Exceptional artisan watchmakingSIHH 2017: The Heritage Tourbillon
With the Heritage Tourbillon, H. Moser & Cie. pays tribute to exceptional artisan watchmaking. This exceptional timepiece links tradition and modernity, two elements which coexist in all creations by H. Moser & Cie. The Heritage Tourbillon is a salute to watchmaking past and present. It is the distillation of H. Moser & Cie.'s 187 years of watchmaking expertise.
The inspiration behind the Heritage Tourbillon Skeleton came from an H. Moser pocket watch dating from the late 19th century in the H. Moser & Cie. collection. The case on this model, made from a striking blue, engraved enamel and studded with diamonds, inspired the watchmakers at the Schaffhausen-based Manufacture to reinterpret this watch, calling on the best craftsmen to work on the case. Featuring stunning blue enamel on a case with two covers, a "Grand Feu" enamel dial, guilloché engraving and diamond setting techniques, in association with a modern in-house, automatic calibre with a minute-tourbillon: the Heritage Tourbillon is the synthesis of the greatest arts in watchmaking craftsmanship. It also symbolises the link between the past and the present for H. Moser & Cie., founded in 1828, through a reinterpretation of an historic watch which retains its original features, now in a larger dimension and fitted with a strap.
The red gold case with two covers has therefore been enlarged and features extremely fine lugs, while respecting its original design. On either side of the watch is a cover with hand-engraved, guilloché decoration, extending up the side of the case. These have then been enamelled, demonstrating the highest level of craftsmanship, and set with diamonds on the dial side. Paired with an alligator leather strap, this beautifully rounded case is as smooth as a pebble. In reference to the historic timepiece, the H. Moser & Cie. Heritage Tourbillon has a notched crown fitted with a push-button mechanism for opening the upper case cover.
The dial, which is also enamelled, is decorated with Roman numerals. The scales of the track showing minutes and small seconds are a further reference to tradition, as is the dovetail shape of the hour and minute hands, which are flame-blued.
The beating heart of this exceptional timepiece is the high-performance HMC 802, with a unique design that includes an interchangeable tourbillon module. It guarantees the Heritage Tourbillon a minimum 3-day power reserve.