Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Independent Spirit

H. Moser & Cie. possesses both a legacy of innovation and a forward-looking perspective that makes it one of the most revered independent manufactures operating today.

The new Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Black Edition retains the sophisticated characteristics that define H. Moser & Cie. — classical proportions and useful complications elegantly executed — but with a look and feel that bridges the gap between contemporary technology and horological tradition.

Introduced in 2006, the Perpetual Calendar combines a clever display with a movement that automatically compensates for the varying lengths of the months, as well as leap years. 

Its discreet attitude conceals the high degree of its sophistication from the uninitiated. The leap year function is on the movement side of the watch, visible through the sapphire caseback rather than the dial. And one of the most head-turning features is a short hand at center that points to each hour marker to indicate the month. Meanwhile, the date window features the brand’s “Flash Calendar,” which instantaneously advances at midnight in a fraction of a second. This innovation also makes it possible for the watch to be adjusted forward or backward without harming the gears, a rarity in perpetual calendars.

To match the modern spin on this classic complication, H. Moser & Cie. offers this new version in a striking black DLC-coated titanium case — a first for the brand, which usually works in gold or platinum. More than giving the watch stealthy good looks, the combination of materials also makes it extremely lightweight and resistant to scratches. As a result, when you pass the watch down to the next generation, it will look just as handsome as the day you purchased it.

As with all H. Moser & Cie. models, refinement and utility take precedence over spectacle without a purpose. The Venturer Small Seconds exemplifies that ethos. It shares the round case, polished hands and baton indexes of the brand’s other models, but adds a few subtle updates, like a narrower bezel and a convex crystal and dial that give extra dimension to the display. There’s also dramatic news concealed within: the new HMC 327. This hand-wound movement merges advanced materials like a silicon escape wheel and anchor with the traditional finishing that decorates the plates and bridges.

The Endeavour Dual Time shares the Perpetual Calendar’s clean display and easy legibility, qualities that can be hard to come by in a travel watch. When away from your usual time zone, the red hand tracks the local hour. Meanwhile, the main display shows your home time and includes a helpful day-night indicator at 12 o’clock. When you’re back at home again, the dual time zone hand can be hidden entirely behind the main hour hand.

Each H. Moser & Cie. timepiece is a tribute to the beauty of the classical watch form. And with intense aesthetic rigor and technical virtuosity, the manufacture continues to build on the past with meaningful innovations that advance the art of timekeeping.

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