Looking to make any purchases on Amazon? You can help support the channel FOR FREE by using my affiliate link: amzn.to/3O0xqM7 Using this link may earn a small commission for any items purchased, not just the one linked. Thanks for the support!
I've never seen your reviews before, but been part of the League of Microbrands group for a while. I saw your posts and that you were about to upload this review soon. And damn, your reviews are really good. Subscribed to you for sure! Keep up the good work. Now to the watch itself. I think this the better interpretation of the two when comparing the Loresum and CW moonphase watches. This is just more defined with an actuall possibility to tell the time. I'm going to need a bracelet for sure though, but apart from that i only have one thing that i would change apart from your own critique, which was lume. What i would've want to change is the blue seconds hand. It has nothing to do there if you ask me. It should've matched the minute and hour hands. Again, great review!
Thanks so much! Glad to have you onboard 🥂 It's easy to get lost in a sea of posts and fighting the algorithm. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Yeah, I went back and forth about the second hand. The blue doesn't do much for me, but I also get the idea of taking less away from the gorgeous dial and moon. I think I'm with you though and would prefer a simple, delicate second hand matching the other two. Cheers
On first impressions, I agree with you on the second hand. Not sure why that would have a deviant colour and doesn't work on the colour shifting dial for me.
So I backed the Loresum Kickstarter and they have included a bracelet option in the style you suggested, its not my taste, but I think a decent number of buyers are getting it with the bracelet
Amazing review as usual. This watch looks so much better than I expected... I am glad it doesn't come with a bracelet or I would be in serious trouble!
Great review! Thorough and helpful. I have a jump hour from Loresum. It is well made and was also good value for money as I bought in a sale after production ceased as it was too hard for the factory to produce consistently with the right quality. This moonwatch looks terrific, and, as you say,, at its price point, there is nothing to compete with it. It is visually more attractive than the CW, before one factors in the much higher price point. I am a CW fan and have several of their models, but I am reluctant to spend almost £2K on their updated moonwatch. I also like the rose gold coated case option. It adds to the warmth and sets off the blue better. As a dress watch it won't get the wear of a daily beater. I like the blue leather strap, but if I wanted to add a bracelet, I would add a mesh strap rather than conventional links. I have several mesh bracelets on watches, giving an elegant vintage look.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I agree, CW puts out excellent watches, but I agree with your assessment that this wins in my book even before the price (which makes it a complete home run). I dig the rose gold as well (really, each colorway is cool), though I'll probably stick with the SS this time. Great reading you have been happy with your jumping hour too. Cheers
Since posting I’ve spotted from comments on Kickstarter where it launched and watching your video again that the moon rotates anti-clockwise. That’s fine if you live south of the equator but not if you live in Europe or say the USA and Canada. There’s a debate going on about this now on KS. I think it got overlooked in the design but to change to the conventional clockwise rotation might be problematic: cost, thickness & doubtless delay. Maybe it doesn’t really matter as the aesthetic is still achieved. When you reviewed it did you notice this and if so did it bother your enjoyment of the watch?
Thanks for circling back. I've been keeping an eye on the campaign and comments too. I hoped it would be an easy fix when the issue came up. I am admittedly not an astronomer nor particularly experienced with moonphase watches but have pondered this a lot since it came up. When I went to set the watch, I (now realize) encountered the same question of orientation (replicating what I saw) but chalked it up to my inexperience. I addressed it by going from the full moon and counting the clicks since it occurred. That left me properly set. For me, it had little to no practical impact on my enjoyment of the watch. I'll likely wear mine near/at full moon timing to help appreciate the watch detail and enjoy the nighttime sky. I don't get to wear my personal watches nearly as much as I'd like. However, even if I wore it more frequently, it still displays the correct phase just flipped from what we see. Now, all of that said, I do wish/hope it could be "corrected" (and would pay more) and more easily align with exactly what I see. But, it's still a beautiful watch, it doesn't really have much practical impact, significantly undercuts anything similar, and I really want to support Jason and the blood/sweat/tears he put into bringing this creation to life. Hope this helps with the decision. Cheers
Thanks for the awesome review. 1st worldwide 😅 What's your wrist size ? I was waiting with enthusiasm for this release. Before a long text, if you are willing at some point to part with the Nova, let me know I would take this any day and it would be on my wrist literally every day of my life at work... 🙏 Back to the Loresum, I like it but really not so amazingly convinced with the final results compared to potential the concept had, when in my opinion a few easy changes would have made it way better. It's clearly a dress watch, so smaller is better than bigger. In that regard I was happy to finally see a smaller option on the market in front of so many 40-42mm watch. But 39,5 is not do small especially for a dress. And as clearly a dress, why doing this super thick double dome cristal. Initial spec made me hope for a 9/10mm, but It's thicker. It's too me a non-sense for a dress watch that you want to fit smoothly under a shirt. Thinness in class dressy watch World Make a huge différence. It's still way better than the CW and a reason why I was enthousiast. But it doesn't work so amazingly, just when you compare to the Zelos this one fit way better for dress watch. The exposition case back is Also for me useless, should have cut Price in that and maybe put Somewhere else. This myiota has nothing really beautiful, and the custim rotor id nothing really appealing either, really what's the point. Maybe shortening a bit the lug would Also help but I bet it won't be done. Also you don't talk about the surrounding circle of the dial that is grey. With all the metal parts it's ruining the feeling of having a wide sky and a Moon. The CW (or Also Zelos) work so much better because pure, it works so much better the simplicity. But the CW IS too Big and not readable. Here with the markers it was a great Idea, but putting this in gray it's making the feel of aventurine and blue small instead of blending, and the métal adds to it. It's ruins the simplicity and feel to watch a pure Sky which work do well on these Zelos or CW. Such a shame for simple detail. For the bracelet why not it never hurts. But to me it wouldn't bé so good. It's purely an approach of sophisticated classy dress watch, metal all around the wrist wouldn't go with it, straps are way better for that. It's great work from Loresum, I can't be so negative at the end of the day and congrats for their great work. But so small changes would have made me more convinced to buy it in a second. Congrats for the work on the Moon also, this is positively surprising. And overall quality for the price IS there for sure. Deserve success 👏
