With the new H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Concept x seconde/seconde/, rare gets rarer
Editor’s note: Like you, we are also excited for the releases from the Watches & Wonders 2021. Before we get to dive deep into the releases and go hands-on with as many of these as the two of us here can, here’s our preview and the Gut Reaction Review (Grr…) of the new new H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Concept x seconde/seconde/. For our other detailed hands-on reviews, please head to our dedicated reviews section here.
Gut Reaction
My first reaction was pondering whether this was an April Fool’s Day joke or a tribute to the world of Minecraft? Turns out, neither. This realisation made me reach to two conclusions: one, Moser hasn’t lost their touch to pique our interest; and two, no matter what you add or subtract from it, the beauty of the Funky Blue fumé dial with the mesmerising sunburst pattern is now iconic.
So, what is it?
seconde/seconde/ is an independent watch hands customiser based in France. The pixelated eraser in the new H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds is very similar to the batch no. 15 ‘Defend The Crown’ hand they have available to buy on their website. A limited edition piece of 30-pieces only, it’s available for 330 Euros.
Do I like their stuff? Sure, it’s quirky. Would I personally buy it? Maybe. Yes for 330 Euros to customise it myself. No, on a 21’900 USD watch; then, it’s not my jam. Do I recommend it? Absolutely, why not?! If the style is up your alley, then I say it’s always better to have your own distinct personality than be a part of the herd.
On the whole, besides the seconde/seconde/ hand, there is nothing exceptionally novel here. Sure the Moser timepiece is gorgeous with that Funky Blue fumé dial, but so are all their other watches. Sure for 21’900 USD you are getting a whole lotta watch, with or without the quirky hand.
The ‘normal’ 50-piece limited edition Endeavour Centre Seconds watch in steel and Funky Blue fumé dial ref. 1200-1218 retails for CHF 22’000. So essentially the same price. From that perspective, the artistic seconde/seconde/ ‘eraser’ hand comes for free. Bottom line: if you like it, it’s not at any premium and adds a very distinctive look to already rare Moser timepieces.
With the new H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Concept x seconde/seconde/, rare gets rarer.
The Watch
Watches & Wonders 2021 presents the latest H. Moser & Cie. offering, the ref. 1200-1229 in a stainless steel case. This limited edition release of 20-pieces only features the movement from the regular Endeavour Centre Seconds watches, the automatic winding calibre HMC 200 that comprises of 27 jewels, beats at the low frequency of 3Hz, and offers a min. 3-day power reserve.
To get into more detail, it is an automatic bi-directional pawl winding system featuring an original Straumann® hairspring and a solid 18-carat gold engraved with the H. Moser & Cie. logo oscillating weight. The movement is decorated with the Moser double stripes finish and can be admired via the see-through case back.
The 32mm x 5.5mm movement is encased inside a 40mm diameter and 10.7mm thick case that is 30m water-resistant. The clean case frames the Funky Blue fumé dial with sunburst pattern nicely, with the leaf-shaped minute hand working it stark contrast against the hour hand in the shape of a pixelated eraser. The aesthetics of the watch are completed by the hand-stitched black alligator leather strap that comes with a solid steel pin-buckle.
Landscape
In 2015, they launched their first purely minimalist Concept model, a watch featuring a dial that was devoid of any indices or logo. All it had was the now iconic brand’s signature fumé dial. Like everything they do, Moser decided to go ahead and revolutionise the way we look at time.
The new H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Concept x seconde/seconde/ takes that concept even further, with the coloured pixelated eraser not only replacing the traditional hand but also reminding us of the absence of a branding logo on the dial that was ‘erased’ by the brand in 2015.
And you know what? Despite featuring no embellishment, indices or logo, these watches stand out with their daring and surprising colours in a class of their own.
Quotable
Edouard Meylan, CEO of H. Moser & Cie. says: “By adding a disruptive element, seconde/seconde/ flips the aesthetic, providing a welcome contrast whilst respecting the elegance inherent to this model, playing with the very concept of our dials without logo or indices”.
Romaric Andre, the force behind seconde/seconde/ says: “The eraser, I see it as a banal everyday object which is taking power over the prestigious exceptional object. It is a metaphor for removal and for minimalism – notions clearly dear to H. Moser – but also a metaphor for that constant striving effort, for these fruitless attempts, often hidden from view, that we erase a thousand times before solving the equation, before successfully completing this work. To sometimes find what you seek, you must constantly make mistakes, and erase”.
Any Competition?
An official watch dial with an eraser? You gotta be kiddin’ me! Well and truly unique, the new H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Concept x seconde/seconde/ plays on this niche field alone.
Frankly, others are welcome.
Wish List
I know, I know that the Funky Blue is a stellar offering, but for this release I would have preferred if they offered a new colour way. Or a pixelated dial.
That’s All Folks!
The new H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Concept x seconde/seconde/ features an “anachronistic hand in the shape of an eraser, vividly coloured and pixelated”. No point is repeating myself, it’s unique.
Art is always subjective; love it or loathe it, the new Moser timepiece marches to its own tune, and in an industry obsessed with integrated bracelets, dive watches and fauxtina, it sure is a welcome change.
To find out more about the new H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Concept and other Moser watches, please head to their website here. All images unless otherwise specified are ©MOSER SCHAFFHAUSEN AG. All Rights Reserved. Make sure to check out our reviews of other Watches & Wonders 2021 releases here.
