Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. Pre SIHH 2014: Introducing the Montblanc Star Twin Moonphase
In the past years we could see various trends in the watch industry. Last year blue dials popped up at various watch barnds, which almost made it look like they agreed on doing the same. A trend we’re seeing for some time now, is recreating the inconic watches of the various brands and this has led to quite some interesting re-issues. The latest trend seems to be watches with a moon phase indication and Montblanc comes with a double moon phase: the Montblanc Star Twin Moonphase.
Montblanc’s Star Twin Moonphase will officially be launched next week at the SIHH, and than we’ll show you hands-on photos here and via the Monochrome social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr.
The new Star Twin Moonphase shows all the recognizable Star collection style elements, something that this side-by-side of two full calendar watches immediately makes clear. It’s a blend of classic elegance and characteristic formal, with a load of visual treats like the guilloche dial, the blued hands and what I personally like so much, is the font of the Arabic numerals.
Why a double moon phase?
Let’s immediately address what some of you have been thinking. No, the double moon phase is not just a gimmick. All moon phase indications that I’ve seen so far, always indicate the moon phase for the Northern Hemisphere. Logical you might say, as pretty much all watches are created on the Northern Hemisphere.
On the Northern Hemisphere the moon phase appears differently on the than on the Southern Hemisphere. Of course the lunar phases follow one another in the same sequence regardless of an observer’s location: full moon is full moon and waxing moon is waxing moon. However seen from the Southern Hemisphere everything is a mirror image compared how things can be seen from the Northern Hemisphere.
Besides the double moon phase indication, the Star Twin Moonphase also show the age of the moon. The moon’s age is shown in days along the periphery of the subdial. The upper part shows the familiar moon-phase display in a characteristically shaped window, in which the gold-colored moon is depicted on a dark blue background.
The moon moves from left to right and gradually disappears, just like it can be seen from the Northern hemisphere. The surface below features a pattern shaped like the Montblanc emblem and is surrounded by moon-phase symbols as they appear in the sky above the Southern Hemisphere.
All functions are powered by the Montblanc caliber MB 29.13, which can be seen through a sapphire crystal in the case back. The automatic winding movement has 42 hours of power reserve and ticks at a steady pace of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz). Atop the base movement is a module for the moon phase indications. And before we forget it, the Star Twin Moonphase also indicates the date!
All this is presented in a stainless steel round case, measuring 42 mm in diameter and 12.7 mm in height. On the dial side is a domed sapphire crystal with antireflective coating. It comes on an alligator leather strap with large scales, with a triple folding stainless steel clasp The Montblanc Star Twin Moonphase will be available in Montblanc boutiques and at other retail points in the autumn of 2014.
Some specifications
- Case: stainless steel, 42 mm in diameter, 12.7 mm in height, domes sapphire crystal with anti reflective coating in the front, sapphire crystal in case back
- Movement: Montblanc caliber MB 29.13, automatic winding, 42 hours of power reserve, 28,800 vph (4Hz), 27 jewels,
- Indications: hours, minutes and seconds, moon phases depicted as they appear in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, age of the moon, pointer date
- Strap: black alligator leather strap with large scales, triple folding clasp in stainless steel
More info: www.montblanc.com
1 response
Actually, many of IWC’s recent perpetual calendars (mostly on the Big Pilots, but also some Portuguese) feature a double moon phase (with two moons pictured). There’s also the Bulgari Genta Gefica Hunter GMT Moon Phase, the L. Leroy Osmior Retrograde Perpetual Calendar, and probably a few others.
However, it is my impression that not many moon-phase watch designers have actually looked at the moon. As I understand it, the difference between the two hemispheres is right/left (when the moon is quite “high” in the sky, and you see the terminator more or less vertical because you look “up” from the horizon), not top/bottom. When the moon rises or sets (i.e. it is close to the horizon), one sees the terminator more or less horizontal, and it obviously looks exactly the same in both hemispheres (it does look reversed at moonrise and moonset, though).