Thank you! My wrist is ~6.5". The watch is extremely thin on the wrist and only 9mm thick, where it matters. The box edge crystal, with its dome, skews the specs but will not negatively impact sliding under a cuff like a thick case. Similarly, I think it adds visual depth to the dial and is a good look. It works just fine for dress or casual usage. The chapter ring is more of a dark blue color, though it can change depending on lighting reflection. I personally like it and find the full aventurine, like on the CW, to be a bit boring and sterile. Now, on the Nova, with its smaller dial, dressier style and beautiful markers I wouldn't want a chapter ring. This one walks the line on a dressy sport watch. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Cheers
@@JonathanTReviewsYes maybe that's what I dislike with the modern approach, hearing so often about dress sport because there is a Patek a 80k and Rolex sold out. All these brands are nothing like that. Aventurine and moonphase, it's too me nothing sporty, way more classy. It's not automobile, and no one will wear it to go to the pool or to run,... People wearing it will do when wearing a dress outfit, and keeping it in a classy way would have made it more impressive overall that trying to blend in this trend of sportiness that doesn't fit it so well. I might still go for it
I get what you're saying, though I do wear my Zelos Nova's, Direnzo's, etc. casually too (probably even more often). That's one of the beauties of what I'm referring to as dress sport. It can be dressed up or down as desired. I rarely wear "true" dress watches even with suits. It's all part of what makes the hobby fun, we all have different preferences and styles 🥂
Stellar review Jonathan, thanks a lot, you’re gonna make me spend money :( nah but for real, beautiful watch. I agree that a bracelet could work very well, as long as it doesn’t go all the way to a dainty style. Something like a beads of rice could be interesting, hopefully they can make it work! I need to get this watch :D I was feeling that the hands were not a perfect match, but even if I would have gone with framed tips instead of these, I have to say they work
Thanks so much! I think you'll love it and be very happy for the money! I'm hoping the bracelet happens too and integrates well 🤞 That's my take on the hands also. Minor critique of something that may be possible to improve, but they don't take away from the enjoyment, regardless of an update or not. Cheers
Wonderful watch and thanks for the fab in-depth review. Definitely needs a bracelet and/or a curved end strap to get rid of the unsightly strap gap to the watch case. More lume would be great too. These changes would make such a game change to an already super watch. Cheers Noel
What I like about the CW moonphase is one the moon is visibly "3d" in effect and also the change from the normal dial to the sub dial that moves is seamless making it seem only the moon is moving. How are those two aspects with this watch? Seems the moon is flat on this one and also it seems to have a clear separation of the dial and the inner dial part that turns. Seems it has metal dividing it?
Interestingly, I feel the opposite between these watches. The CW moon has visible dot matrix shadowing from the pics I've seen, rendering it more "flat" and less refined IMO. Similarly, the cutout seems to be abrupt, with some crudeness to the dividing layers. In fairness, CW generally does an excellent job and I haven't seen that one in person. Conversely, the moon on this Loresum is spectacular. It may be hard to appreciate on camera, but the 3D printed MOP moon achieves a shadowing and perceived depth reminiscent of the actual moon. The border framing achieves a higher sense of refinement IMO and, while it does separate the areas, makes the moon a focal point (a framed portrait in a sea of stars). Naturally, this stuff is all subjective, but these are my sentiments from handling the Loresum.
A ‘beads of rice’ bracelet (to me) seems to be the only type of bracelet option that would work with this watch. Great review though, I might end up ordering one.
Thanks so much for the informative video. They just took my pledge today. I skipped the braclet and sw200 upgrade as the braclet wasn't my cup of tea and I'd rather have the thinness. Do you know if they decided to upgrade the lume? I see the lug to lug was shaved down to 46.5mm. I hope this is enough to close up that gap as I agree with you on that point. I must admit I've watched your video multiple times and probably still will until I actually recieve the watch. A way to scratch the itch. 😅 Keep up the good work. Fun fact I missed out on the CW moonphase as it didn't have the look I was going for. This nails it almost perfectly.
Thank you very much for the kind words and support! I know they're working to try and improve the lume through another manufacturer. Hopefully it's a successful update 🤞🏻 Regarding the L2L, I believe they're moving the lug holes closer as well, so it should be improved. I'm eager to have it back on wrist too! Cheers
This is a beautiful watch!! I think every detail is better than other options for ¼ the price. A bracelet is a good option - but this color and style of strap is stylish and classic. The dial and moon are the stars of the show! I have signed up for updates... thanks for telling me about a new brand. (They also have some other cool models usually way outside my price point to consider.)
I couldn't agree more. Going through the elements, I found myself preferring virtually every choice, even without factoring in price. Once you account for the ~$1,700 difference (getting you this one AND adding a Formex, Monta, most other CW's, etc.), it becomes an easy win in my book. I've always been curious about their watches and thought the prior designs were original and interesting, just unfortunately too big for me. I was immediately interested when this project started and it didn't disappoint! Cheers
This watch has a definitive advantage when it comes to legibility. It has legit markers which is a huge dealbreaker for me when i was about to buy the CW C1 moonphase.
Absolutely. They're functionally helpful and I actually prefer the look. Between the chapter ring and lack of a cutout border, I think the CW is too sterile. I prefer the dimensions as well and much prefer the moon execution (at least from pics of the CW). Cheers
Really been looking forward to this one. I would love a bracelet on this! However I'm more interested in the rose gold version so I'm not sure how that would work.
