Tourbillons, chronograph counters and retrogrades are perfect for those who enjoy a flurry of dial activity – for those who prefer the simplicity of a watch face uncluttered with such accoutrements a H. Moser & Cie watch should do the trick, and this is the new H. Moser & Cie Meridian Dual Time.  But do not let the plainness deceive you, H. Moser & Cie have a knack for hiding complex innovations within a pure and innocent exterior.

The piece features the brand’s first automatic calibre the HMC 345.121 which features a dual time zone complication – and a few other ingenious additions.  The aperture at 12 o’clock is an AM/PM display it’s big and clear, but it’s not as straightforward as it would appear.  A slide system which features the numbers 1, 2 and 4 moves from side to side, only showing the desired number for the indication while the other remains hidden from view on the left or on the right, it’s clever spring-operated system has it’s own power source stored up over a period of 8 hours, so the movements reserve of power is unaffected.

Then there is the H. Moser & Cie Double Pull Crown Mechanism, a patented foolproof winding system which only the most inept user could fail to use with accuracy – for the Meridian Dual Time watch, the system will ensure that the home time is not adjusted by mistake and that the watch is not accidentally stopped while settings are being adjusted.

The new calibre has a boast-worthy power reserve of 72 hours which it gains though it’s solid gold rotor which in turn delivers it’s power via a pawl wheel winding system which can be wound in both directions.

That’s not all – Moser have pioneered an interchangeable escapement, unscrewable at 2 points which enables ease of servicing, and these are no ordinary escapements, each is made from solid gold as is the pallet fork.  The movement also uses a Straumann Hairspring and a Breguet Overcoil, terms which you may neither know or understand – but be assured, the blend of traditional techniques and modern innovation together with the superlative craftsmanship ensures that each piece is made to Haute Horlogerie standards, no exceptions.

And so to the dial, subtle recessing and contrasting finishing create an impeccable and classical exterior.  The markers are slender and the hands taper to eyelash-slim proportions.  The little red second time zone hand tucks away neatly behind the hour hand when not required and remains hidden.  The rounded 40.8mm case features graining and polished finishes and lugs which curve away gently.

The H. Moser & Cie Meridian – Dual Time watch will be available in two editions, 18ct. rose gold with a silvered dial or in platinium with an Ardoise slate dial.

More from H. Moser & Cie

The H. Moser & Cie Perpetual Golden Edition

The H. Moser & Cie Perpetual Moon

Popularity: 2% [?]

There is something utterly satisfying when you encounter something which although ordinary in appearance is in fact extra-ordinary, something whose character belies its inner strength, talents or complexities.  The clumsy colt which outruns the favourite by a fulong or two or perhaps the Audi RS4 Avant, masquerading as a family estate car but perfectly capable of leaving a Ferrari to eat dust at the traffic lights.  The Moser Perpetual 1 is a deceptively complicated watch.  To say that the simplicity of its rounded case and elegant dial are inconsistent with its complicated inner workings would be a colossal understatement.

When the Moser Perpetual 1 was first introduced five years ago, some of its features astounded the industry.  At the centre of the dial is a chubby little arrow-shaped hand which serves to indicate the month of the year simply by using each of the indices as a corresponding month.  Elementary? Yes.   Canny? You bet.  Then there is the unique and brilliant “Flash Calendar” which displays an instantaneously jumping date, perfectly centred every day, thanks to the use of one date window not two – it will never read “01″ but instead a precisely positioned “1″.  Adjustment is foolproof, with the crown in the intermediate position the date can be adjusted backwards or forwards, the little mechanical memory counts the days and will skip unnecessary ones – from 28 to 1, 31 to 1, 30 to 1, even 29 to 1 if it is a leap year.  A little star indication on the movement side of the piece displays the leap years.

New for 2011 is the Perpetual Golden Edition without doubt one of the most authentic gold, gold watches around, if you were promised a watch like this on your retirement you would never bad-mouth your boss.  Only components which are unable to be crafted from gold escape the midas touch.  The case is 18 carat gold, the gold dial features exquisite gold fumé shading with golden hands and indices.  Inside the plates and bridges are also solid gold and even the most diminutive components, most of which will be seen only by the individuals who made the piece and those who you trust enough to service it, are immaculately hand-finished.

The Moser Perpetual Golden Edition is the world’s first watch to include two functional diamond end stones intricated into the incabloc shock absorber and the piece also features the ingenious interchangeable escapement pioneered by H Moser & Cie, unscrewable at two points.  This enables a pre-regulated module to be fitted easily, allowing the customer to take his precious piece home with him, while the watchmaker can service his escapement properly and re-fit it at a later date.

The superb Perpetual Golden Edition from H Moser & Cie is limited to 100 pieces.

Popularity: 3% [?]

The latest addition to the H. Moser & Cie collection is highly unusual and technically unique in its construction.  The moonphase complication of this piece marks the passing of each phase through the use of a gear train so precise that the display will only deviate by one day in over 1000 years.

H. Moser Perpetual Moon

The moonphase itself is both visually stunning and highly unusual, the window located at 6 0′clock also displays the eight moon quarters represented as vertical lines and also a division into days which is applied directly onto the dial.  When one of the vertical lines (denoting the astronomical quarters of the moonphase) is aligned between the two triangles of the dial aperture, precise readabilityof a defined phase is therefore ensured.  Adjustment of the moonphase, if required is possible – a pin-type pushbutton is located at 9 o’clock and the use of an innovative wrap spring clutch mechanism allows for correction of the moonphase without changing the time display.

H. Moser & Cie. Perpetual Moon

H. Moser & Cie was founded in 1825 but the original brand name was revived and re-registered once more as a watchmaking company in 2002.  Watch movements manufactured by this acclaimed brand are unique in their finish and construction – the pallet levers and escape wheels are constructed from solid gold – the only watch company to do so- and are fitted with a removable escapement providing a simple and safe solution to repairs.  Distinctive finishing on the plate and bridges in the form of broad and narrow double lines or “Moser ground stripes” and the use of gold chatons into which the jewels are set place this brand apart in terms of attention to detail.

The Moser Perpetual Moon is a striking piece – the moonphase is complimented by a rich dark blue fumé dial and features elongated appliquéd markers.  It is powered by the Moser Calibre HMC348.901 hand-wound movement and is available in two variations, 18 carat rose gold or platinium.

Popularity: 2% [?]