If you are a fan of the Microbrand watch world, you probably know the name FARER, a British watch manufacturer established in 2015. Farer watches have a distinctive look and style, ticking all the boxes for vintage design. The latest edition to the brand’s collection, the Farer Moonphase, is an excellent example of this design, with its Farer look and the bold moon-phase display on the other. We’ll open this week with an introduction to this unique timepiece.
FARER MOONPHASE – Specs
Farer is launching three new watches. They are all made from 316L stainless steel. The stainless case comes in a 38.5mm diameter with a thickness of 10.5mm. The cases are polished, and according to Farer they are with brushed chamfer and “grain twist’ pattern on flanks.
The watches come with 3 different dials –
The first model, the BURBIDGE, features a stunning arctic blue sunburst dial that shimmers in the light, with a clean blue minute track along its edge. The centrepiece of the dial is naturally the large moonphase aperture with its hand-painted disc. The moon is a baby pink moon that contrasts perfectly with the blue of the dial. Like the moons on the other moonphase models, the moon on the Burbidge references a real shade the moon can appear. In this case, the Pink Moon is the name the Native Americans gave to the April full moon. Against this colourful backdrop are mounted clean baton markers fashioned from blocks of Grade OL X1 Super-LumiNova, along with a razor-sharp polished lance handset that’s also lumed.
The hand-painted yellow moon of the second model, the Halley, shines brightly against a glossy midnight blue dial. In nature, a yellow moon occurs when the moon is viewed close to the horizon. This is because the blue light has been scattered through the Earth’s atmosphere, leaving only the warmer yellow and red tones which are accentuated by dust particles in the air. Alongside this eye-catching complication, sits bright white numerals composed of Grade OL X1 Super-LumiNova. These are paired with a flawlessly polished lance handset and a seconds hand with the Farer “A” in burnt orange.
The moon phase of the last model, the Eddington, uses a disc that’s assiduously handpainted in Switzerland. Against the midnight blue sky is a lumed white moon that glows strongly in the dark. Making the perfect pairing to the white moon are hour markers made from pure white Super-LumiNova. These alternate between batons and Roman numerals and as they’re applied to the dial they give the design a nice touch of depth. These are accompanied by a polished lance handset and a seconds hand with a blue Farer A at its tip. All of which is set on a pink copper dial that has a discreet brushed finish.
Oversized Moonphase
Unlike “traditional” moon phase complications we are used to seeing, where the moon phase indicator is small and usually located at the bottom of the dial, Farer chose to put the moon phase indicator at the upper part of the dial, where it is spreading from 3 o’clock to 9 o’clock. If it wasn’t for the moon display, it could be more of a power reserve display, actually an oversized power reserve display, than a moon-phase indicator.
All 3 models comes with a Barenia leather strap.
Inside the watches, we find the Sellita SW288-1 Ma Elaboré Grade movement. The movement, visible through the display case back of the watches, comes with blue screws with the bespoke Farer embossed patterned bridge.
Usually, the SW288 is an automatic movement, but Farer chose to make it a hand-wound movement, running at 28,800 vibrations per hour and providing Approximately 45 hours of power reserve when fully wound.
All three models are priced at $1,650. It might sound a little bit expansive, but if you drill into the design, the hand-made moon discs, the hand-wound movement, leather straps, and of course – don’t forget the overall unique look of these watches, you get an excellent value for money.