Me too! Good point, unless they go with PVD bracelets too, it will only work well with the SS. Offering in each finish might not be feasible though. We'll see if the bracelet happens at all. Cheers
Been looking for a true moon phase for a while. We walk our dogs at night there is a huge difference in darkness depending on phase, sure I can use my phone but this would be more fun. Agreed on the bracelet and would like to see a minute track with the roman numerals. I own a few CWards agree that this looks much better than the moonphase they offer. I agree with others where there is something about this watch that makes it seem kind of Aliexpress though.
That would be a fun use case and the moon lume could be an added enjoyment bonus, if it's dark enough. I appreciate the function of minute hashes as well, though I'm not sure if they could be cleanly incorporated with the chapter ring. Not sure about the Ali part. The quality is definitely there for the price IMO and I don't think any/many of the parts are off the shelf (I've seen some where that was clearly the case). In fairness though, from what I've seen, some of the Ali stuff is surprisingly good finishing (just not generally a fan of homages). Cheers
They recently offered a SW200-1 upgrade for 200 that increases thickness .9 but makes the moonphase now move left to right. What are your thoughts on this upgrade? Do you think it is worth it or a pass?
Personally, I prefer the Miyota 9 series over the Sellita SW200, as a general statement. That being said, this circumstance brings unique considerations. The change to clockwise/Northern Hemisphere rotation will be desirable for most. The cost increase is reasonable IMO, particularly considering the added decoration. The other benefit is the quieter bidirectional rotor winding. On the flip side, the Miyota option includes a thinner case back, cheaper price tag, and likely better long term reliability. It really comes down to how much one cares about the given pros/cons of each. No wrong choice. Neither is a perfect/superior option and both still represent a nice watch at an attractive price.
In general or with this watch? In general some watches and movements are noisier than others, but I've generally found it to be a non-issue and rarely noticeable unless you're in a quiet space, moving your wrist quickly, and/or listening for it. On this watch, I don't recall noticing it in normal usage.
I've backed the campaign (was so close to backing the LS03) because the watch size made sense for my skinny wrist. I'm really torn between the black aventurine and the blue. Even the black MOP is slick. I would really love for the moon phase to be clockwise but the $200 bump in price is making it hard to swallow especially as I had a bracelet in my pledge. Going from $620 to $900 really has got me on the fence. Also trying to work out if I'm really bothered by 0.9mm increase in thickness. Yes, it won't hug the wrist as well but most of my dressier watches are not that traditional. Overall, I think this is an awesome watch but I'm wondering if Jason has tried to please too many people in such a short space of time that we haven't had time to process all the changes/updates before the campaign closes. I remember there being a number of changes for the LS03 but all those seemed quite minor.
I actually think they did it better than CW by having the numerals. You can actually tell the time on it so it instantly has 100x the utility. Wish it didnt have loresum text though. Makes it look a bit aliexpress with just a random word generator used for the branding.
I like it better overall than the CW too for that and the other reasons, especially with price being taken into consideration. I hear you about the name text. Fortunately, with the location and box edge crystal, it's rarely noticeable in usage unless you're specifically looking. Cheers
It is a great looking offering that stands out from most others on the market. Yeah, it's never an easy pill to swallow, but I think the value is still strong for what you get and relative to the competition. Cheers
@@JonathanTReviews Hey, will it be possible for you to another review of the production model (2 variants) now that's its close to launch. Maybe your subscribers can get a discount too if you talk to them. 😀
As I was watching your review, I grew to like this more and more. First impressions weren't quite convincing, perhaps because of the superficial likeness to the CW, so there was a sense of déjà vu. The thing is, I was not that impressed with the aesthetic offering of CW. I'd even go as far as saying that if you want an interesting aventurine, your Zelos Nova offers more. If you want an austere aventurine, probably the upcoming Venezianico is better. So, going back to this, I really appreciate the 'extra' one gets on this design, while being smaller and thinner! That alone should be a winning formula. Moonphase? Yes, I am interested, though not feeling an urgent itch exactly. My reservation is that it would appear to me somewhat tricky to set, when in rotation with a number of watches. I know too little about it. The Farer Burbidge at face value was certainly a more striking moonphase and did tempt me with all that unconventionality. This is a very different, effectively more toned down approach. The outer index ring is an excellent touch. It reminds me of the ribbed finished on Dubois watches, which I always appreciated. The minimal yet pronounced hour indices look very smart on it, and ground the dial. The polished rim on the moonphase window finishes it off nicely, and recognising that masking it as on the CW only partially works. It does mean that the two bumps are very prominently present. On the whole, I think it's an acceptable trade-off, especially since there is an additional polished ring separated offering unison in separators. The astute hands' shape, I like. But I don't like how the hands almost always seem to disappear. The gun metal makes them read matte black, and I think it's an incongruent and disappointing choice on a dressy watch. Is there any polish on the hands? I think they need it. As mentioned before, I also think that a simple polished needle for the second hand would have been a lot smarter. The crystal looks brilliant, but on aventurine, why does no one consider applying AR to the dial itself? Would that not be better than putting it on top of the crystal, with all concerns that causes, too? Or indeed, if needed, on all three? The crown looks effectively too plain for the watch. It's a minor point, but for me it needed to be brought up to meet the level of the case and dial, and now it stands out as a little neglected. Reducing the lug length slightly, even half a mm, would be appreciated. Perhaps they could curve down just slightly more, if retouching them anyway? I do think they look elegant, but the gap is not ideal. The strap is a logical choice for a very dressy watch, but as they show with the ample brushing and the hands, they seem to seek a blended aesthetic, where sportier details mix with the dressy flourishes. On camera and screen, the blue of the strap stands out as a third tone, next to the second hand, while really, I think the blue is best reserved for the index ring and aventurine, or much more closely matched on the strap. I'd love to see something less conventional than an embossed croc, too. Saffiano, pearl/caviar embossing, or just a tumbled texture might actually look better for the mix of styles on the watch. I do think there is scope for a bracelet. I understand why you'd suggest the Citizen's style. Another source of inspiration could be the bracelets for Oris' Atelier line. At any right, mailing the style and matching the lug shape, refined brushing, with limited polished accents will be key to success there. Not an easy undertaking, I'm sure, if the costs need to be kept in check (see Straum...)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Great points. Regarding setting the watch, the complication is less fiddly to set than I expected. It's not that much worse than setting a date. The primary added step is looking up the current cycle. From there, I just quickly center the moon and then count the number of clicks since it last occurred. It only takes a minute or two for the entire process and is kind of enjoyable (much akin to the appreciation you develop when winding a manual wind to start the day). Cheers
@@JonathanTReviews thanks for clarifying how that works. Doesn't sound too onerous, yet, I have never grown that liking of hand winding either. Setting the time and date on mechanicals is now second nature, but even then, rushing in the morning, I can spend half a day with the wrong time indicated, which is a minor frustration. It would make this definitely more of a leisure watch. I think I may have brought too many points for improvement, but I think the key ones to address are a better style strap and that second hand. It's just a pity that the gun metal is there always giving colour contrast when visible, but mostly disappearing. Some kind of accent, possibly even just the tiniest strip of polished outline, would likely make them more visible against the dial in the way the polished rims already demonstrate.
