Designing Lunar: Why a True Moonphase Was the Only Way

A moonphase is one of watchmaking’s most evocative complications. Rather than measuring time in seconds or minutes, it follows a cycle that has shaped calendars, journeys and cultures for centuries.

But a moon on a dial does not always make a moonphase watch. Many watches use a 24-hour day-and-night display that completes one rotation every day. It may look similar at first glance, but it does not track the waxing and waning of the moon.

When we began developing Lunar, a decorative interpretation was never going to be enough. If we were going to place the moon on the dial, it had to serve a real purpose.

Beginning with the movement

Lunar was designed around the Miyota 6P00, a Japanese quartz movement with a true moonphase display. Alongside the phase of the moon, it powers separate displays for the day, date and month—turning Lunar into a complete calendar watch rather than a timepiece with a single decorative complication.

The choice of quartz was deliberate. It allowed us to create a slim, dependable and precise watch while keeping a traditionally expensive complication within reach. The 6P00 is rated to an accuracy of ±20 seconds per month and has an estimated three-year battery life, making it practical enough to wear regularly rather than reserve for rare occasions.

This decision established the purpose of the watch. Everything that followed had to bring those four displays together without allowing the dial to feel crowded.

Giving every detail room to breathe

A multi-function dial can quickly become difficult to read. Lunar therefore developed through subtraction and balance rather than the addition of more decoration.

The moonphase sits at six o’clock, anchoring the composition. The day, date and month displays are arranged around it, while Roman numerals and a restrained minute track maintain the character of a classical dress watch.

Depth comes from the construction of the dial itself. A textured centre is surrounded by a distinct chapter ring, while the subdials use their own subtle finish. These surfaces react differently as light moves across the watch, revealing detail gradually instead of demanding attention all at once.

The calendar functions are adjusted through discreet recessed correctors, preserving the clean profile of the case. A setting tool is included with the watch so each display can be adjusted without marking the case.

Finding the right proportions

The size of Lunar was considered just as carefully as its dial.

At 38mm, the four displays felt compressed. At 40mm, the watch began to lose the restraint expected from a dress watch, particularly once the crown was taken into account. The final 39mm case offered the balance we were looking for: enough space for the dial to remain legible, while still feeling compact and refined on the wrist.

The case measures 10mm thick and is made from 316L stainless steel. A hardened mineral crystal protects the layered dial, while 50 metres of water resistance provides reassurance for everyday wear. The genuine leather strap is completed with a butterfly clasp, keeping the profile clean while making the watch comfortable to put on and remove.

Each specification was chosen to support the same idea: Lunar should feel special without becoming impractical.

Classical, without feeling old-fashioned

Lunar draws from familiar codes of traditional watchmaking—the moonphase aperture, Roman numerals, polished steel and a balanced calendar layout. The aim, however, was never to reproduce a watch from another period.

Contemporary proportions, layered textures and carefully developed colours give the collection its own identity. Aurora White and Slate Grey emphasise its classical side. Celeste Blue and Emerald Green introduce greater depth and colour. Mocha Grey and Eclipse Black take the design in a darker, more modern direction.

The result is a modern-vintage dress watch: rooted in watchmaking tradition, but designed for the way watches are worn today.

Made to be worn, not just admired

Complications are often treated as objects to admire from a distance. Lunar was created with a different intention.

Its moonphase gives the dial a sense of theatre, but its proportions, quartz reliability and comfortable strap make it easy to live with. It can be worn with tailoring, with a simple shirt, or whenever the occasion calls for something with a little more character.

The response to Lunar has made it one of the defining collections in Meridian’s journey so far. Its first release sold out within minutes, followed by another sold-out batch. More important than the speed was what it revealed: there is a growing audience in India for thoughtfully designed watches and genuine complications when they are offered with clarity and honest value.

Lunar began with the movement of the moon. It became a watch about the details people notice when they take the time to look closer.