The first time someone picks up a moonphase watch, there's often a moment of hesitation. The dial looks beautiful, that tiny moon slowly changing position through its aperture, but how exactly does one read it? And more importantly, how does one set it correctly without damaging the mechanism?

These questions are completely natural. Unlike straightforward time and date functions, the moonphase complication operates on a longer cycle and requires a slightly different approach. Once understood, the process becomes intuitive. Watches like the Rotoris Monarch make both reading and setting the moonphase remarkably straightforward through thoughtful dial design and clear visual cues.

Understanding What You're Looking At

Before tackling how to set a moonphase watch, it helps to understand what the display actually shows. Most moonphase complications feature a small aperture on the dial, typically positioned at 6 o'clock or 12 o'clock. Through this window, a rotating disc painted with two identical moons gradually reveals different lunar phases.

The disc rotates slowly, completing one full cycle every 29.5 days to match the lunar month. As it turns, the visible portion of the moon changes, mimicking what observers see in the night sky. When the disc shows a completely illuminated moon in the center of the aperture, that represents a full moon. When the moon disappears from view, that indicates a new moon.

Between these extremes lie the intermediate phases. A crescent on the left side shows a waxing moon (growing toward full), while a crescent on the right indicates waning (shrinking from full back to new). This left-to-right progression matches how the actual moon appears to move across the sky from an observer's perspective in the Northern Hemisphere.

Reading the Current Moonphase

Reading a moonphase indicator requires nothing more than observing the shape visible through the aperture. When no moon shows, that's a new moon. A thin crescent on the left indicates waxing (growing). Half illuminated on the left is the first quarter. When fully centered and round, that's a full moon. The pattern then reverses: as the illuminated portion moves right and shrinks, the moon is waning (diminishing) back toward new.
For those exploring luxury watches in India or globally, this visual simplicity makes the complication accessible despite its mechanical sophistication.

Before You Begin Setting

Setting a mechanical moonphase watch requires a bit of preparation and one critical safety precaution. Watch movements include delicate gears that change positions at specific times. Adjusting complications during these vulnerable periods can damage internal mechanisms.

The Danger Zone

Never adjust the moonphase, date, or day functions between 9 PM and 3 AM. During these hours, the watch's change mechanisms engage in preparation for midnight transitions. Forcing adjustments during this period can strip gears or bend delicate components. This applies to virtually all automatic watches with calendar complications, including sophisticated pieces like the Monarch Watch.

Safe Position

Before making any adjustments, set the time to approximately 6:30. This places the hands in a neutral position where no date or moonphase mechanisms are engaged. Think of it as a safety zone where adjustments can be made without risk.

Finding Your Reference Point

To set moonphase correctly, you need to know the current lunar phase. Fortunately, this information is readily available online. Several astronomy websites and weather apps display the current moon phase with precision. Simply search for 'current moon phase' or 'lunar calendar' and note what phase the moon is in today.

The easiest reference points are full moons and new moons because they're unmistakable on the watch dial. A full moon appears completely round and centered, while a new moon shows no illumination at all. Most setting instructions recommend using the last full moon as your starting point since it's the most visually obvious phase.

Look up when the last full moon occurred and count how many days have passed since then, including today. For example, if the last full moon was five days ago, you'll need to advance the moonphase display by five increments from the full moon position.

Step-by-Step Setting Process

small pusher button on the case side, while others adjust through crown positions. The Monarch Moonphase Watch and similar well-designed luxury pieces use an intuitive system that becomes second nature with practice.

Step 1: Set Safe Time

Pull the crown out to the time-setting position and move the hands to 6:30. Leave them there throughout the moonphase adjustment process.

Step 2: Locate Adjustment Method

There's a small pusher on the case at 2. Use the provided stylus. Never use metal objects that might scratch the case.

Step 3: Advance to Full Moon

Press the pusher or turn the crown (depending on your watch's design) repeatedly until you see a full moon centered in the aperture. Each press or turn typically advances the display by one day. The moon disc moves incrementally with each adjustment.

Step 4: Count Forward

From the full moon position, advance the display by the number of days that have passed since the last full moon. If it's been seven days, press the adjuster seven times. The moon should now show the correct current phase.

Step 5: Set Date and Time

With the moonphase now accurate, set your date to one day behind the current date. Then set the time, making sure to advance the hands past midnight so the date clicks forward to today. Watch carefully because the moonphase typically advances shortly after midnight (often around 1 AM). This ensures both complications stay synchronized.

Step 6: Verify and Close

Double-check that the moonphase matches the current lunar phase shown online. Your moonphase display is now properly set and will track the lunar cycle automatically.

When to Adjust and Common Mistakes

Most watch owners check once or twice annually against a lunar calendar and adjust if needed. If the watch stops running due to insufficient power reserve, the moonphase needs resetting when restarted. This is why pairing moonphase with adequate power reserve, as in the Monarch Watch, enhances usability.

Avoid these common errors

never adjust between 9 PM and 3 AM when change mechanisms engage, don't use excessive force that could strip gears, always advance forward, use soft tools like the one provided with the watch. rather than metal on pushers, and remember AM versus PM when setting time since complications change at midnight.

Making Peace With the Moon

Learning to read and set a moonphase watch transforms what initially seems complicated into something quite intuitive. The process becomes a small ritual, a moment of connection between the watch on your wrist and the actual moon overhead. This tangible relationship distinguishes mechanical complications from digital displays that simply show information without any deeper engagement.

Once properly set, a moonphase complication requires minimal intervention. It quietly tracks the lunar cycle in the background, advancing day by day, week by week, month by month. Occasionally glancing down to see the moon's current phase creates a subtle awareness of natural rhythms that modern life often obscures.

Whether on your first automatic watch or adding to an established collection, understanding how to properly read and set the moonphase enriches the ownership experience. It's knowledge that transforms a beautiful complication into a functional, meaningful connection with both horological tradition and the night sky itself.