INTRODUCING: The H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Centre Seconds Funky Blue Black Edition

Zach Blass

For watches released this year, blue has definitely been a trending dial colour. Tudor, Panerai, Montblanc, and more have all released blue watches this year – making it hard to stand out in its usage. H. Moser & Cie, however, is always up to the challenge and continually preserves its status as a pioneering haute luxury brand that understands how to mix fun with haute horology. After all, this is the brand that made a watch out of Swiss cheese as well as took a direct shot/jab at the Apple Watch with its Swiss Alp watch – a clever, playful, and artistic expression of the state of watches in the world. The H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Funky Blue Black Edition is proof that blue can still be a fresh colour in the watch world and on our wrists.

The dial

The H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Funky Blue Black Edition is a blue-dialled watch that stands out among the rest with its gorgeous fumé finish – a signature skill of the brand. There is also an amazing sunburst graining to the dial that further elevates the depth and complexity of a seemingly simple dial. There are no numerals on the dial, no hash marks for the seconds, and no date window to interrupt its surface. On the inner radial bezel are circle marks representing the hour marks in tandem with the applied markers. Even the hands are semi skeletonised – providing a window to the deep blue beneath. This frees up real estate and clutter, putting the drop-dead gorgeous blue on full display with no interruption to its symmetry and aesthetic. This is as clean and crisp as it gets.

The case

The 42.8mm case is made of black DLC coated stainless steel. It matches the hour and minute hands, in a way, with its exquisitely scalloped lugs – further differentiating the watch from the standard sports watch herd. When you think about it, the scalloping of the case lugs is not just an aesthetic choice. It also means there is less surface area for direct impact. As a result, the interior of the scalloped portions are likely harder to scratch – a doorknob would never touch the inner portion upon impact. While a professionally sized watch, its relatively short and tapered lugs will definitely provide a more wearable fit for a variety of wrist sizes. The watch provides ample water resistance, being able to withstand depths up to 120 metres below the surface. The H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Funky Blue Black Edition really is a dress watch dial bundled into a technical sporty package, ready to endeavour on any adventure.

The strap

Being a sporty offering from the brand, the H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Funky Blue Black Edition is paired with a rugged and robust black rubber strap to match its case. The strap is designed with small holes through its scalloped centre (continuing the running scallop theme), which provide more air for the wrist and allows sweat and moisture to escape during daily active wear. The centre row of holes provides a great level of adjustment and fit, as the pin buckle can be fastened within any hole for a perfect fit. The pin buckle matches the case in black DLC-treated steel, and is engraved with the Moser logo.

The movement

The HMC 200 movement is a time-only automatic movement that provides 72 hours of power reserve. It is a highly efficient automatic movement, thanks to its automatic bi-directional pawl winding system – which means the watch is wound more quickly. It has a full balance bridge, making the movement more resistant to shock and impact during active wear. It is elegantly decorated, which further elevates the aesthetic of this luxury sports watch. It is nicely bevelled, with the mainplate covered in exquisite perlage and the bridges finished with H. Moser & Cie.’s signature double-lined Côtes de Genève. The skeletonised winding rotor provides more of a window into the movement, proudly on display via the exhibition caseback, and has radiant embellishment surrounding frosted scalloped portions of the rotor – one of which houses the brand name within.

H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Funky Blue Black Edition pricing and availability:

The H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Funky Blue Black Edition is available now, in our Time + Tide Marketplace and will set you back $22,650 AUD.

To purchase click here