Sugess 401B Moonphase Watch Review

So here’s the big question: How do you end up with a watch that gives you a dial straight out of a starry night, a true moonphase and big date complication, and quite unique automatic mechanical calibre —all for the price of a casual dinner out here in London? That’s the puzzle this Sugess Moonphase sets up, and definitely makes you wonder: is there a catch? Well, after spending a week with this watch, I've tried my best and actually have found a few little quirks and compromises. So, is this just a crazy good deal or is there’s a little more to the story. Well we have here - let's find out!

Design

This Sugess Moonphase is all about originality—no homage territory here. You’re getting a unique piece built on three pillars: first, that stunning aventurine-like dial that just pops (and yes, flip it to the cream dial and it’s like a whole new watch). Second, a genuinely interesting Seagull movement with a real moonphase and big date complication—a little off the beaten path. And third, the price: it’s frankly kind of incredible for what you’re getting.

But here’s the nuance: to make this a truly standout dress piece at 41 millimeters, there have been a couple of compromises. They didn’t cut corners exactly, but they made some design choices that are all about keeping it firmly in the dress watch lane. For example, that push-pull crown is a nod to form over hardcore functionality—you wouldn’t expect a tool watch here. It’s got a certain presence on the wrist that’s meant to catch eyes, not dive to the ocean floor. So we’ll chat about a few of these trade-offs as we go, just so you know exactly what you’re getting into.

In short: it’s a unique, eye-catching dress watch with a few quirks that come with the territory. Let’s dive into those details next.

Movement

Now let's talk about what’s ticking inside. This is the Seagull ST2528, and it’s not your everyday movement. We’ve got 29 jewels here supporting that moonphase and big date complication. It’s hackable, hand-windable, and offers a bit of extra practicality with around 45 to 48 hours of power reserve. So you’re getting a bit more stamina than your typical 40-hour standard.

This movement also allows for a quick set of the date and the moonphase indicators. This is done by the concealed pushers on the flanks of the case at 10 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions respectively.

And this movement, of course, features a true moon complication with 29 days 12 hours and 45 minutes rotation cycle.

This movement beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour, and through the exhibition caseback, you can see some attractive Côtes de Genève decoration on the rotor and bridges. It’s a handsome movement that adds a touch of refinement and definitely looks more expensive than the watch’s actual cost. All in all, it suits the watch’s character perfectly and delivers that little bit of extra visual candy.

Dimensions

This watch comes in at about 41 millimeters in diameter, which gives it a noticeable presence on the wrist. It’s not shy about being seen, but it’s still well-proportioned for a dress piece. The lug width is a slightly unusual 21 millimeters, which might sound odd at first, but it actually enhances that elegant, dressy look they were going for. It’s all about keeping those proportions refined.

In terms of wearability, we've got nicely slanted lugs that help it sit comfortably on the wrist. The case height is 13.9mm and the lug-to-lug distance is about 49 millimeters, so while it’s got some presence, it’s still manageable for most wrists and definitely leans dressy. Weight-wise, we’ve got here 82 grams, so it’s not too heavy and perfectly comfortable for all-day wear.

Case

We’ve got a solid 316L stainless steel construction that blends polished and brushed surfaces really nicely. Up top, there's a polished fixed bezel that transitions smoothly into sculpted lugs and brushed flanks. One neat detail is the subtle thin polished chamfer separating those brushed sides from the bezel, adding a little extra visual interest you might not notice right away.

We’ve also got those flush pushers on the sides for the date and moonphase adjustments. The crown is a comfortable onion-shaped push-pull design, which suits the dressy aesthetic perfectly. Turning the watch over and there's an exhibition caseback—yes, it’s mineral glass rather than sapphire, but at this price point it's perfectly fine.

Water resistance is about 50 meters (or 5 ATM), which is enough for everyday splashes and handwashing, but definitely not for swimming. All in all, it’s a well-executed case that further reinforces the dressy nature of the watch.

Crystal

So, we've got this lovely double-domed sapphire crystal that sits just a touch above the polished bezel, offering that extra scratch protection. It's great for keeping the watch looking pristine. And double dome also means we get minimal distortion and really nice legibility from various angles.

Now, there’s no official mention of any AR coating in the product listings, which is a bit of a missed opportunity. For a dress watch with such an attractive and high-contrast dial, it’s not a big deal in terms of readability. But having a bit of anti-reflective coating would just help the crystal kind of disappear and let that good looking dial shine through even more at all angles. So occasionally, you might catch a bit of glare in certain lighting. It’s not a dealbreaker, just something that would have given it that extra touch of refinement. But hey, for the price and the style, it’s still absolutely doing its job.

Dial

The dial truly is the star of the show. We’ve got that gorgeous sandstone-like sparkle background, and while the sparkle effect is most likely artificially enhanced, it still looks quite natural and really pops. There is a printed minute track around the perimeter, with the five-minute increments lumed up, as we will see in a moment in my lume test.

And then the moon phase complication. And it is a showstopper. In this version, the moon phase is actually lumed, which makes it even more special. The dauphine hands are well-proportioned, nicely finished, and also lumed, which is a nice touch for a dress watch, enhancing its practicality.

Now, if I have to nitpick one thing, it’s that date legibility. You’d think a big date would be super easy to read, however it's not quite the case. They matched the date background to that beautiful dial, which is great, however the digits don’t pop quite as much, especially in a low light, so you might need a second glance. Possibly a stronger contrast of the date digits would have solved this, but then it might mess up with the dial overall look. So it seems like a trade-off of aesthetics over pure function - keeping that dreamy night-sky illusion intact. I would say, a fair compromise for this style of watch.

Lume

As for the lume, it is actually quite decent. The minute track, hands, and the moonphase indicator are lumed, adding a nice touch of practicality. However, do keep in mind that the lume isn't super strong, and doesn't last a great deal, like we would see on a diver. Still, considering the style of this watch and the price, it's a great bonus!

Strap

So the strap here is genuine leather with a faux croc pattern. Normally I’m not a huge fan of these, but in this case, the deep blue color really matches the dial well. It’s double-sided, has a nice bit of padding for comfort, and comes with quick-release spring bars for easy changes.

And as for the buckle, it’s a well-executed milled piece that’s signed with the same tasteful font as the branding on the dial. We’ve got that nice mix of polished and brushed finishes here too, which ties in really nicely with the case design. Overall, the strap and buckle combo really rounds out the watch as a cohesive, comfortable package.

Verdict

In a nutshell, this is a phenomenal piece for the price. Sure, there are a couple of little things that could be refined—like adding a bit more anti-reflective coating on that sapphire crystal—but honestly, at the listed price, it's incredibly hard to fault this watch. And if you factor in the current discounts—knocking off around another $25—it’s just a crazy good deal. So if you’re looking for an affordable moonphase watch that punches well above its weight, this one’s definitely worth a look.