BaselWorld 2017 – Break-through steel: H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Centre Seconds Automatic

A steel ‘Moser’ on a rubber strap. Wow! The Pioneer Centre Seconds Automatic might not the most bold design of all H. Moser creations but it will surely create a big buzz. The rare creations are getting within the (financial) reach of more aficionados. Unless Moser gets ‘steel-crazy’ like Patek.

A complicated steel Patek Philippe is always more expensive than its counterpart in precious metal because…? It’s a steel Patek and there are lesser steel complicated Pateks than gold or platinum ones. That doesn’t only apply to old Pateks but also to newly introduced steel models with complications. The Genevan power house already takes an advance on future auction results by setting premium prices for new steel complicated watches.

Future collector’s item?

Back to the new steel H. Moser. The 42.8mm H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Centre Seconds Automatic can’t be regarded as a complicated watch – it certainly is complicated to create a good-looking watch but that’s another matter – so the whole steel and complications theory is out the window. Still, this Pioneer is the first steel watch from the company so it could well prove to be a highly sought after collector’s item years from now. H. Moser & Cie. chose the Pioneer watch family when including a steel model in its regular collection for the first time. Introducing the extremely wearable Pioneer Centre Seconds Automatic model, with a steel case and a new automatic movement. The Pioneer is practically equipped with an automatic calibre guaranteeing a power reserve of 3 days, it is also water resistant to 120 metres.

Steel and blue fumé

The steel case, the rubber strap, the easy on the eye looks; the Pioneer Centre Seconds Automatic is in its element in the city and the beach. This all week and every weekend watch may be rugged and ‘easy’, there was never any compromise when it came to the quality and the elegance, which remains Moser’s hallmark. Thus, the watch features a magnificent midnight blue fumé dial, with reflections dancing in its mysterious depths. The indices, topped with a luminescent dot, are faceted, and the hands are partially skeletonised with Superluminova® tips, staying perfectly in line with the streamlined aesthetic. A rubber strap provides the final modern touch. At the heart of the Pioneer Centre Seconds Automatic model beats the HMC 200 movement. This is the latest addition to the H. Moser collection of calibres, designed, developed and produced entirely in-house. It is equipped with a regulating organ manufactured by Precision Engineering AG, the sister company of H. Moser & Cie. Decorated with the famous Moser double stripes, the calibre HMC 200 houses a large oscillating weight. We will keep you posted on the final price for this steel can-do-all watch.