5 of the best affordable moonphase watches

Tom Austin

Timekeeping has its roots in astronomy, as our ancestors looked to the skies to calculate the passing of time according to the movement of celestial bodies across the sky. Appearing in the 17th century, we began to be horologically interested in the phases of the Moon, with moonphase complications shrinking their way into pocket watches, and eventually into some of the high-end wristwatches too. Moonphase complications are no longer the reserve of only the most prestigious wristwatches, with a plethora of more budget-friendly options to whet your astro-horological appetite.

Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch Mission to the Super Blue Moonphase

It seems there’s a MoonSwatch for every occasion now, but given its price point, we had to have this in the list. Released in July 2024, the Super Blue Moonphase quickly became one of the most anticipated releases in the ever-expanding collection, and rightly so, it looks utterly brilliant. Like it or loathe it, the MoonSwatch has captured the hearts of watch collectors and more “normal” folk, and to me that’s nothing but a good thing. The Mission to the Super Blue Moonphase brings an awesome colourway to an already cool watch and, along with it, a moonphase complication.

Its Bioceramic case is finished in the same bright blue as the Neptune MoonSwatch from the original release, but this time, the dial has been reimagined in a kind of blue panda configuration, matching dark blue tones with a silver background and decorating the Moon indicator with, you guessed it, a blue Moon. These touches make it quite evocative of the Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy 50th Anniversary that came out in 2020, and I cannot complain about that whatsoever. For a budget moonphase watch that’s interesting and fun to wear, look no further. Price: US$310

Frederique Constant Classic Moneta Moonphase

Known for its timeless (though not necessarily boundary-breaking) designs, Frederique Constant carefully positions its watches to people who want some refined elegance, but not a price that’s difficult to swallow. The Moneta Moonphase is a perfect example of this. At 37mm, it’s perfect for a dressy piece, especially so with a thickness of just 7.65mm. The polished stainless steel case features a hobnailed inner bezel, which is a unique touch, bringing some serious style to this simple watch.

The dial is pretty special-looking too, in a sunburst blue finish, with contrasting gold accents, along with arrowhead hour markers, hinting at that 1960s appeal. A simple moonphase sub-dial with a date sits at 6 o’clock. The only thing that is not-so-special in this watch is the movement, as it’s a simple Ronda quartz unit, however, the showstopping looks more than make up for it. Price: US$1,265

Christopher Ward C1 Moonphase

If you love a moonphase watch, why not go the whole hog and have the entire dial show it off? The first Christopher Ward C1 Moonphase found itself captivating audiences as it was nominated at the industry-coveted GPHG awards, and this year, it became even more accessible as it was downsized to the diameter we would call the Goldilocks size. Now in 37mm, it’s ready to fit anyone. The case, borrowed from the rest of the C1 line, is made from stainless steel, with a thin bezel framing an aventurine dial. Aventurine fits perfectly thanks to its infusion with copper oxide flakes, which give the effect of a starry sky, contrasting against the huge, bright moonphase indicator that sweeps across the top of the dial.

In keeping with the rest of the C1 models, the dial is free from any logos or dial furniture, and just features some polished hands, bringing a clean, ultra-modern look to the watch. Powering the watch is a modest Sellita movement, modified slightly for the moonphase complication, something Christopher Ward has been exploring recently. This can be seen through the exhibition case back, showing the only hints of branding on the movement’s rotor. The C1 Moonphase is another example of Christopher Ward’s playfulness and lack of fear when it comes to introducing striking watches, without breaking the bank. Price: US$2,325

Muhle Glashütte Teutonia IV

Presented in 2019, the Teutonia IV is the moonphase offering from German independent Mühle Glashütte. Positioned as an affordable, yet classy and timeless watch, the Teutonia IV boasts a case size of 41mm, produced in highly polished stainless steel. Its classic proportions are accentuated by the long, straight lugs and large crown, appropriately paired with the finely-grained dial. The blued lancette handset tonally matches the moonphase indicator, which is just large enough to not be intrusive at 6 o’clock, featuring a fully detailed lunar surface.

The watch features a Sellita SW 280-1 movement, modified by Mühle, offering up to 41 hours of power reserve, and can be seen through a sapphire crystal case back. The Teutonia IV is certainly a contender when it comes to classically styled, German-made watches with a moonphase complication, and this one manages to do it all while staying clean, fresh and modern. Price: US$2,730

Longines Master Collection ref. L2.909.4.78.3

Longines’ Master Collection was released in 2005, bringing with it an affordable range of luxury dress watches that incorporated an intricate complication like the moonphase. Ever since, they have somewhat gone under the radar, just recently getting some attention with the engraved-dial Small Seconds models. Another simple standout from the Master Collection is the ref. L2.909.4.78.3, a 40mm stainless steel watch, with a pebble-style case, thick, draping lugs, and a highly polished finish.

There are a number of dial and strap combinations, but our favourite is the silver “barleycorn” dial, providing depth and a satisfying texture. The dial features large painted Arabic numerals around the outside, and is finished with contrasting blued hands, pointing at that interestingly curved inner chapter ring. Surrounded by a small date counter, the moonphase indicator nestles in at 6 o’clock, complete with a starry sky. Altogether, the Longines makes for an excellent package. Price: US$2,635