@benjaminvis You might want to consider grabbing a watch winder. While I'm not a big advocate for them, it can help with what you described. Instead of getting the watch ready in the morning, you can do so at your leisure the night before, throw it in the winder and just grab it in the morning. Regarding the hands, it's a natural occurrence with aventurine in my experience. The Nova hands, for example, are fully polished and completely disappear (excepting the lume strip) depending on the lighting/angle. Not a problem in usage for me, but they can look invisible in pics/videos.
@@JonathanTReviews same here. I don't understand why someone would have mechanical watches and then destroy the mechanical advantage by using an electrical device. So, for the time being, it's a tradeoff I'm happy to make. But I am not looking to further complicate this process. Logically, if iu hand wind an automatic (almost all can), one could also do this the night before. For me it's not unusual to crash late at night and have the rush in the morning. Too many things going on!
The Miyota movement will move in a counterclockwise direction (dictated by the date wheel rotation) and show the southern hemisphere orientation (mirror image).
The Christopher Ward moonphase isn’t comparable to this, as it’s accurate to 120 years - should someone manage to wear it continuously for that long. This Loresum is just a 29.5 moonphase which will need correcting every 3 months. Most people won’t care, but the 120 years complication has never been available for such an affordable price as is on the CW.
I don't disagree, from a technical accomplishment perspective, and also know the R&D and other aspects drive the price. By the same token though, as you mention, I also agree that most people won't care or see the benefit though. For most people, I personally think the Loresum is the better option and value (and prefer the design as well). I still appreciate the high(er) horology nature of the CW as an enthusiast. Cheers
@@JonathanTReviews of course, unless you’re a fan of astrology or moonphase watches and/or either owning just the one watch.. for everyone else actually all moon phases (even if not the 120 years type) are kind of pointless and a pain to set every time even more than a date. But Loresum looks cool for the price and that’s why I backed this and wouldn’t buy the technically superior CW. I was just pointing out the reason why the CW is inevitably more expensive, and that it’s an achievement for CW and probably a more interesting bargain for those who have good reason to care for that particular complication.
A typical moonphase watch needs adjusted about every 3 years, not months. The actual moonphase is 29.53 days, so it takes 33.33 months to get out of sync by a day.
The Kickstarter campaign unfortunately closed a while ago. That was the biggest discount price. I just looked and it's presently available for pre-order around $868 through their site. Still priced well below similarly styled options. Cheers
Great review Jonathan! I really wish the hands had a sharp tip on them, it would make them look like comet/shooting star streaks through the sky (especially with the floating design of them). Otherwise a great looking watch.
Would be great with a closed case back. I understand if this is your only watch but when you have higher horology watches this movement isn’t special or especially nice. No hate intended but there is nothing to see there and then I really prefer a closed back
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm largely indifferent to exhibition or closed in most cases. I've seen many closed backs that are plain and IMO boring too. Cheers
Yes true too... Also we go towards smaller watches and this will look like a Big hamburger in 5 years time... I have a quite good size wrist but the 36mm 10mm thin Baltic MR01 looks perfect on me for dress... Simplicity, complexity but simplicity, class, works the best and get a lot of compliment incl from women (not for big divers...). This brand understood it and they have quite some killer releases.
Interesting. At 39.5mm, I think it hits the sweet spot for most wrists. I wouldn't have minded a bit smaller on my wrist but it would have turned off many larger wristed folks in the process. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Cheers
Looking to make any purchases on Amazon? You can help support the channel FOR FREE by using my affiliate link:
amzn.to/3O0xqM7
Using this link may earn a small commission for any items purchased, not just the one linked. Thanks for the support!
Thanks for this review! I ordered one! Your review is terrific! And I don't see anyone else reviewing it yet. I'm glad you let me know about it!
Thank you very much! Glad I could help. Cheers
I've never seen your reviews before, but been part of the League of Microbrands group for a while. I saw your posts and that you were about to upload this review soon. And damn, your reviews are really good. Subscribed to you for sure! Keep up the good work.
Now to the watch itself. I think this the better interpretation of the two when comparing the Loresum and CW moonphase watches. This is just more defined with an actuall possibility to tell the time. I'm going to need a bracelet for sure though, but apart from that i only have one thing that i would change apart from your own critique, which was lume. What i would've want to change is the blue seconds hand. It has nothing to do there if you ask me. It should've matched the minute and hour hands.
Again, great review!
Thanks so much! Glad to have you onboard 🥂 It's easy to get lost in a sea of posts and fighting the algorithm.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Yeah, I went back and forth about the second hand. The blue doesn't do much for me, but I also get the idea of taking less away from the gorgeous dial and moon. I think I'm with you though and would prefer a simple, delicate second hand matching the other two. Cheers
On first impressions, I agree with you on the second hand. Not sure why that would have a deviant colour and doesn't work on the colour shifting dial for me.
