The New H. Moser & Cie. Heritage Bronze Since 1828 Limited Edition

November 25, 2021

If your Russians a little rusty, it may not be immediately clear that the lettering on the dial of H. Moser & Cie.s Heritage Bronze Since 1828 Limited Edition C launched today at Dubai Watch Week C is the Cyrillic form of the independent companys logo. Curious though it is, this isnt a first for the modern-day Moser. A few years ago, it put out the Venturer XL Stoletniy Krasniy, which, like this new watch, celebrated the Swiss companys Russian roots. Indeed, Moser says its latest is another nod to its origin story, which began in St. Petersburg nearly two centuries ago when the company was founded by Heinrich Moser. The story goes that Moser opened five monobrand boutiques C the term a modern confection, we can be sure C across the country, serviced pieces for the powerful but hopeless Tsar Nicholas I, and produced watches that were awarded as gifts to honor senior Russian military figures. By the mid-19th century, Russia was Mosers largest market, to the extent it got the nod from Dostoevsky, whose works Ive always found rather more cumbersome than Mosers watches. But on to the watch, the Heritage Bronze Since 1828 Limited Edition. It comes with a 42mm bronze case, marches to the beat of Mosers HMC 200 three-day automatic, and has the warm grey Blackor fum sunburst-pattern dial that we first saw on the Streamliner Flyback Automatic Chronograph. Its limited to 50 pieces, and itll set you back $19,700 when it arrives in Mosers online store any moment now, and in outlets operated by the Middle Eastern retailer Seddiqi, host of Dubai Watch Week. Besides the logo, the most eye-catching detail though is the choice of blocky, enjoyably severe-looking numerals that capture something of pre-Soviet Russian austerity. These are formed in a material that was patented by Swiss company Xeno Print in 2016 called Globolight, a ceramic and Super-LumiNova mix that can be colored however you want and carved into any shape you can imagine. Here, they glow a limpid green. A flattened onion-shaped crown, lugs that hint at the old-fashioned wire-loop style used in early wristwatches but that are actually standard, sword-shaped hands with Super-LumiNova accents, and a black fabric strap complete a simple and yet rather unorthodox set-up. What We Think Two questions sprung immediately to mind on seeing the Heritage Bronze. First, why create a watch for the Middle Eastern market with a Russian logo on the dial? Arabic would make more sense, surely? Plenty have done it. Mosers response was that it was a question of timing. Dubai Watch Week falls at a good moment for a significant launch that doesn't quite qualify as major, it says, while in its estimation, the event has become nicely international C in a global world, does it matter where a watch is released? Theres reason in that. And besides, fascination with Russian history is far from limited to residents of the Motherland. Second, why despite looking like an early pilots watch, or at least like Zeniths Type 20, isnt the Heritage Bronze described by Moser as a pilots watch? Again, Moser has an explanation, in this case, that early-20th century Moser designs on which the new watch is based arent recorded as being made for pilots, and that they appear to have been worn by people whod never even thought of abdicating their position on terra firma for the skies. But still, it looks like a vintage pilots watch. All of which contributes to a sense that in some way, this watch is odd. Good odd, but odd. But then this is Moser, master of watches you think you should be able to explain, but cant. The Basics Brand: H. Moser & Cie.Model: Heritage Bronze Since 1828 Limited Edition, Reference 8200-1701Diameter: 42mmCase Material: BronzeDial Color: Blackor fum with sunburst patternIndexes: Applied, solid GlobolightLume: YesWater Resistance: 30 metersStrap/Bracelet: Black textile The Movement Caliber: HMC 200Functions: Central hands for hour, minute, and secondsDiameter: 32.0mm or 14 1/4 lignesThickness: 5.5mmPower Reserve: Minimum of three daysWinding: AutomaticFrequency: 21,600vph (3Hz)Jewels: 27Chronometer Certified: 158 Pricing & Availability Price: $19,700Availability: Now, via Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons Shop this story For more information visit H. Moser & Cie.