H. Moser & Cie. Venturer Collection – The Venturer Small Seconds

Swiss luxury watch maker H. Moser & Cie. unveils their latest collection Venturer as a tribute to the second phase of Heinrich Moser’s life. Soon after establishing his watchmaking business in St. Petersburg in 1828, his exquisite creations graced the arms of Russian princes and members of the Imperial Court. In fact, most Fabergé table clocks were equipped with H. Moser movements.

With this success, Heinrich Moser established a manufacturing site in Le Locle, drawing on contacts made during his time there. Strength of Moser was his ability to recruit capable individuals to manage his operations. With his products crossing oceans and moving down the Silk Road through a network of boutiques, this astute judgement served him well.

Moser had a clear vision of marketing and commerce. It is this mindset that resulted in Moser crafting high -precision timepieces imbued with grace and exceptional craftsmanship, as well as featuring innovation. These principles have been embraced with the new Venturer Collection which takes its name from Moser’s commercial ventures that attracted the patronage of clients from around the globe.

The Venturer Collection of watches is infused with design elements from traditional pocket watches, but they also reference the 1920s Bauhaus era and feature the convex crystals of the 1960s. This collection includes a new in-house manufacture movement, the Calibre HMC 327.

Reference 2327-0400, red gold model, argenté dial, brown strap

Heinrich Moser’s entrepreneurial spirit is celebrated with the new Venturer Collection of watches. The Venturer Small Seconds with its HMC 327 movement, the first timepiece in the collection, reaffirms H .Moser & Cie.’s expertise for crafting high precision timepieces, imbued with grace and exceptional craftsmanship. Taking cues from the company’s historic pocket watches, the Venturer Collection also incorporates pure design elements from the 20th century.

Reference 2327-0400, red gold model, argenté dial, brown strap

The inspiration for this latest collection from H. Moser & Cie. is the second phase of Heinrich Moser’s professional ventures in the Russian city of St. Petersburg. Established in 1828, H. Moser & Cie. so on attracted the patronage of the Imperial Court. Indeed, Moser quickly built his reputation and saw the watchmaking business that bore his name flourish and become a resounding commercial success.

The Venturer Collection is infused with design elements from traditional pocket watches but also with a clever mix of cues from the Bauhaus era of the 1920s and convex forms of the 1960s. This includes a larger bezel opening, revealing the extremely restrained and elegant H. Moser signature fumé dial. In keeping with the clean lines of the crystal, bezel and case, the dial surface has a convex profile and the hands follow this contour, according a delightful depth to their form and an attention to detail that grows on closer inspection.

Reference 2327-0401, red gold model, red gold fumé dial, brown strap

The baton design and the curved edge of the swallow -shaped hands are long and slim, expressing a dynamic character. Refined lines are a key attribute to the design language of the new Venturer Collection. Carefully selected features are shared with the Endeavour Collection, such as the crown with the Moser “M” adorning its vertical flank.

Reference 2327-0402, red gold model, ardoise dial, brown strap

The curving lines of the satin brushed area embellish the case band, swooping downwards to convene beneath the crown. The resultant mien is exquisit e and imparts a joyous moment of discovery on first acquaintance. All elements of this crafted timepiece harmoniously blend, identifying the Venturer as unmistakably H. Moser.

The Venturer Small Seconds is the very first model of the Venturer Collection, featuring a small seconds display deliberately positioned as close to the bottom of the dial as possible. This model is available in three different references, each exhibiting its own unique character. The choice of three 18-carat red gold models, includes an ardoise or a sensual argenté dial, as well as the unusual, and highly attractive, new signature dial in red gold fumé.

Reference 2327-0401, red gold model, red gold fumé dial, brown strap

In creating the Venturer Collection, H. Moser & Cie. has initiated a range of refined timepieces with a design that engages with an arresting presence. With plans to expand the Venturer Collection with additional models as well as complications, the ambition of H. Moser & Cie. reaffirms its entrepreneurial heritage and its reputation for ingenious products.

