Celebrating National Moon Day

As we celebrate, it’s only fitting to take a moment and appreciate the beauty of our nearest celestial neighbor: the moon. One great way to commemorate the moon’s significance is with a moon phase watch. These watches display the moon as it would be observed from Earth at any point during the lunar month. While tracking moon phases today may seem more like a novelty, let’s not forget it’s a practice dating back to ancient civilizations. You’re probably aware of how the moon affects tidal changes, but did you know that observing the moon gave people an accurate way to track the passage of time to predict upcoming seasonal transitions. It’s a tradition horologists can participate in by using the gears and hands of a watch.

The Girard-Perregaux Richeville 2760 is a great example. It has 18k yellow gold bezel, sapphire crystal, and leather bracelet. Powered by a calibre 3306 self-winding mechanical movement, this watch not only tells time by beautifully displays the moon. It’s easy to see the quality in this 137mm vintage timepiece. The craftsmanship and innovation of Girard-Perregaux dates back over two centuries to when it was founded in 1791 by Jean-Francois Bautte. He was a goldsmith who also pioneered watchmaking by claiming to have been the first to commercially produce a wristwatch in 1880. He holds approximately 88 patents in the field.

The connection between watches and space doesn’t end with the moon. Did you know that gold plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of satellites and spacecraft? Gold is used for its light weight, strong electrical conductivity, and corrosion resistance. In the world of horology, gold serves a purpose beyond just luxury and aesthetics. Just as it is vital in aerospace engineering, gold plays a crucial role in watchmaking. Some of the most precious parts of a watch’s movement are made of gold like the rotor. Being dense, malleable, and resistant to corrosion, gold is a top-choice material for watch case construction.