The moonphase is one of humanity’s oldest methods of recording time. As far back as ancient times, people observed the phases of the moon to create the lunar calendar, one of the earliest systems used alongside the solar calendar.
The moon itself does not emit light; instead, what we call the moonphase is the portion of the moon illuminated by the sun, which changes as the Earth, Moon, and Sun move in their orbits. This cycle, from new moon to full moon, completes every 29.53 days, known as a synodic month, marking the origin of months and weeks in the calendar.
Chanel’s newly launched J12 Moonphase cleverly showcases this cycle on a blue goldstone moonphase disk, which depicts the new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter. A small serpentine hand is used to indicate the current moon phase, allowing you to easily see the moon’s progress in the night sky.
In addition to the moonphase, the date ring on the outer edge of the dial completes a full rotation every month, with its crescent-shaped hand echoing the concept of weeks within a month — a thoughtfully designed and unique touch.
The J12 Moonphase comes in various materials, including black or white high-tech ceramic, diamond-set versions, and titanium-ceramic jewelry watches. Our favorite is the pure white ceramic model, which embodies classic elegance.
Chanel J12 Moonphase Watch Collection
38mm diameter, automatic winding movement, 42-hour power reserve, 100-meter water resistance.
