H. Moser & Cie: Pioneer Flying Hours

Released in 2015, the Pioneer collection is the embodiment of the everyday watch by H. Moser & Cie.: elegant yet robust; refined yet bold. Water-resistant to 12 ATM, it is perfectly sized for both action and contemplation. Today, this versatile companion is paired with a dial that gives a new dynamism to the display of time. Inspired by the satellite systems that have paved the way for modern, independent watchmaking, the Pioneer Flying Hours revisits the wandering hours complication launched by H. Moser & Cie. in 2018 with a more direct and instinctive version, featuring an instant hour change. Whereas the first generation of Flying Hours had gliding numerals that appeared and disappeared gradually, this new development allows the hours to jump in an instant, making the time more intuitive to read. 

The Pioneer Flying Hours is available in two models, housed in a 42.8 mm case. The first, in 5N red gold with black DLC titanium inserts, features an aventurine dial which evokes a deep and mysterious constellated sky. It is limited to 100 pieces, as rare as they are spectacular (Price CHF 39,000 + TAX).

The second, in steel, is the very essence of purity with a White fumé dial and a subtle industrial aesthetic. This piece is not limited, but is no less extraordinary (Price CHF 29,000 + TAX). On the dials of these two models, stripped of any logo and indices, several satellites rotate: In the centre, the main disc, which has been completely skeletonised, displays the minutes over an arc of 120°; three smaller discs are arranged around this disc, hidden under the dial, turning around their own axes and revealing the hour numerals in turn in a window on the dial. 

Beating at the heart of the Pioneer Flying Hours is the HMC 240 automatic calibre. Equipped with a bidirectional winding system, it provides a minimum power reserve of three days. It is powered by an oscillating weight made from solid red gold for the 5N red gold model, and from tungsten for the steel model. The escapement and hairspring have been manufactured in-house. The bridges and plates, featuring an anthracite finish, underscore the high-tech restraint of the piece. 

With the Pioneer Flying Hours, H. Moser & Cie. is making the hours dance. The piece hosts a hypnotic ballet that captivates the eye. A highly technical yet sensory complication, which reminds us that independence is no mere slogan, but a way of experiencing time differently.