The H. Moser & Cie Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept Vantablack watch was one of the starkest moon phase watches I’ve ever seen, but the brand has added some sparkle to this line with their latest release. The new H. Moser & Cie Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept Aventurine watch is the brand’s latest release, being offered in steel or red gold each limited to 50 pieces.
2019 has quietly been a banner year for aventurine dial watches, with the Arnold & Son HM Perpetual Moon Aventurine and Hermes Arceau L’Heure De La Lune being notable standouts. Where the Moser stands out is in offering its particular brand of minimalism cut with the inherent shimmer of aventurine. It’s hard to judge the execution by the press shots, but considering how Moser operates, I have a feeling the end product will live up to expectations. I can’t wait to check out this piece in person.
The 42mm-wide case has a thin bezel, leaving most of the room for the dial. Other than the large moon phase at 6 o’clock and the leaf-shaped hands, the dial is left blank to let the aventurine have the spotlight. Just as with the Vantablack version, Moser makes sure the material both gets the dial space largely uninterrupted but also thematically fits with the moon phase. The Vantablack played on the theme of darkness, while the aventurine plays on the theme of light brought by stars at night. In my opinion, it’s the height of taste in contemporary watchmaking.
The HMC 801 manufacture movement is a manual-wind that features Moser’s interchangeable escapement and Straumann Hairspring. The HMC 801 operates at 18,000 vph and has a seven-day power reserve, which is shown through a power-reserve indicator on the movement.
Of course, there’s the moon phase, itself, which allows for just one day deviation every 1,027 years. The moon phase uses a central moon disk that is done in four moons (rather than two that most others use). To set the moon phase, there’s a pusher on the side of the case that can be adjusted to precise accuracy using the small AM/PM handset on the central handset.
The H. Moser & Cie Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept Aventurine is going to come in either a red gold or steel case. The steel model comes on a midnight blue alligator leather strap, while the red gold model has a simple black alligator strap. There are only going to be 50 pieces of each made, and I hope to get hands-on images soon. Price for the steel model is $35,000, and the red gold model is priced at $39,900. You can learn more at h-moser.com