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And what a surprise it is. Until now, moonphase watches had never appeared in Tudor’s collection. In recent years, the brand has mainly accustomed us to tool watches. The Black Bay and Pelagos lines, in all their variations, are exactly that: robust cases, designed to withstand demanding conditions on land and sea, with a bold personality and a commanding presence on the wrist. Yet for those who may not know, Tudor also has more classic and elegant proposals in its portfolio, aimed at both discerning men and women. One such line is the 1926, a collection that also offers exceptional value for money. Launched in 2021, the collection takes its name from the year “The Tudor” was first registered as a trademark on behalf of Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex. It reflects his philosophy and heritage. The 1926 line consists of mechanical models in steel or two-tone (steel and gold), featuring clean, timeless design, reliable automatic movements, and available in four sizes to fit every wrist. On their minimalist dials you would only find three hands and a date window; the essentials, and nothing more. At least that was true until now. With the introduction of the Tudor 1926 Luna, a new complication has been added: the moonphase.
In Roman mythology, the goddess Luna embodied divine beauty and the mysterious magic of the moon. The moonphase indicator enhances this symbolism, tracking a cycle entirely different from the solar one: the lunar cycle, lasting 29.5 days. This complication is not only technically fascinating but also carries a poetic quality, offering the wearer a more romantic sense of time.
Beyond its poetry, the new 1926 Luna ties watchmaking to a powerful cultural symbol with roots in the East. The timing of its launch was no coincidence. Tudor introduced the watch just as the moon shines brightest, ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated in China and across Asia. This festival symbolizes companionship, unity, and the togetherness of family. To emphasize this spirit, Tudor invited one of its ambassadors, the multi-talented Asian artist Jay Chou, to lend his own creative vision to the design of the new model.
The watch is offered in three dial colors: black, blue, and champagne. The latter carries Jay Chou’s signature, and what makes it special is the golden moon disc that appears and disappears behind a deep black background, faithfully following the phases of the moon. The effect is enchanting, like watching the glowing moon emerge from behind a cloud in the dark night sky.
From a technical standpoint, the 1926 Luna is as complete as one would expect from Tudor. The 39mm steel case has a polished finish, with a smooth polished bezel and a screw-down crown engraved with the Tudor rose. The dial, with its sunray satin texture, plays beautifully with the light and features applied numerals, a date at 3 o’clock, and the moonphase display at 6.
The watch hugs the wrist with a seven-link steel bracelet, its outer links satin-brushed and the central ones polished. It is water resistant to 100 meters and runs on the automatic Calibre T607-9, a chronometer-grade movement adjusted for precision within -4/+6 seconds per day. Naturally, it comes with TUDOR’s five-year transferable guarantee.
If I had to pick, I would go for the champagne dial. First, because it is the most unusual of the three, and second, because the moonphase display feels more dramatic here, with the moon standing out in sharp contrast against the black “cloud” that passes before it. In the other two versions, that contrast is less pronounced since the “cloud” is in a similar shade to the moon itself, and the boundaries between them blur slightly. Perhaps this design choice was intentional, to achieve a more discreet effect.
In my view, the Tudor 1926 Luna is not merely an additional option within the 1926 collection. It is a watch that changes how you perceive time: more emotionally, more poetically, as happens with all watches that carry the moon and its phases on their dials. It makes you think beyond whether it’s morning, noon, or evening, and reminds you to lift your eyes to the sky from time to time. And honestly, how wonderful is that?
