July 20th, 2019 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The United States, along with many other nations, will celebrate this achievement of humanity, marking the first time we stepped foot on something that wasn’t Earth. This anniversary is also going to be a momentous occasion for the watch community as well. The biggest celebration will most likely come from Omega, celebrating the Speedmaster’s walk on the moon as one was strapped to the wrist of Neil Armstrong.
Other watch manufacturers will also be celebrating this anniversary, even though their watches were not floating through space making their way to the moon. Watches and the moon have a romantic relationship which is often captured in a complication known as the moon phase. Tracking the lunar cycle, the moon phase complication is one of the coolest complications in my book.
Using their own take on the moon phase complication and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Christopher Ward is releasing a new model. The C1 Moonglow, available for sale today, commemorates one of the greatest achievements of mankind – the Apollo 11 mission. Using their Calibre JJ04, which is derived from an ETA 2836-2, the C1 Moonglow has been customized to drive the moon phase disc. That disc shows off the C1 Moonglow’s most prominent feature, a large moon that moves across half of the dial. The disc is also decorated with stars to mirror the night sky. Christopher Ward claims the moon phase disc of the Calibre JJ04 will remain accurate to within 1 day if kept fully wound.
The C1 Moonglow has another trick up its sleeve regarding the moon disc. There are two moons that rotate around the dial. Both are coated in Grade X1 GL C1 Super-LumiNova® which gives the watch its name. The second moon is visible at the 6 o’clock position on the dial thanks to smoked glass on top of the disc but underneath the main crystal of the watch.
The date ring, which flanks the markers on the dial, is also coated in lume. A red section rotates around the date wheel to show the date. Stepping down from the date wheel, the markers outline the moon phase disc. The markers and hands are lumed, making the entire watch light up like a flashlight at night.
The C1 Moonglow looks excellent and is a great tribute to the anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. The C1 Moonglow is available today and is priced at $1,935
| Case Width | 40.5mm | Thickness | 12.35mm |
| Lug-to-lug Height | 48.55mm | Lug Width | 20mm |
| Crystal | Domed Sapphire | Strap | Leather Strap |
| Water Resistance | 30 meters | Lume | Super-LumiNova® Grade X1 GL C1 |
| Movement | ETA 2836-2 | Price | $1,935 |