So I backed the Loresum Kickstarter and they have included a bracelet option in the style you suggested, its not my taste, but I think a decent number of buyers are getting it with the bracelet
I was excited to see that one come to fruition! Sorry it's not to your taste but the two strap option is a nice freebie too. Cheers
Amazing review as usual. This watch looks so much better than I expected... I am glad it doesn't come with a bracelet or I would be in serious trouble!
Thanks so much! Haha! Hopefully, I'll be able to get that changed 😜 Cheers
Great review! Thorough and helpful. I have a jump hour from Loresum. It is well made and was also good value for money as I bought in a sale after production ceased as it was too hard for the factory to produce consistently with the right quality. This moonwatch looks terrific, and, as you say,, at its price point, there is nothing to compete with it. It is visually more attractive than the CW, before one factors in the much higher price point. I am a CW fan and have several of their models, but I am reluctant to spend almost £2K on their updated moonwatch. I also like the rose gold coated case option. It adds to the warmth and sets off the blue better. As a dress watch it won't get the wear of a daily beater. I like the blue leather strap, but if I wanted to add a bracelet, I would add a mesh strap rather than conventional links. I have several mesh bracelets on watches, giving an elegant vintage look.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I agree, CW puts out excellent watches, but I agree with your assessment that this wins in my book even before the price (which makes it a complete home run). I dig the rose gold as well (really, each colorway is cool), though I'll probably stick with the SS this time. Great reading you have been happy with your jumping hour too. Cheers
Since posting I’ve spotted from comments on Kickstarter where it launched and watching your video again that the moon rotates anti-clockwise. That’s fine if you live south of the equator but not if you live in Europe or say the USA and Canada. There’s a debate going on about this now on KS. I think it got overlooked in the design but to change to the conventional clockwise rotation might be problematic: cost, thickness & doubtless delay. Maybe it doesn’t really matter as the aesthetic is still achieved. When you reviewed it did you notice this and if so did it bother your enjoyment of the watch?
Thanks for circling back. I've been keeping an eye on the campaign and comments too. I hoped it would be an easy fix when the issue came up. I am admittedly not an astronomer nor particularly experienced with moonphase watches but have pondered this a lot since it came up. When I went to set the watch, I (now realize) encountered the same question of orientation (replicating what I saw) but chalked it up to my inexperience. I addressed it by going from the full moon and counting the clicks since it occurred. That left me properly set. For me, it had little to no practical impact on my enjoyment of the watch. I'll likely wear mine near/at full moon timing to help appreciate the watch detail and enjoy the nighttime sky. I don't get to wear my personal watches nearly as much as I'd like. However, even if I wore it more frequently, it still displays the correct phase just flipped from what we see. Now, all of that said, I do wish/hope it could be "corrected" (and would pay more) and more easily align with exactly what I see. But, it's still a beautiful watch, it doesn't really have much practical impact, significantly undercuts anything similar, and I really want to support Jason and the blood/sweat/tears he put into bringing this creation to life. Hope this helps with the decision. Cheers
Definitely a better option than the C. Ward. Must be some slim margins at that price!
Agreed on both fronts! Cheers
Thanks for the awesome review.
1st worldwide 😅
What's your wrist size ?
I was waiting with enthusiasm for this release.
Before a long text, if you are willing at some point to part with the Nova, let me know I would take this any day and it would be on my wrist literally every day of my life at work... 🙏
Back to the Loresum, I like it but really not so amazingly convinced with the final results compared to potential the concept had, when in my opinion a few easy changes would have made it way better.
It's clearly a dress watch, so smaller is better than bigger. In that regard I was happy to finally see a smaller option on the market in front of so many 40-42mm watch. But 39,5 is not do small especially for a dress. And as clearly a dress, why doing this super thick double dome cristal.
Initial spec made me hope for a 9/10mm, but It's thicker. It's too me a non-sense for a dress watch that you want to fit smoothly under a shirt.
Thinness in class dressy watch World Make a huge différence. It's still way better than the CW and a reason why I was enthousiast. But it doesn't work so amazingly, just when you compare to the Zelos this one fit way better for dress watch.
The exposition case back is Also for me useless, should have cut Price in that and maybe put Somewhere else. This myiota has nothing really beautiful, and the custim rotor id nothing really appealing either, really what's the point.
Maybe shortening a bit the lug would Also help but I bet it won't be done.
Also you don't talk about the surrounding circle of the dial that is grey. With all the metal parts it's ruining the feeling of having a wide sky and a Moon.
The CW (or Also Zelos) work so much better because pure, it works so much better the simplicity. But the CW IS too Big and not readable.
Here with the markers it was a great Idea, but putting this in gray it's making the feel of aventurine and blue small instead of blending, and the métal adds to it. It's ruins the simplicity and feel to watch a pure Sky which work do well on these Zelos or CW. Such a shame for simple detail.
For the bracelet why not it never hurts. But to me it wouldn't bé so good. It's purely an approach of sophisticated classy dress watch, metal all around the wrist wouldn't go with it, straps are way better for that.
It's great work from Loresum, I can't be so negative at the end of the day and congrats for their great work. But so small changes would have made me more convinced to buy it in a second.
Congrats for the work on the Moon also, this is positively surprising. And overall quality for the price IS there for sure. Deserve success 👏
Thank you! My wrist is ~6.5". The watch is extremely thin on the wrist and only 9mm thick, where it matters. The box edge crystal, with its dome, skews the specs but will not negatively impact sliding under a cuff like a thick case. Similarly, I think it adds visual depth to the dial and is a good look. It works just fine for dress or casual usage.
The chapter ring is more of a dark blue color, though it can change depending on lighting reflection. I personally like it and find the full aventurine, like on the CW, to be a bit boring and sterile. Now, on the Nova, with its smaller dial, dressier style and beautiful markers I wouldn't want a chapter ring. This one walks the line on a dressy sport watch.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Cheers
@@JonathanTReviewsYes maybe that's what I dislike with the modern approach, hearing so often about dress sport because there is a Patek a 80k and Rolex sold out.
