Orient Sun & Moon: The Day/Night Indicator Dress Watch

The Orient Sun & Moon offers the look of a complicated dress watch at an entry-level price. Introduced in 2007, its signature is a rotating disc showing a sun by day and a moon by night, combined with day and date displays on an elegant, multi-register dial.

Day/Night, Not a Moonphase

The most important thing to understand about the Sun & Moon is what its signature disc actually shows. It is a 24-hour day/night indicator : the sun appears during the day and the moon at night, telling you whether it is a.m. or p.m. It is not a moonphase, which tracks the lunar cycle over 29.5 days. The day/night function is genuinely useful when setting the date — you can see whether the hands are at midnight or noon — and the effect gives the dial much of the charm of a moonphase.

Versions

Version 1 (2007) used a 41.5mm case with baton indices and the calibre 46B46. Version 2 (2012) grew to 42.5mm with guilloché detailing and a date display showing the preceding and following dates, powered by the 46B40. Version 3 (2017) kept the 42.5mm case but adopted the in-house F6B24 , adding hand-winding, hacking and quick-set date, and moved the day/night indicator to 5 o'clock. Later versions introduced Arabic-numeral and enamel-style dials, and sapphire-crystal models have joined the range.

Specifications

Current versions measure 42.5mm with 50m water resistance and roughly 40 hours of power reserve from the F6B24, which has 22 jewels and beats at 21,600 vph. Prices typically range from about US$170 to US$500 depending on version and edition, with limited editions higher.

How It Compares

For a simpler dress watch, the Orient Bambino offers the same in-house value with a cleaner dial. For an affordable watch with a true moonphase, buyers usually need to step up in price. The Sun & Moon's appeal is unique: a complicated-looking automatic for the price of a basic one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Orient Sun and Moon a moonphase watch?
No. Its sun-and-moon disc is a 24-hour day/night indicator showing whether it is day or night, not the phase of the moon.

When was the Orient Sun and Moon introduced?
The first version launched in 2007, with Version 2 in 2012 and Version 3 in 2017.

What movement is in the Sun and Moon Version 3?
The in-house F6B24 automatic, with hand-winding, hacking, 22 jewels and about 40 hours of power reserve.

How big is the Orient Sun and Moon?
Version 1 is 41.5mm; Versions 2 and 3 are 42.5mm.

Related Reading

• Orient: Brand History
• Orient Bambino
• Orient Star