I vividly recall the day I introduced my dear wife to the wonderful world of Moser watches. It was for our DE GRIFF event last year where we enjoyed a nice lunch and presentation with some of the team behind H. Moser & Cie. It was the first time she saw these very rare watches in the metal. What usually takes me months of diplomatic talks with my wife, was done and dealt with in a matter of hours. She asked me simply: “So which one are we getting?”
As I briefly explained her all that is H.Moser & Cie and what that means financially speaking she didn’t even blink at the mention of the above average price for these above average haute horlogerie watches. I didn’t quite understand why…
Until later that week. We were both working in the Atelier where at the time I was editing the pictures from the Moser Lunch event. It is at that very moment that I gained clarity of mind. It is here that I understood what would be my inevitable future. She casually – but clearly – mentioned to me: “I really like that one, I could wear it when you wear your other watches”. She was referring to the Endeavour Centre Seconds, pictured in a lovely green below. One of the most elegant wristwatches that have graced our mutual wrists and I’m not just talking about Moser at this point.
Now, why do I mention this marital insight here. It is simply to point out that H.Moser & Cie doesn’t just make nice “men’s” watches, they make nice watches that for the most part can be worn by both men & women. Unisex.
There are so many ugly women’s watches out there, it’s not even funny. I also mentioned this fact when we last met with H.Moser & Cie at their Manufacture and expressed my horror at the need for brands to add diamonds or bling to all women’s watches, instantly turning them ugly. I find them lacking in good taste I said. However, the Moser crew was quick to respond: “It doesn’t have to be ugly”. And with this new release they prove they were right indeed. Mind you, H. Moser & Cie does not refer to this watch as a woman’s watch, and I’m sure there are men out there that can get away with this. This hands-on however, has been written with the very precious insight of the one and only Ms de Griff. Very rare indeed. This is indeed not a women’s watch as per Moser, but with this watch, as the lady of the house confirms, Moser sure gets what women want.
You might see the case shape and think this is just an Endeavour case with 60 brilliant-cut 1.13 carat diamonds on the bezel, but you would be wrong indeed.
This is a new case. Measuring in at 38mm as opposed to the standard 40mm, and slightly thinner too at a glorious 10.3mm. This is 38mm, a size that clearly looks good on a women’s wrist and as I’m sure you will agree, also on a man’s wrist. In fact, I tried it on and in my brief rockstar glory forgot to snap a picture – the 38mm is a very nice size.
Can I get away with this watch? No I can’t. Can some other dapper dude? For sure. Can a lady rock this gorgeous and serious horological piece? Without any single doubt. Do I know a lady who wants to rock this piece right away? You bet ya…
The case and watch design is pure H.Moser & Cie. There is nothing that has been tuned down or up (excluding the bling factor obviously), this is a full blown steel Endeavour. As per H. Moser “only the main indices are included on this creation, so as to retain the minimalist aesthetic favoured by H. Moser & Cie. The movement that drives the Endeavour Centre Seconds Diamonds Purity is the self-winding HMC 200 calibre, designed, developed and produced entirely in-house. It is equipped with a regulating organ manufactured by Precision Engineering AG, the sister company of H. Moser & Cie. The calibre HMC 200
houses a large engraved gold oscillating weight, guaranteeing a minimum 3-day power reserve.”
This is a true haute horlogerie watch, designed to be worn by men and women alike. At the same time, as per Ms de Griff’s insights, it is one “beautiful women’s watch”. This one is not ridiculously small, nor is it a glorified quartz watch with diamonds slapped on top of it, this is a straight up fantastic H.Moser & Cie, for him and her.
The really huge surprise for me on this one was the price. For a watch that looks like a million bucks, this H.Moser & Cie can be had for approx USD 15.900,00.
Note that this is a limited series with a total number of 100 pieces going to market.