All these brands are nothing like that.
Aventurine and moonphase, it's too me nothing sporty, way more classy.
It's not automobile, and no one will wear it to go to the pool or to run,...
People wearing it will do when wearing a dress outfit, and keeping it in a classy way would have made it more impressive overall that trying to blend in this trend of sportiness that doesn't fit it so well.
I might still go for it
I get what you're saying, though I do wear my Zelos Nova's, Direnzo's, etc. casually too (probably even more often). That's one of the beauties of what I'm referring to as dress sport. It can be dressed up or down as desired. I rarely wear "true" dress watches even with suits. It's all part of what makes the hobby fun, we all have different preferences and styles 🥂
Stellar review Jonathan, thanks a lot, you’re gonna make me spend money :( nah but for real, beautiful watch. I agree that a bracelet could work very well, as long as it doesn’t go all the way to a dainty style. Something like a beads of rice could be interesting, hopefully they can make it work! I need to get this watch :D I was feeling that the hands were not a perfect match, but even if I would have gone with framed tips instead of these, I have to say they work
Thanks so much! I think you'll love it and be very happy for the money! I'm hoping the bracelet happens too and integrates well 🤞 That's my take on the hands also. Minor critique of something that may be possible to improve, but they don't take away from the enjoyment, regardless of an update or not. Cheers
Wonderful watch and thanks for the fab in-depth review. Definitely needs a bracelet and/or a curved end strap to get rid of the unsightly strap gap to the watch case. More lume would be great too. These changes would make such a game change to an already super watch. Cheers Noel
Thank you very much for the kind words and sharing your thoughts! Cheers
What I like about the CW moonphase is one the moon is visibly "3d" in effect and also the change from the normal dial to the sub dial that moves is seamless making it seem only the moon is moving.
How are those two aspects with this watch? Seems the moon is flat on this one and also it seems to have a clear separation of the dial and the inner dial part that turns. Seems it has metal dividing it?
Interestingly, I feel the opposite between these watches. The CW moon has visible dot matrix shadowing from the pics I've seen, rendering it more "flat" and less refined IMO. Similarly, the cutout seems to be abrupt, with some crudeness to the dividing layers. In fairness, CW generally does an excellent job and I haven't seen that one in person.
Conversely, the moon on this Loresum is spectacular. It may be hard to appreciate on camera, but the 3D printed MOP moon achieves a shadowing and perceived depth reminiscent of the actual moon. The border framing achieves a higher sense of refinement IMO and, while it does separate the areas, makes the moon a focal point (a framed portrait in a sea of stars).
Naturally, this stuff is all subjective, but these are my sentiments from handling the Loresum.
Very cool been wanting a moonphase!
Me too and this is my favorite, especially for the price! Cheers
A ‘beads of rice’ bracelet (to me) seems to be the only type of bracelet option that would work with this watch. Great review though, I might end up ordering one.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the kind words 🥂
A bracelet like the vintage Zenith chronomaster bracelet would be absolutely stunning with this
Thanks for sharing your suggestion! That hollow link look is wild. Cheers
Thanks so much for the informative video. They just took my pledge today. I skipped the braclet and sw200 upgrade as the braclet wasn't my cup of tea and I'd rather have the thinness.
Do you know if they decided to upgrade the lume? I see the lug to lug was shaved down to 46.5mm. I hope this is enough to close up that gap as I agree with you on that point.
I must admit I've watched your video multiple times and probably still will until I actually recieve the watch. A way to scratch the itch. 😅 Keep up the good work.
Fun fact I missed out on the CW moonphase as it didn't have the look I was going for. This nails it almost perfectly.
Thank you very much for the kind words and support! I know they're working to try and improve the lume through another manufacturer. Hopefully it's a successful update 🤞🏻 Regarding the L2L, I believe they're moving the lug holes closer as well, so it should be improved. I'm eager to have it back on wrist too! Cheers
@JonathanTReviews Thanks so much. Great news regarding the l2l. Fingers 🤞 the lume recieves a good upgrade. 👍
This is a beautiful watch!! I think every detail is better than other options for ¼ the price. A bracelet is a good option - but this color and style of strap is stylish and classic. The dial and moon are the stars of the show! I have signed up for updates... thanks for telling me about a new brand. (They also have some other cool models usually way outside my price point to consider.)
I couldn't agree more. Going through the elements, I found myself preferring virtually every choice, even without factoring in price. Once you account for the ~$1,700 difference (getting you this one AND adding a Formex, Monta, most other CW's, etc.), it becomes an easy win in my book. I've always been curious about their watches and thought the prior designs were original and interesting, just unfortunately too big for me. I was immediately interested when this project started and it didn't disappoint! Cheers
This watch has a definitive advantage when it comes to legibility. It has legit markers which is a huge dealbreaker for me when i was about to buy the CW C1 moonphase.
Absolutely. They're functionally helpful and I actually prefer the look. Between the chapter ring and lack of a cutout border, I think the CW is too sterile. I prefer the dimensions as well and much prefer the moon execution (at least from pics of the CW). Cheers
Not to mention at such price point.@@JonathanTReviews
Really been looking forward to this one. I would love a bracelet on this! However I'm more interested in the rose gold version so I'm not sure how that would work.
Me too! Good point, unless they go with PVD bracelets too, it will only work well with the SS. Offering in each finish might not be feasible though. We'll see if the bracelet happens at all. Cheers
Just terrific! I'm so in on this. Terrific review, JT. PS-Bracelet please!
Thanks buddy! Let's hope the bracelet can happen 🤞 Either way though, can't wait to have one back on wrist. Cheers
Been looking for a true moon phase for a while. We walk our dogs at night there is a huge difference in darkness depending on phase, sure I can use my phone but this would be more fun. Agreed on the bracelet and would like to see a minute track with the roman numerals. I own a few CWards agree that this looks much better than the moonphase they offer. I agree with others where there is something about this watch that makes it seem kind of Aliexpress though.
