Baselworld/SIHH

H. Moser & Cie @ Baselworld 2014 – Part 1 – The New Venturer

I visited the H. Moser Lounge at the Ramada – as usual stylish and refined but this year with a new design, following the renewed Corporate Design that was introduced last year.

The big news this year is a arrival called the Venturer. All existing models so far are now  grouped under the collection “Endeavour”, so for example the Perpetual 1 is now called the Endeavour Perpetual calendar. As well part of the now called Endeavour collection are the Dual Time, the Moon Phase, as well as the former Mayu (now called Endeavour small seconds) and Monard (now Endeavour centre seconds resp. Big Date). The tonneau shaped Henry double hairspring has been dropped. '

COLLECTION OVERVIEW – ENDEAVOUR

·         Endeavour Perpetual Calendar – 6 references in white gold, rose gold and platinum

·         Endeavour Moon – 2 references in rose gold and platinum

·         Endeavour Dual Time – 2 references in rose gold and platinum

·         Endeavour Big Date – 3 references in rose and white gold

·         Endeavour Centre Seconds – 7 references in rose and white gold

·         Endeavour Small Seconds – 7 references in red, rose and white gold

·         Endeavour Special Editions – 5 references

More important that the renaming of the collections is the new model, the Venturer. I was told that the former Mayu will not be replaced – despite the new venture being as well a small second three hand model.

Venturer small seconds

 The Venturer Collection features a new in-house manufacture movement, the Calibre HMC 327, with three days power reserve and a power reserve indication of the backside of the movement. I am fond of this solution since it keeps the dial very clean while still providing the important reserve indication.

The new movement includes state-of-the art technology in the form of a silicon anchor with ruby pallets and a silicon escape wheel. Silicon is anti-magnetic and confers low-friction; benefits which cannot be ignored. . The in-house Straumann Hairspring® features a hand-applied Breguet overcoil, enhancing isochronism. The balance wheel includes gold screws facilitating precise poising of the balance.

Technical data of the movement

·         In-house hand-wound Calibre HMC 327

·         Diameter: 32.0 mm or 14 ¼ lignes

·         Height: 4.4 mm

·         Frequency: 18’000 vib/h

·         28 jewels

·         Power reserve: minimum 3 days

·         Hacking seconds

·         Moser teeth for all wheels and pinions

·         Original Straumann® hairspring with stabilised Breguet overcoil

Case

·         18-carat red gold, three-part

·         Diameter: 39.0 mm, height: 12.5 mm

·         Curved sapphire crystal

·         See-through sapphire crystal case-back

·         Screw-in crown adorned with an “M”

Dials

·         Red gold fumé, ardoise or argenté with sunburst pattern

·         Appliqué indexes

·         18-carat red gold hands

Here is the red gold version with the argente dial (silver). The bezel and the lugs are much slimmer than the ones of the Mayu. The idices are similar, however the “12” of the Mayu has been dropped and replaced by a double index. A clean and good solution.

Domed sapphire crystal. I like the curved resp. sculptured case. Very sensual and elegant.

The dial is curved and so are the hands

Movement side (movement decoration in prototype fashion). The movement features a silicon anchor with ruby pallets and a silicon escape wheel, while the movement of the Mayu has an anchor and an anchor wheel made of gold.

The Venturer small seconds is available in the following versions:

• Reference 2327-0401, red gold model, red gold fumé dial, brown strap
• Reference 2327-0402, red gold model, ardoise dial, brown strap
• Reference 2327-0400, red gold model, argenté dial, brown strap

Solid gold buckle.

Finally a wrist shot of the Venturer. The hands at 12 o’clock is a coincidence….it was indeed noon when I took the picture.

Overall a very nice new model that is consistent to the high-end watches of Moser, however in a more modern, fresh look. I was told that the prices for the venture will  be a notch above the Mayu. 

The name Venturer Small Seconds promises other derivate in the same case and with the same base movement -  a center second would certainly be logical and fitting the clean dial very well.

I could have time to take pictures of the other dial versions (ardoise and red gold fumee dial) so I attach some pictures of the press release.

 gold fume dial

 ardoise (slate) grey

What is your opinion on Moser’s fresh take on the small seconds?

Which version is your favourite?

Best,

Stefan