Breaking: Tudor’s First-Ever Moonphase Lands Under $3K

Tudor has never made a moonphase before, which is why the new 1926 Luna feels like such a surprising, and welcome, addition. At 39 millimeters and priced at $2,800, it’s the brand’s first foray into a complication usually reserved for higher tiers. Coming from a collection that often gets overlooked, the Luna breathes fresh life into one of Tudor’s dressiest lines.

Case and Construction

The case is polished steel and measures just over 10 millimeters thick, capped with a domed sapphire crystal and rated to 100 meters thanks to a screw-down crown and caseback. It has the same seven-link bracelet that defines the 1926 collection, somewhere between dressy and sporty, with brushed outer links and polished centers.

Dial and Design

Tudor is offering three sunburst dial colors: a rich blue with silver accents, a champagne-gold with black details, and a black dial with gilt. The moonphase aperture sits at six o’clock, fully round rather than crescent-shaped, and the execution is more thoughtful than you might expect at this price point.

On the champagne version especially, Tudor uses what it calls a “phantom effect,” where the moon disc darkens as it wanes, giving the illusion of it disappearing into the register. It’s a small design choice, but one that makes the watch feel considered. My own favorite is the blue dial with silver accents. It plays best with the steel case, and the color is rich enough to be interesting without feeling flashy or too bright. 

The Movement

Inside is the T607-9 caliber, based on the Sellita SW280-1. It beats at 28,800 vph with 26 jewels and a modest power reserve of about 38 to 41 hours, depending on which spec sheet you trust. This is not one of Tudor’s Kenissi-built calibres, nor is it COSC or METAS certified, but it is adjusted to chronometry standards and delivers the reliability you’d expect from a Sellita base. For some collectors, the use of an outsourced movement will feel like a miss. For others, it’s a reasonable compromise that keeps the price under $3,000 while still giving you a complication Tudor has never attempted before.

Value in the Lineup

That price point is part of the story. The time-only 1926 in 39 millimeters starts around $2,225, so the roughly $600 premium for a moonphase feels justified. When you consider the construction—polished steel case, screw-down crown, 100-meter water resistance, a sapphire crystal, and Tudor’s five-year warranty—you’re getting a lot for the money. The tradeoff, really, is the shorter power reserve. If you’re someone who cycles through a few watches in a week, you’ll be setting this one often.

A Sleeper Tudor Release

In the context of Tudor’s lineup, the Luna feels like a smart move. The 1926 has always lived in the shadow of the Black Bay and Pelagos families. By adding a complication, Tudor is giving the collection a chance to stand out rather than just fill a slot at the lower end of the catalog. It’s not chasing tool-watch credibility or METAS certifications here; instead, it’s offering something elegant, unusual, and accessible.

Personally, I see the 1926 Luna as one of those “sleeper” Tudors that might not dominate headlines but could become a quiet favorite. I will certainly be excited to see one in the wild. It’s rare to find a moonphase with this level of construction and brand cachet for under three thousand dollars. For someone who wants an everyday Tudor that’s a little different—romantic complication, practical build—the Luna is worth a serious look.