Patek Philippe Moon Phase Watches: Every Reference from the Nautilus 5712 to the Perpetual Calendars

Patek Philippe puts a moon phase on more references than any other complication: the Nautilus 5712, the annual calendars 5205, 5396 and 5726, the perpetual calendars 5327, 5320, 5236, 5740 and 7140, the perpetual calendar chronograph 5270, the women's 4968 and 7121, and the Celestial and Sky Moon Tourbillon that show the whole night sky. Every one uses Patek's 59-tooth moon disc, which stays within a day of the real moon for 122 years, and on the calendar watches the moon aperture at 6 is the signature of the dial. This guide explains how the Patek moon phase works, lists the references that carry it in 2026 with dated sourcing prices, compares the sports, annual, perpetual and women's routes, and sets out what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources Patek Philippe moon phase watches to order; the Patek Philippe Complications collection lists the references we can seek.

Last reviewed on September 21, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.

How does the Patek Philippe moon phase work?

A lunar month is about 29.53 days. A simple moon phase uses a disc with two moons and 59 teeth, advanced one tooth a day, which treats the month as 29.5 days and drifts a full day every two years and eight months. Patek Philippe's calibres drive the disc through a gearing that averages 29.53 days, so the display drifts one day in 122 years, which is the figure Patek states for the 240 PS IRM C LU in the 5712, the 324 S QA LU family in the annual calendars and the 240 Q in the perpetuals. The disc sits under a curved aperture at 6 with two lacquered or gold moons and a scatter of stars; as the disc turns, the aperture's edges hide and reveal the moon to show its phase. Setting is by a recessed corrector on the case flank with the stylus supplied in the box, one push per day since the last full or new moon. The Patek Philippe collection pages describe the moon phase on each reference that carries it.

Patek Philippe moon phase references at a glance

All figures are catalogue asks observed on 21 September 2026 for watches sourced to order; the two 5712/1A figures are two separate listings that differ by year and set. The 5146 was replaced by the 5205 and trades as a pre-owned reference.

Nautilus 5712: the moon phase sports watch

The 5712 is the Nautilus with the asymmetric dial: pointer date and moon phase at 7, power reserve at 10, small seconds at 4, driven by the ultra-thin micro-rotor calibre 240 PS IRM C LU. It was introduced in 2006 alongside the 5711 and, since the 5711 was discontinued in 2021, it is the closest thing to a time-and-date Nautilus still in the catalogue. The steel 5712/1A-001 on the bracelet has a blue-black gradient dial; the 5712/1R-001 is rose gold with a brown gradient dial; the 5712G on a strap is white gold. The moon phase on the 5712 is the smallest in the Patek range and sits inside the date subdial, which is why buyers who want the moon as a feature rather than a detail often prefer the 5205 or 5726. On 21 September 2026 our catalogue listed the 5712/1A at US$89,100 and US$105,089 across two examples and the 5712/1R-001 at US$288,400, all sourced to order. The Nautilus 5726 guide covers the annual calendar Nautilus, which carries the larger moon aperture at 6.

Annual calendar moon phases: 5205, 5396, 5726 and 5146

These are the Patek moon phases most people buy. The 5205 (40 mm) shows day, date and month in three apertures across the top of the dial and a moon phase inside a 24-hour subdial at 6; it comes in white gold with blue (5205G-013) and rose gold with black (5205R-010) or olive green (5205R-011) dials. The 5396 (38.5 mm) is the dressier alternative with day and month side by side at 12, the date at 6 and the moon inside it, in white gold grey (5396G-014) or rose gold blue (5396R-015). The 5726 puts the 5205 display into the 40.5 mm Nautilus case. The 5146, made until about 2020 at 39 mm with a power reserve at 12 instead of the 24-hour dial, is the pre-owned route and the cheapest Patek moon phase on 21 September 2026 at US$40,148 for the 5146G-010. All use the calibre 324 S QA LU family and need one correction a year, on 1 March.

Perpetual calendar moon phases: 5327, 5320, 5236, 5740, 7140 and 5270

On a Patek perpetual calendar the moon sits at 6 inside the date subdial, flanked by leap year and day-night indicators on the 5327 and 5320, or below the in-line window on the 5236P. The 5327 (39 mm, calibre 240 Q) has a hand-engraved case and is the smallest current perpetual; the 5320G (40 mm, calibre 324 S Q) has a cream dial, syringe hands and three-tier lugs taken from 1940s Patek designs; the 5236P (41.3 mm) shows day, date and month in one window at 12; the 5740/1G is the Nautilus perpetual; the 7140 is the 35.1 mm women's perpetual with a diamond bezel. The 5270 perpetual calendar chronograph carries the same moon aperture at 6 between the chronograph counters. All are accurate until 2100 and, on the moon, until well after that. On 21 September 2026 our catalogue listed the 5327G-001 at US$69,421, the 5320G-001 at US$64,890, the 5236P-001 at US$107,738, the 5740/1G-001 at US$298,695, the 7140R-001 at US$72,923 and the 5270P-001 at US$193,639, all sourced to order. The Nautilus 5740 guide covers the Nautilus perpetual.

