In the world of luxury watchmaking, H. Moser & Cie. has carved a distinctive path, balancing innovation and tradition while pushing boundaries through bold design choices and unexpected collaborations. In an exclusive interview, Bertrand Meylan, the CEO of H. Moser & Cie., reveals the core values and visionary strategies shaping the brand’s evolution. From innovative partnerships like their project with Studio Underdog to their most recent collaboration with Massena LAB rooted in 1950s nostalgia, Moser’s approach embraces creativity without losing sight of the brand’s nearly 200-year heritage. 

 

Meylan delves into Moser’s unique position as a brand that defies conventions, especially in their minimalist yet strikingly bold designs that have set new standards in the industry. He highlights the importance of balancing aesthetic appeal with technical prowess, creating luxury watches that marry traditional craftsmanship with subtle yet complex mechanisms. As consumers increasingly prioritize sustainability, Moser is aligning its production and sourcing processes with ethical values, an approach that resonates not only with clients but also with the company’s own evolving internal culture.

 

In the coming years, Moser is poised to celebrate its 200th anniversary, a milestone they’re already preparing for with cutting-edge movements that showcase their technical expertise. This interview offers an inside look at how H. Moser & Cie. is reimagining the luxury watch industry while staying true to the craftsmanship and integrity that define them.

 

Moser’s collaborations reflect their willingness to “dare to create designs that are new, that don’t yet exist.” They believe in pushing creative boundaries to produce “a product you will not see again,” making each collaboration a unique venture. The recent collaboration with Studio Underdog exemplifies this approach, where creative engagement with Richard Benc, the creator of Studio Underdog, resulted in innovative designs that preserved Moser’s brand identity while pushing the boundaries of contemporary watch aesthetics.

 

Meylan teased an upcoming collaboration with Massena LAB, a project inspired by Moser’s rich heritage and mid-20th-century designs. This new release, the Endeavour Chronograph, pays tribute to both Moser’s watchmaking past and their passion for innovation. He described it as a unique launch that offers a fresh perspective on Moser’s nearly 200-year legacy, drawing inspiration from a watch from the 1950s. The endeavor exemplifies Moser’s commitment to creating distinctive pieces that stand apart from their regular collection while highlighting the creative synergy and modern reinterpretation of classic elements that define their collaborative efforts. 

 

Moser’s design philosophy pairs a modern aesthetic with traditional craftsmanship, blending the two to achieve “a unique positioning” that combines heritage and innovation. They highlight the perpetual calendar as a movement of “extreme complexity,” tracking month lengths and leap years without appearing overly complicated. Moser’s approach centers on the idea that “you believe it’s just a simple date watch” despite its complexity—a testament to the brand’s refined engineering and subtle design. Known for minimalist aesthetics, Moser once launched a “concept dial” with “absolutely nothing on the dial, no logo, no indexes.” Although initially seen as “too bold” by industry partners, the design resonated with customers and propelled Moser into a new realm of modern watch design. This approach doesn’t just strip back elements for minimalism’s sake but pushes the industry, as Meylan notes, to “modernize a brand like ours… chang[ing] the code of the industry.” For Moser, minimalism represents a confident, provocative statement—“the bold approach.”

 

Moser integrates sustainability into their brand through ethical sourcing and certifications for materials, an initiative driven by internal forces within the business whose values reflect growing trends in conscious production. Meylan describes this shift as essential not just for consumers but also for maintaining a cohesive company culture: “[Sustainability is] becoming more and more important, not only on the customer side, but even more importantly, inside the company… it’s important that we treat people the right way, that we work with the right materials.”

 

Looking ahead, Moser shared that each year typically brings a new caliber, often taking several years of development. They’re working on a particularly ambitious movement for Moser’s 200th anniversary in 2028, a project that’s been in the works for over a year. The anticipation for this milestone underscores Moser’s commitment to advancing their craft: “We have new calibers coming… for 2028, we really want to push the brand to its limit in terms of what we can do.” 

 

H. Moser & Cie. watches are available in Australia exclusively at J Farren-Price Sydney, a name synonymous with excellence in luxury timepieces.

With a reputation for curating some of the world’s finest watch collections, J Farren-Price offers access to Moser’s latest collaborations and iconic designs.

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