece that every watch enthusiast wishes to own, it’s the Omega Speedmaster. Compared to another high-profile luxury brand Rolex, it’s also much more accessible. However, the price still stays above the ten grand line, which, unfortunately, makes it far reach dream for an average Joe.
MeisterSinger Lunascope
Case Size: 40mm
Movement: Automatic Sellita SW220-1
Crystal: Sapphire
The made in Germany MeisterSinger Lunascope is an honored men’s moon phase watch – it has received the Red Dot Design Award and the iF Design Award for its fantastic design. When looking at the MeisterSinger, it’s no wonder it is highly acknowledged.
The center stage belongs to the oversized moon phase aperture that takes the majority of the dial’s upper half. The large and ultra-realistic moon is so mesmerizing as if it’s a live image streamed from NASA. The moon phase window lies on a sky-blue dial that harmonizes perfectly with the theme.
It’s also noteworthy that the moon phase complication is deadly accurate when the adjustment is required every 128 years. It literally means it NEVER requires any corrections if the watch is kept wound at all times.
What makes the MeisterSinger Lunascope a special watch to own is also the fact it’s a single-hand timepiece. You will find neither a minute hand nor a second hand sweeping along the dial but only the hour hand.
The drawback of such a watch is that you won’t be able to follow every minute as one marker responds to 5 minutes. The longer markers are for 15, 30, and 45 minutes.
Getting used to a single-hand watch takes time but once mastered, you won’t tell much difference from a classic two-hand timepiece.
All these unique features are powered by a workhorse Sellita SW220-1 caliber with about 38 hours of power reserve. Unfortunately, it’s not a chronometer watch as it deviates about 12-30 seconds per day. Regardless, the durability weighs over the inaccuracy by a mile.
Zenith El Primero
Case Size: 42mm
Movement: Automatic El Primero 410
Crystal: Sapphire
We finish our list of the best moon phase watches with one of the most known timepieces of its kind – the Zenith El Primero. It stays in the same price range as the Omega Speedmaster and has a similar design.
The underlying tone of this watch is blue – the dial, subdials, and strap come in various tones of this color and result in a superb outcome.
The focal point of the El Primero is the moon phase complication that is located at the 6 o’clock position. Although it’s pretty small, it still catches the eye with its colorful design. The window shares the space with the chronograph’s hour counter.
The other two subdials belong to the stopwatch’s minutes and the watch’s main seconds. As you may have already guessed, the chronograph has its seconds sweeping on the primary dial.
The Zenith El Primero is equipped with a 5Hz automatic caliber that takes 10 steps a second and holds 50+ hours of power reserve. It’s a luxury movement that won’t fail you even after decades.
The only problem with this watch is that it’s discontinued. However, several watch sites still sell it, and it also has a considerable aftermarket where the prices are much more affordable.
FAQ About Moon Phase Watches
Since the meaning and purpose of a moon phase complication in a timepiece is not straightforward to many, we’ll try to answer some of the most common questions regarding the function.
What Is The Point of a Moon Phase Watch?
To be frank, there’s no essential purpose of the complication other than a visual enhancement the watch receives through featuring it. The moon phase function is appreciated because of its complicated nature, which requires skills and precision to construct it.
How Does a Moon Phase Watch Work?
A moon phase watch has a round disc consisting of two oppositely placed moons. Since the entire phase takes 29.5 days, the disc has typically 59 gears to complete the full circle. With every passing 24 hours, the disc advances one notch.
Are Moon Phase Watches Accurate?
Apparently, they’re not very accurate. The prime reason causing the inaccuracy is the exact new moon to new moon period of 29 days, 12 hours, and 44 minutes, which doesn’t line with the accuracy of a typical moon phase complication that consists of 59 gears, i.e., days.
Final Take
Moon phase watches serve a visual purpose more than anything else. They’re difficult to construct and look fancy on the dial, but a wearer won’t receive much information out of it, except for the current phase of the rock. However, that is not the reason the watches are so sought-after.
If you glance at any classical timepiece we’ve covered in this post of the best men’s moon phase watches, you understand that the whole picture has a much more luxurious effect with the aperture looking back at you.
Whether it be a quartz version of it in the Karl-Leimon or Zeppelin models or a more intricate one in Longines and MeisterSinger pieces, the moon phase element does add elegance to the wristwear.
You may also like:
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details
- CIGA Design Blue Planet Gilding Watch: The Best Conversation Starter Around? - April 2, 2023
- CIGA Design X-Series Review: The Most Skeleton for the Money? - July 7, 2022
- What Is A Dive Watch? A Complete Guide - May 17, 2022