Reference 2327-0402, red gold model, ardoise dial, brown strap

The Venturer Collection includes a new in -house manufacture movement for 2014, the Calibre HMC 327. This calibre is characterized by its traditional watchmaking finishing, minimum power reserve of three days and a hacking seconds function. Measuring 32 mm in diameter, the Calibre HMC 327 is optimally sized to suit the 39.2 mm case of the new Venturer Small Seconds. The HMC 327 has also been designed to sit closely to the exhibition case-back, allowing the wearer to enjoy an intimate view of the fine finishing practised at H. Moser & Cie.

The HMC 327 is the result of a close examination of historic movements, an evolution that delivers optimised performance and efficiency. By introducing this calibre in the new Venturer Collection, the company has a range of prestigious watches that uphold its matchless watchmaking standards and display considerable efficiencies in production and assembly.

Such efficiencies provide benefits through 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.

Conversely, traditions are also respected. 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. Adorning the movement is the H. Moser company hallmark, expertly engraved in gold, although in keeping with the refined design, the engraving is reduced to a minimum against the backdrop of Moser stripes that adorn the bridges of the HMC 327.  This new collection stands testament to the pride of the skilled team who work patiently, crafting fine watches that are exceptional and very rare.

Technical details
Model: Venturer Small Seconds

Reference numbers
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

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

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

Functions
Hour and minute
Small seconds hand and sub-dial
Power reserve indicator on movement side

Strap
Hand-stitched brown alligator strap
Solid 18-carat red gold pin buckle, with engraved Moser logo

H. MOSER & CIE. CALIBRE HMC 327
H. Moser & Cie. produces approximately 1000 watches and 1000 movements in -house each year and is the antithesis of mass production. This year, the company reveals a new movement with a small seconds function, the HMC 327. The in -house calibre was developed specifically for the new Venturer Small Seconds.

Innovation is a key pillar upholding the H. Moser & Cie. brand. Ingenious products are the fruit of the creative minds who work in the ateliers based in Neuhausen am Rheinfall in the Canton of Schaffhausen. This desire to push boundaries, whilst always respecting traditional Swiss watchmaking craft, is a characteristic of H. Moser & Cie. This year, the company reveals a new movement with a small seconds function. Measuring 32 mm in diameter, the Calibre HMC 327 is optimally sized to suit the 39.2 mm case of the new Venturer Small Seconds. The HMC 327 has also been designed to sit closely to the exhibition case -back, allowing the wearer to enjoy an intimate view of the fine finishing practised at H. Moser & Cie.

H. Moser & Cie. has always been synonymous with no-compromise quality and exalted finishing. It is a reputation precious to the company and its parent company MELB Holding, owned and run by the Meylan family. The HMC 327 upholds these matchless standards, and benefit s from very efficient production and assembly processes. Such efficiencies are achieved by ensuring that all parts of the movement are optimised and that, for example, the number of different screws or ruby sizes are minimised. The number of wheels has also been optimised. This not only minimises assembly times but also maximises performance of the movement as the addition of each wheel results in greater energy consumption. So, by employing as few wheels as possible, a maximised power yield is derived from the mainspring, in a movement that remains very slim.

State-of-the art technology is delivered in the form of a silicon anchor with ruby pallets and a silicon escape wheel. H. Moser & Cie. is not afraid to embrace innovation when it delivers benefits to its customers. 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.

Clearly, designing and producing an escapement requires mastery of the whole balance spring production process – from melting the material right through to completing the finished spring. Together with its associate company Precision Engineering AG, H. Moser & Cie. developed the Straumann Hairspring® based on the formula used by the inventor of Nivarox, Prof. Dr. H.C. Reinhard Straumann. This ensures the necessary homogeneity of the material.

Conversely, traditions are respected and beauty is not restricted to merely the exterior of H. Moser watches. The small gap between the two large bridges of the movement allows an enticing view of the circular -grained wheels below and proffers a charming insight into the watchmaker’s domain.

A power-reserve indicator, located on the movement side of the timepiece, provides a restrained insight into the status of the mainspring, which yields a minimum power reserve of three days. In keeping with the H. Moser design philosophy of pure understatement, the functionality of the power reserve indicator is provided but without corrupting the pure appearance of the main dial.

Drawing from the tradition of H. Moser pocket-watch movements produced since 1828, a minimum of engraving is displayed, including the H. Moser company hallmark, expertly engraved in gold. It stands testament to the pride of the skilled team who work patiently, crafting fine watches that are exceptional and very rare.