That would be a fun use case and the moon lume could be an added enjoyment bonus, if it's dark enough. I appreciate the function of minute hashes as well, though I'm not sure if they could be cleanly incorporated with the chapter ring. Not sure about the Ali part. The quality is definitely there for the price IMO and I don't think any/many of the parts are off the shelf (I've seen some where that was clearly the case). In fairness though, from what I've seen, some of the Ali stuff is surprisingly good finishing (just not generally a fan of homages). Cheers
They recently offered a SW200-1 upgrade for 200 that increases thickness .9 but makes the moonphase now move left to right. What are your thoughts on this upgrade? Do you think it is worth it or a pass?
Personally, I prefer the Miyota 9 series over the Sellita SW200, as a general statement. That being said, this circumstance brings unique considerations. The change to clockwise/Northern Hemisphere rotation will be desirable for most. The cost increase is reasonable IMO, particularly considering the added decoration. The other benefit is the quieter bidirectional rotor winding. On the flip side, the Miyota option includes a thinner case back, cheaper price tag, and likely better long term reliability. It really comes down to how much one cares about the given pros/cons of each. No wrong choice. Neither is a perfect/superior option and both still represent a nice watch at an attractive price.
@@JonathanTReviews How is the Miyota 9015 rotor noise? Is it loud?
In general or with this watch? In general some watches and movements are noisier than others, but I've generally found it to be a non-issue and rarely noticeable unless you're in a quiet space, moving your wrist quickly, and/or listening for it. On this watch, I don't recall noticing it in normal usage.
oh ya I meant for this watch. Then I shall stick with Miyota for the reliability, cheaper and thinner case back. Thanks for the info! Great help!
I've backed the campaign (was so close to backing the LS03) because the watch size made sense for my skinny wrist. I'm really torn between the black aventurine and the blue. Even the black MOP is slick. I would really love for the moon phase to be clockwise but the $200 bump in price is making it hard to swallow especially as I had a bracelet in my pledge. Going from $620 to $900 really has got me on the fence. Also trying to work out if I'm really bothered by 0.9mm increase in thickness. Yes, it won't hug the wrist as well but most of my dressier watches are not that traditional.
Overall, I think this is an awesome watch but I'm wondering if Jason has tried to please too many people in such a short space of time that we haven't had time to process all the changes/updates before the campaign closes. I remember there being a number of changes for the LS03 but all those seemed quite minor.
I actually think they did it better than CW by having the numerals. You can actually tell the time on it so it instantly has 100x the utility. Wish it didnt have loresum text though. Makes it look a bit aliexpress with just a random word generator used for the branding.
True and true (would be différent if they made a name like Zelos but for now it looks quite far)
I like it better overall than the CW too for that and the other reasons, especially with price being taken into consideration. I hear you about the name text. Fortunately, with the location and box edge crystal, it's rarely noticeable in usage unless you're specifically looking. Cheers
love the rose gold.brings out more for me. hate the bump up in price by 200usd.
It is a great looking offering that stands out from most others on the market. Yeah, it's never an easy pill to swallow, but I think the value is still strong for what you get and relative to the competition. Cheers
@@JonathanTReviews Hey, will it be possible for you to another review of the production model (2 variants) now that's its close to launch. Maybe your subscribers can get a discount too if you talk to them. 😀
@abhishekjhunjhunwala5892 I may be able to get a revisit worked in though I'm not sure about the discount 😁
@@JonathanTReviews much appreciated bro..good luck keep at it. do ask ayways. 🤣
@abhishekjhunjhunwala5892 Send them a message and mention my review, they will help you out.
As I was watching your review, I grew to like this more and more. First impressions weren't quite convincing, perhaps because of the superficial likeness to the CW, so there was a sense of déjà vu. The thing is, I was not that impressed with the aesthetic offering of CW. I'd even go as far as saying that if you want an interesting aventurine, your Zelos Nova offers more. If you want an austere aventurine, probably the upcoming Venezianico is better. So, going back to this, I really appreciate the 'extra' one gets on this design, while being smaller and thinner! That alone should be a winning formula. Moonphase? Yes, I am interested, though not feeling an urgent itch exactly. My reservation is that it would appear to me somewhat tricky to set, when in rotation with a number of watches. I know too little about it. The Farer Burbidge at face value was certainly a more striking moonphase and did tempt me with all that unconventionality. This is a very different, effectively more toned down approach. The outer index ring is an excellent touch. It reminds me of the ribbed finished on Dubois watches, which I always appreciated. The minimal yet pronounced hour indices look very smart on it, and ground the dial. The polished rim on the moonphase window finishes it off nicely, and recognising that masking it as on the CW only partially works. It does mean that the two bumps are very prominently present. On the whole, I think it's an acceptable trade-off, especially since there is an additional polished ring separated offering unison in separators. The astute hands' shape, I like. But I don't like how the hands almost always seem to disappear. The gun metal makes them read matte black, and I think it's an incongruent and disappointing choice on a dressy watch. Is there any polish on the hands? I think they need it. As mentioned before, I also think that a simple polished needle for the second hand would have been a lot smarter. The crystal looks brilliant, but on aventurine, why does no one consider applying AR to the dial itself? Would that not be better than putting it on top of the crystal, with all concerns that causes, too? Or indeed, if needed, on all three? The crown looks effectively too plain for the watch. It's a minor point, but for me it needed to be brought up to meet the level of the case and dial, and now it stands out as a little neglected. Reducing the lug length slightly, even half a mm, would be appreciated. Perhaps they could curve down just slightly more, if retouching them anyway? I do think they look elegant, but the gap is not ideal. The strap is a logical choice for a very dressy watch, but as they show with the ample brushing and the hands, they seem to seek a blended aesthetic, where sportier details mix with the dressy flourishes. On camera and screen, the blue of the strap stands out as a third tone, next to the second hand, while really, I think the blue is best reserved for the index ring and aventurine, or much more closely matched on the strap. I'd love to see something less conventional than an embossed croc, too. Saffiano, pearl/caviar embossing, or just a tumbled texture might actually look better for the mix of styles on the watch. I do think there is scope for a bracelet. I understand why you'd suggest the Citizen's style. Another source of inspiration could be the bracelets for Oris' Atelier line. At any right, mailing the style and matching the lug shape, refined brushing, with limited polished accents will be key to success there. Not an easy undertaking, I'm sure, if the costs need to be kept in check (see Straum...)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Great points. Regarding setting the watch, the complication is less fiddly to set than I expected. It's not that much worse than setting a date. The primary added step is looking up the current cycle. From there, I just quickly center the moon and then count the number of clicks since it last occurred. It only takes a minute or two for the entire process and is kind of enjoyable (much akin to the appreciation you develop when winding a manual wind to start the day). Cheers
@@JonathanTReviews thanks for clarifying how that works. Doesn't sound too onerous, yet, I have never grown that liking of hand winding either. Setting the time and date on mechanicals is now second nature, but even then, rushing in the morning, I can spend half a day with the wrong time indicated, which is a minor frustration. It would make this definitely more of a leisure watch. I think I may have brought too many points for improvement, but I think the key ones to address are a better style strap and that second hand. It's just a pity that the gun metal is there always giving colour contrast when visible, but mostly disappearing. Some kind of accent, possibly even just the tiniest strip of polished outline, would likely make them more visible against the dial in the way the polished rims already demonstrate.
