FEATURED: H. MOSER & CIE: Endeavour Concept Minute Repeater Tourbillon

An orchestra for your ears and a ballet for your eyes…

No indexes, no logos, just the simple complexities of an H. Moser & Cie. Back in 2019, at the last Baselworld that we witnessed, H. Moser & Cie. introduced a concept, the very essence of a minute repeater, with the gongs and hammers beautifully displayed on a black lacquered dial. This year they have introduced this dazzling ballet beneath a framework of titanium: hammers, chimes and a flying tourbillon spin choreographed against a brand-new shade, Electric Blue. Although from the stock pictures we have seen, we would call it more of an ice blue.

Why Titanium? Well, titanium has a relatively high elastic modulus, which means that it is more rigid and deforms very little under stress. Its low density ensures that it is also lightweight, and it retains the vibratory energy from sound well, rather than allowing it to dissipate thanks to its low damping effect. While ensuring the functioning of the minute repeater mechanism was already a technically complex feat, it also requires a perfect understanding of the subject to achieve a beautiful sound that combines amplitude, a certain length and a pure note. And we say on the basis on the sounds we witnessed from the Endeavour Concept Minute Repeater Tourbillon back in 2019.

A spinning waltz of two very traditional watch high-complications, a minute repeater and a flying tourbillon, the Endeavour Concept Minute Repeater Tourbillon allows the passage of time to be both heard and admired.

The one-minute flying tourbillon at 6 o'clock visible behind a skeletonised bridge, is fitted to a ball bearing that improves the accuracy and chronometry of the H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Concept Minute Repeater Tourbillon. Resolutely contemporary, an icon for our modern times, the tourbillon appears to float weightlessly on the Electric Blue sunburst dial stripped of both logo and indices. Not even a “swiss made” mention in sight!

To develop this marvel of ingenuity, the Schaffhausen-based Manufacture drew on the expertise of Timeless S.A., an independent Swiss company, that has been designing, developing, producing and assembling Swiss Made mechanical movements for more than 10 years. Combining their expertise, the two manufactures created a brand-new design, showcasing the beauty of the complication by positioning the chimes and the hammers on the dial side. As simple as it may seem, this involved overcoming a series of technical challenges. In particular, the chimes (which are placed on one level to preserve the finesse of the piece) had to be curved so as not to interfere with the flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock and to respect H. Moser & Cie.'s main focus to keep the design understated. 

Another challenge here was to ensure that the diameter and thickness retain their elegance. The sliding bolt, fitted on a Teflon runner to ensure it slides perfectly smoothly, is built into the main plate to save space. The results: a 43mm case that is 14.mm thick. Not too bad for a watch that houses two both a minute repeater and a flying Tourbillon. The case middle has been widened to the maximum in order to accommodate the movement while allowing enough space to create a soundbox. This amplifies the chiming of hours, quarter-hours and minutes by two gongs, onto which fall two hammers that are raised based on information provided by different feeler-spindles. The geometry of the case has been meticulously designed, developed and adapted to maximise the properties of titanium and enhance its impact, amplifying the resonance chamber whilst allowing the essential walls to form part of the resonance. 

Adding that final touch of elegance, this gorgeous ice blue spectacle, with a 90-hour power reserve, sits on a hand-stitched black alligator leather strap with a red lining.

The raison d’être of this beauty? Contemporary yet traditional, elegant yet bold, H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Concept Minute Repeater Tourbillon is a welcome return back to basics, allowing the beauty of the complications to be expressed without any unnecessary elements.