Baselworld 2014: Venturer - A New Family of Products
Baselworld 2014: Venturer - A New Family of Products
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 renown 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.
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. soon 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.
DESIGN ELEMENTS OF THE NEW VENTURER COLLECTION
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. 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. The curving lines of the satin brushed area embellish the case band, swooping downwards to convene beneath the crown. The resultant mien is exquisite 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, A GREATER CHOICE
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.
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.
HMC 327 SMALL SECONDS – A NEW MOVEMENT OPENLY REVEALED
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.