@benjaminvis You might want to consider grabbing a watch winder. While I'm not a big advocate for them, it can help with what you described. Instead of getting the watch ready in the morning, you can do so at your leisure the night before, throw it in the winder and just grab it in the morning.
Regarding the hands, it's a natural occurrence with aventurine in my experience. The Nova hands, for example, are fully polished and completely disappear (excepting the lume strip) depending on the lighting/angle. Not a problem in usage for me, but they can look invisible in pics/videos.
@@JonathanTReviews same here. I don't understand why someone would have mechanical watches and then destroy the mechanical advantage by using an electrical device. So, for the time being, it's a tradeoff I'm happy to make. But I am not looking to further complicate this process. Logically, if iu hand wind an automatic (almost all can), one could also do this the night before. For me it's not unusual to crash late at night and have the rush in the morning. Too many things going on!
Great review
Thanks so much! Cheers
Will this match the moon cycle for here in the US? For the base movement?
The Miyota movement will move in a counterclockwise direction (dictated by the date wheel rotation) and show the southern hemisphere orientation (mirror image).
Great review. Bracelet would be very nice.
Thank you very much! Cheers
The watch is great,if got bracelet option will be awesome
Thanks for weighing in! Cheers
The Christopher Ward moonphase isn’t comparable to this, as it’s accurate to 120 years - should someone manage to wear it continuously for that long. This Loresum is just a 29.5 moonphase which will need correcting every 3 months. Most people won’t care, but the 120 years complication has never been available for such an affordable price as is on the CW.
I don't disagree, from a technical accomplishment perspective, and also know the R&D and other aspects drive the price. By the same token though, as you mention, I also agree that most people won't care or see the benefit though. For most people, I personally think the Loresum is the better option and value (and prefer the design as well). I still appreciate the high(er) horology nature of the CW as an enthusiast. Cheers
@@JonathanTReviews of course, unless you’re a fan of astrology or moonphase watches and/or either owning just the one watch.. for everyone else actually all moon phases (even if not the 120 years type) are kind of pointless and a pain to set every time even more than a date. But Loresum looks cool for the price and that’s why I backed this and wouldn’t buy the technically superior CW. I was just pointing out the reason why the CW is inevitably more expensive, and that it’s an achievement for CW and probably a more interesting bargain for those who have good reason to care for that particular complication.
A typical moonphase watch needs adjusted about every 3 years, not months. The actual moonphase is 29.53 days, so it takes 33.33 months to get out of sync by a day.
Where can I buy this for $600??
The Kickstarter campaign unfortunately closed a while ago. That was the biggest discount price. I just looked and it's presently available for pre-order around $868 through their site. Still priced well below similarly styled options. Cheers
Great review Jonathan! I really wish the hands had a sharp tip on them, it would make them look like comet/shooting star streaks through the sky (especially with the floating design of them). Otherwise a great looking watch.
Thank you very much! That could be a cool look, kind of like a modified version of the Zelos Skyraider hands. I like this look too though. Cheers
Cool watch
I like it too! Cheers
😂somebody borrowed the older IWC buckle😂
Most likely a customized catalog option from the strap manufacturer.
Love the white ends of the hand but a single “bar” like a screw driver would be sooo much nicer
I wouldn't mind seeing some different hand lume tweak renders but like the current design pretty well. Cheers
This looks great!
It really is a beauty! Cheers
Would be great with a closed case back. I understand if this is your only watch but when you have higher horology watches this movement isn’t special or especially nice. No hate intended but there is nothing to see there and then I really prefer a closed back
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm largely indifferent to exhibition or closed in most cases. I've seen many closed backs that are plain and IMO boring too. Cheers
Too big for my taste.
Yes true too...
Also we go towards smaller watches and this will look like a Big hamburger in 5 years time...
I have a quite good size wrist but the 36mm 10mm thin Baltic MR01 looks perfect on me for dress...
Simplicity, complexity but simplicity, class, works the best and get a lot of compliment incl from women (not for big divers...).
This brand understood it and they have quite some killer releases.
Interesting. At 39.5mm, I think it hits the sweet spot for most wrists. I wouldn't have minded a bit smaller on my wrist but it would have turned off many larger wristed folks in the process. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Cheers
LOL what this is pretty small?