Timekeeping was created thanks to human desire to make sense of the movement of the sun across the sky. But the moon has also been used by a variety of cultures and civilizations for centuries as a way to track time. While the sun served as a way to track time over each day, the moon in its various phases was used to judge weeks and months. So it’s no wonder that moon phase watches are a popular type of timepiece. Read on to learn more about moon phase complications and why they can be useful. 
What is a Moon Phase Watch?
A moon phase watch is a type of watch that shows the phase of the moon – even in the daytime when it’s invisible to us.
When early horologists (the fancy term for someone who makes or repairs clocks) graduated from sundials to mechanical gears, the next important event they tracked was the lunar cycle. While the sun’s arc dictates our days and seasons, it’s the moon upon which our weeks and months are based and which was one of the earliest ways of showing the passing of time.
Each month, our moon goes through different lunar phases – from the new moon to the full moon and back again. These phases are actually caused by the Earth’s shadow blocking sunlight from reflecting off parts of the moon’s surface and take 29 and a half (very specific) days to complete a full cycle. This regular pattern has remained unchanged for centuries and has been used to mark the life cycle for many events all over the world.
Knowing the current phase of the moon can be useful for a variety of reasons. Surfers and fishermen will rely on the moon for tidal information, farmers use the moon to track harvests, and sailors might rely on the moon for navigation. Therefore, knowing where the moon is in relation to yourself at any given time can be beneficial for a number of reasons.
How Does a Moon Phase Watch Work?
A moonphase watch will show the minute, hour, and second hands as normal but with the addition of a moon phase window or sub-dial. It might be simplistic and minimal, or it might be more of an artistic addition depending on the watch’s design.
Behind the dial of the watch, there will be a disc featuring two identical moons. This disc is driven by a 59-tooth gear that rotates one complete cycle every 29 and a half days, showing the waxing and waning faces of the moon as the month progresses.
Why Choose a Moon Phase Watch?
The general consensus about moon phase watches is that they’re more of a ‘cool’ factor than anything else. While they’re not strictly necessary for things like navigation or tide tracking in today’s age (there’s an app for that), lots of people enjoy them simply for the detail in their design or for their interesting vintage vibe – an added charm to the overall aesthetic of the timepiece.
Timex’s Moon Phase Watches
Timex’s moon phase display watches faithfully mirror the current stage of the lunar cycle in a dedicated window on the dial.
Our Marlin® Moon Phase watches are based on the iconic mid-century design of our ‘60s Marlin. They boast a calendar movement with sub-dials that indicate the day of the week, the month, and the date, as well as a window indicating the current phase of the moon, all driven by an ultra-precise quartz movement.
We recently added a moon phase function to our Waterbury watch - if the Marlin Moon Phase doesn't suit your style, check out our Waterbury Classic Moon Phase, available in all stainless-steel or with a brown natural leather strap.
Key Takeaway
Human beings have always had a close tie to the moon and its phases – navigation, crop planting, and myths about werewolves were all born from this connection. A moon phase watch is a type of watch complication that shows the current lunar phase and, sometimes, the location of the moon on the watch dial. In the world of tide tracking apps, advanced farming technology, and high-tech navigation tools, the use of a moon phase complication is often an aesthetic addition to a watch, giving it a vintage style and an unmistakable fun factor.
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