H. Moser & Cie. produces approximately 1000 watches and 1000 movements in-house each year and is the antithesis of mass production. Their watches are very rare. Time is taken to ensure all elements in each timepiece are distilled to an exacting standard. This year, the company reveals a new movement with a small seconds function, the HMC 327. The in-house calibre was developed specifically for the new Venturer Small Seconds.
Innovation is a key pillar upholding the H. Moser & Cie. brand. Ingenious products are the fruit of the creative minds who work in the ateliers based in Neuhausen am Rheinfall in the Canton of Schaffhausen. This desire to push boundaries, whilst always respecting traditional Swiss watchmaking craft, is a characteristic of H. Moser & Cie. This year, the company reveals a new movement with a small seconds function. Measuring 32 mm in diameter, the Calibre HMC 327 is optimally sized to suit the 39.2 mm case of the new Venturer Small Seconds. The HMC 327 has also been designed to sit closely to the exhibition case-back, allowing the wearer to enjoy an intimate view of the fine finishing practised at H. Moser & Cie.
H. Moser & Cie. has always been synonymous with no-compromise quality and exalted finishing. It is a reputation precious to the company and its parent company MELB Holding, owned and run by the Meylan family. The HMC 327 upholds these matchless standards, and benefits from very efficient production and assembly processes. Such efficiencies are achieved by ensuring that all parts of the movement are optimised and that, for example, the number of different screws or ruby sizes are minimised. The number of wheels has also been optimised. This not only minimises assembly times but also maximises performance of the movement as the addition of each wheel results in greater energy consumption. So, by employing as few wheels as possible, a maximised power yield is derived from the mainspring, in a movement that remains very slim.
State-of-the art technology is delivered in the form of a silicon anchor with ruby pallets and a silicon escape wheel. H. Moser & Cie. is not afraid to embrace innovation when it delivers benefits to its customers. Silicon is anti-magnetic and confers low-friction; benefits which cannot be ignored. The in-house Straumann Hairspring® features a hand-applied Breguet overcoil, enhancing isochronism. The balance wheel includes gold screws facilitating precise poising of the balance.
Clearly, designing and producing an escapement requires mastery of the whole balance spring production process – from melting the material right through to completing the finished spring. Together with its associate company Precision Engineering AG, H. Moser & Cie. developed the Straumann Hairspring® based on the formula used by the inventor of Nivarox, Prof. Dr. h.c. Reinhard Straumann. This ensures the necessary homogeneity of the material.
Conversely, traditions are respected and beauty is not restricted to merely the exterior of H. Moser watches. The small gap between the two large bridges of the movement allows an enticing view of the circular-grained wheels below and proffers a charming insight into the watchmaker’s domain.
A power-reserve indicator, located on the movement side of the timepiece, provides a restrained insight into the status of the mainspring, which yields a minimum power reserve of three days. In keeping with the H. Moser design philosophy of pure understatement, the functionality of the power-reserve indicator is provided but without corrupting the pure appearance of the main dial. Drawing from the tradition of H. Moser pocket-watch movements produced since 1828, a minimum of engraving is displayed, including the H. Moser company hallmark, expertly engraved in gold. It stands testament to the pride of the skilled team who work patiently, crafting fine watches that are exceptional and very rare.
CALIBRE HMC 327 SMALL SECONDS – TECHNICAL FEATURES
- In-house hand-wound Calibre HMC 327
- Diameter: 32.0 mm or 14 ¼ lignes
- Height: 4.4 mm
- Frequency: 18’000 vib/h
- 28 jewels
- Power reserve: minimum 3 days
- Hacking seconds
- Moser teeth for all wheels and pinions
- Original Straumann® hairspring with stabilised Breguet overcoil