Moon phases for women and the Celestial

• 4968R-001. A 33.3 mm rose gold Calatrava-style case with a diamond bezel, mother-of-pearl dial, small seconds and a large moon phase at 6, driven by the hand-wound calibre 215 PS LU. Listed at US$45,783 on 21 September 2026.
• 7121J-001. The 33 mm yellow gold version of the same idea, with a hobnail bezel.
• 4948G-010. The 38 mm women's annual calendar with moon phase, white gold with a mother-of-pearl dial and diamond bezel. Listed at US$66,860 on 21 September 2026.
• 7140G-001 and 7140R-001. The women's perpetual calendar at 35.1 mm, white or rose gold, calibre 240 Q. Listed at US$80,855 and US$72,923 on 21 September 2026.
• Celestial 6104R-001 and Sky Moon Tourbillon 6002. The Celestial (44 mm, calibre 240 LU CL C) shows the night sky over Geneva turning on the dial with the moon's phase and orbit and the time of meridian passage of Sirius and the moon; the 6002 adds a minute repeater, tourbillon and perpetual calendar on the reverse. The 6104R-001 was listed at US$583,443 and the 6002R-001 at US$4,866,750 on 21 September 2026.

All figures are sourced to order. The Grand Complications collection lists the Celestial and Sky Moon references we can seek.

Which Patek Philippe moon phase should you buy?

How much does a Patek Philippe moon phase cost in 2026?

• Retail. Patek Philippe publishes list prices on its product pages, and they rise most years. Within the moon phase references the order runs 4968 and 5146 at the bottom, then 5396 and 5205, then 5712, then the perpetuals, then the Nautilus perpetual and the Celestial. Check the Patek page for the current figure.
• Secondary market. Annual and perpetual calendars in round cases trade near retail; the 5712 and 5726 Nautilus trade well above it. On 21 September 2026 our catalogue ran from US$40,148 for a 5146G-010 to US$298,695 for a 5740/1G-001, with the 5712/1A at US$89,100 to US$105,089, all sourced to order.
• What moves the price. Case metal, dial variant, full set with certificate, and on the 5712 the year and bracelet condition. A blue-dial 5205G-013 and a rose gold 5205R-010 are the two most requested and usually the easiest to find.

Those figures describe what we saw and will move. Ask for a dated quote for the exact reference and set; our Patek Philippe price guide explains how to compare quotes across references.

Buying a Patek Philippe moon phase: what to check

• Certificate of origin. Movement and case numbers matching the watch; Patek does not reissue it. For an older watch, an extract from the archives confirms the original configuration.
• Moon phase accuracy. Compare the display with the real moon; a disc more than a day out on a serviced watch means it was set carelessly, and one that does not advance at midnight needs a service.
• Correctors. Each flank corrector should push cleanly with the stylus and advance one step; a corrector that pushes without advancing points to a worn jumper.
• Calendar. On an annual or perpetual, advance the date through a month end and confirm day, date and month change together.
• Dial and aperture. The moon disc should be unmarked; a scratched or discoloured disc is a sign of a poor case opening.
• Case and bracelet. Crisp edges on the 5712 case and bracelet, correct link count, no stretch; unpolished engraving on the 5327.
• Price against the band. A full-set Patek moon phase offered far under the market is the single most reliable warning sign.

Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch.

Quick answers

Which Patek Philippe watches have a moon phase?

The Nautilus 5712 and 5726, the annual calendars 5205, 5396 and 5146, the perpetual calendars 5327, 5320, 5236, 5740 and 7140, the perpetual calendar chronograph 5270, the women's 4968 and 7121, and the Celestial 6104 and Sky Moon Tourbillon 6002.

How accurate is the Patek Philippe moon phase?

One day in 122 years on the current calibres, because the gearing averages the 29.53-day lunar month instead of rounding it to 29.5 days.

How much is a Patek Philippe moon phase watch?

On 21 September 2026 Bizak's sourced catalogue listed the 5146G-010 at US$40,148, the 5396G-014 at US$48,850, the 5205G-013 at US$50,984, the 5712/1A at US$89,100 to US$105,089 and the 5740/1G-001 at US$298,695, all sourced to order.

How do you set the moon phase on a Patek Philippe?

Press the recessed corrector on the case flank with the supplied stylus, one push per day since the last full moon or new moon, until the disc shows the current phase. Do not set it between about 9 pm and 3 am, when the calendar is changing.

Is the Nautilus 5712 a moon phase watch?

Yes. The 5712 shows a moon phase inside the pointer date subdial at 7, with a power reserve at 10 and small seconds at 4, driven by the calibre 240 PS IRM C LU.

Request a Patek Philippe moon phase sourcing quote

Tell us the reference and metal, preferred year range, condition and whether the certificate of origin is required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, certificate and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: Nautilus 5712/1A-001, Nautilus 5726/1A-014, Annual Calendar 5205G-013, Annual Calendar 5146G-010, Perpetual Calendar 5320G-001, Ladies moon phase 4968R-001; browse the Complications collection, the Nautilus collection, or sell or trade your Patek Philippe.

Related reading: Nautilus 5726 annual calendar guide · Nautilus 5740 perpetual calendar guide · Patek Philippe price guide · Patek Philippe authentication guide.