Once again H. Moser surprises with an extension to their cheeky Swiss Alp Watch line with the use of Vantablack on the dial – for the ultimate in stealthy look. Release information and commentary.
H. Moser Swiss Alp Watch Final Upgrade
Retail price is set at SGD 46,500 inclusive of GST.
Editorial Commentary
The Swiss Alp Watch was introduced in Baselworld 2016, and created quite a stir in the industry. Always with a tongue in cheek, and making fun at the establishment, the watch is an obvious poke at the then new Apple Watch (released April 2015). We have covered the watch on several of its iterations:
Review: H. Moser Swiss Alp watch
And the watch has always been held in fascination. A magnificently beautiful, mechanical movement in the shape of the case. And endowed with excellent finishing. Embellished with Moser innovations like interchangeable escapement, original Straumann® hairspring, gold escapement wheel and pallet fork.
The dial side too has held its own. From the clean monocolour look of the original to the jewel encrusted On the Rocks to the magnificent piece unique mosaic dials of the Repeater Tourbillon. Each has an interesting face, over the already intriguing palette of the cheeky case shape.
This is also not the first Moser has used Vantablack in their watches. The first was in the Moser Vantablack. Though, the first brand to use Vantablck is the now defunct independent brand MCT. Vantablack is actually an acroynym – Vertically Aligned NanoTube Array black. This material is originally developed for military and industrial use, but is commercially available. However, its artistic applications is exclusively licenced to British/Indian artist Anish Kapoor. His exclusive licence to the material is not without controversy. Rival artist Stuart Semple developed Better Black, Black 2.0 and Black 3.0, with similar properties, though it had an acrylic base. Semple made it available for use to all except Kapoor. Panerai also has a nano tube ultra black dial used in the Panerai LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech™ 3 Days PAM00700. And NASA has developed a similar material as well.
Press Release
Marking the end of an inspiring concept, the Swiss Alp Watch Final Upgrade will be the climax to the Swiss Alp Watch saga that has left enthusiasts spellbound since 2016. Launched in response to the emergence of connected watches and in order to express the need for a nearly two-hundred-year-old brand like H. Moser & Cie. to remain faithful to its values of tradition and mechanical Haute Horlogerie while exploring modern movements, the Swiss Alp Watch will take its final bow in the form of a singular creation. A one-of-a-kind conceptual piece, the Swiss Alp Watch Final Upgrade pays tribute to the codes of connected watches, incorporating refined Vantablack® technology with traditional, fine mechanical watchmaking.
Now, more than ever, is the time to reconnect. To ourselves, to those close to us, to what matters. Current events serve as a daily reminder that the virtual world will never outshine reality, that electronic devices will never replace people, and that technology must remain a means and not an end. On the strength of its convictions, H. Moser & Cie. wanted to mark the end of the Swiss Alp Watch collection with an extra special model: Similar to previous models from this line, the Swiss Alp Watch Final Upgrade is inspired by the modern design of smartwatches, yet it is completely mechanical. With its 100% Swiss Manufacture movement and a minimum power reserve of 100 hours, it is developed to last and is perfectly equipped for the next generation. Instead of downloading information, the Schaffhausen manufacture thinks it’s time we recharged ourselves. A watch must remain an expression of emotion, make you dream and perform its main purpose: To display the time.
For this model, H. Moser & Cie. wanted to combine different elements that have contributed to its success over the past few years. An aesthetic inspired by smartwatches, it features a Vantablack® dial in its Concept version, with no logo or indices. Known to be the blackest material produced artificially, Vantablack® and the blackened hour and minute hands perfectly evoke the standby appearance of the watch. This notion is further reinforced by the offset small second at 6 o’clock, redesigned for the occasion as a shaded disc made up of openings. Evoking the constant passing of time, this symbol serves as a reminder that the here and now is all that matters. This is also reminiscent of the electronic passing time icon used in many Apple products.
“This idea was conceived by a customer and friend of the brand, a true enthusiast and fan of the Swiss Alp Watch collection. He came to visit us with an extremely precise design and we immediately wanted to create this model, perfectly in line with our philosophy, with a touch of humour and a hint of provocation”
Edouard Meylan, CEO of H. Moser & Cie.
Acting as an ode to minimalism and understatement, in an ultra-contemporary, pared down and timeless manner, H. Moser & Cie. creates a striking contrast between aesthetic simplicity and the complexity of the materials chosen.
Through its steel case with black DLC coating, the Swiss Alp Watch Final Upgrade radiates all the power of its perfectly black appearance. The Swiss Alp Watch Final Upgrade is a concept watch, a symbol of the end of the Swiss Alp Watch collection, production of which will cease. H. Moser & Cie.’s own and unique take on Haute Horlogerie.
H. Moser Swiss Alp Watch Final Upgrade Specifications
Reference 5324-1205, steel model with black DLC coating, Vantablack® dial, blackened hands, black alligator leather strap
Case
Steel with black DLC coating
Dimensions: 38.2 x 44.0 mm/height: 10.5 mm
Sapphire crystal: See-through case back with sapphire crystal
Crown adorned with an “M”
Dial
Vantablack®, Blackened leaf-shaped hour and minute hands, Offset small seconds at 6 o’clock
Movement
Hand-wound HMC 324 Manufacture calibre
Dimensions: 32.0 mm x 36.0 mm/height: 4.8 mm
Frequency: 18,000 Vib/h
27 jewels
Power reserve: minimum 4 days
Hacking seconds, Moser teeth for all wheels and pinions, Interchangeable Moser escapement, Original Straumann® Hairspring, Gold escapement wheel and pallet fork, Movement and components hand-finished and decorated
Functions
Hours and minutes, Offset small seconds at 6 o’clock, displayed as a disc, Power reserve indicator on movement side
Strap
Hand-stitched black alligator leather, Steel pin buckle, engraved with the Moser logo
