1950s Zodiac Mid-Century Triple Calendar Moonphase
What’s so special about the watch
There is something wonderfully theatrical about a mid-century triple calendar moonphase, and Zodiac certainly knew how to lean into it. Watches like this were relatively plentiful in the 1950s, but that does little to diminish their charm today. There is a lot happening on the dial with the day, date, month and moonphase, it yet somehow it still feels elegant rather than busy. And then there is Mr Moon himself, peering out from the aperture with that slightly sly expression, as though he knows something we don't. This particular example has aged into a lovely creamy hue that reminds me of an old postcard found at the back of a drawer decades later: faded, intriguing, and immediately making you wonder where it has been and what stories it might tell.
What are the functions of the watch
Triple calendar - day, date, month, and that heavily romanticized moonphase.
Let me tell you about the case
The stainless-steel case has exactly the sort of proportions that make these mid-century watches so appealing today. What I especially like are the sharply angled lugs. They flare away from the case before turning decisively toward the wrist, giving what is otherwise a relatively restrained watch considerably more presence. The crystal currently shows pressure cracks and would benefit from a straightforward replacement - something worth doing for its new owner, because underneath it is a dial that deserves a much clearer view. Me, I like to keep em as-is, for all we know the stress marks might have been part of an amazing story.
And now the dial
This is really where the watch earns its keep. The dial has taken on a warm, creamy tone with the sort of ageing that gives vintage watches their personality rather than taking anything away from them. The molded teardrop hour markers alternate with Arabic numerals, while the blue calendar scale runs neatly around the perimeter. The day and month apertures sit proudly beneath 12, with the moonphase providing a little burst of whimsy at 6. It is complicated, slightly eccentric and full of detail, but everything somehow finds its own place. Even the ageing feels appropriate - like the patina on that old postcard you suddenly want to investigate. I'll save you the reading and let you explore the photos for all the little rustic.
Let’s not forget the hands
The leaf hands are exactly right for this watch. Their soft, tapering shape brings a touch of elegance to what could otherwise have been a fairly technical dial, and they sit beautifully alongside the teardrop and Arabic hour markers. The long date pointer (tip's a little tarnished from all that directing it has to do through the decades) reaches right out toward the calendar track, while the remaining hands stay delicate enough not to overwhelm everything underneath.
Specifications:
Hour and minute with sweeping seconds
Triple calendar with moonphase complication, quickset
Aged cream dial with molded indices
33mm stainless steel case
41mm lug-to-lug
18mm lug width
Manual wind movement @ 18,000vph
Pressure-cracked acrylic crystal
Watch head only; leather strap used in photo is not part of the sale.
Asking Price: $880 (ex. shipping)
This watch is for sale. If you would like to add this watch to your personal collection, drop me a message and let's discuss.
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