H. Moser & Cie Pioneer Centre Seconds Cosmic Green

Moser is probably not the first brand you would turn to for a sports watch, but there was a gap in the collection for something more robust, more masculine, more casual and more suitable for everyday wear and tear. Moser’s answer is the stainless steel 3-hand Pioneer Centre Seconds, the brand’s entry-level ‘sports’ watch, which is revisited with a cool Cosmic Green fumé dial. At 42.8mm in diameter and 15mm thick, it is the largest Moser on the block and features luminescence, 120m water-resistance and an efficient automatic movement with a 3-day power reserve.

Moser’s take on the luxury sports watch

Watches produced by H. Moser & Cie. are famous for their elegant, minimalist style, their gorgeous fumé dials, their ingenious mechanical solutions, and for their steep prices. With a predominance of luxurious gold dress watch models and the occasional use of stainless steel in limited editions at prices rivalling the gold cases, the next step was to create a more casual, sportier model.

In 2015, Moser released the Pioneer Centre Seconds, a luxury sports-styled watch with more aggressive lines, luminescence and water-resistance… the only problem was that it was housed in red gold cases. Almost, but not quite what most mortals would consider a sports watch, Moser decided to introduce stainless steel into the Pioneer collection in 2017 – including the Pioneer Perpetual Calendar – and cut the price tag by half.

Bolder styling

Designed to transmit a solid, more contemporary attitude than its hyper-refined brothers, the large 42.8mm steel case of the Pioneer Centre Seconds features striking design elements that really do the trick. Like all Moser’s watches, the stainless steel case is beautifully finished with alternating polished and brushed surfaces.  Adding a touch of aerodynamic styling are the four indented areas on the case band that display a ribbed decoration, a little bit like gills on a fish or if you prefer, the grille intake vents on a car. The screw-down crown attests to the 120m water-resistance of the case and is engraved with an ‘M’.

First spotted on the Venturer Small Seconds XL Purity model of 2017, and on the 2018 Endeavour Perpetual Calendar, the Cosmic Green dial makes its way over to the Pioneer family. Protected by a prominent domed sapphire crystal, the effect of the intense green fumé dial as it changes with the conditions of the light is truly magical and will lure all eyes in the direction of your wrist.

Moser’s minimalist hour markers and stylish leaf-shaped hands, featured on most of the Endeavour and Venturer models, are beefed up and enlarged for a more commanding presence on the dial. Although the leaf-shaped hands are wider to accommodate a layer of Super-LumiNova®, Moser’s innate spirit of elegance prevails in the delicate touch of skeletonising the base of the hands and the tip of the central second hand for a lighter appearance. The facetted hour markers are reinforced by luminescent dots, discreetly placed on the flange of the dial.

Calibre HMC 200

The movement inside the Pioneer Centre Seconds is the HMC 200, an automatic calibre designed, developed and produced entirely in-house. Thanks to the bi-directional pawl-winding system, the watch is wound more quickly and holds power over a minimum period of three days (72 hours). Equipped with an original Straumann Hairspring® with a flat overcoil, the large oscillating weight is engraved with the company logo and the movement is finished with Moser stripes.

A sporty black fabric strap with a steel pin buckle accompanies the watch. The retail price of the Pioneer Centre Seconds Cosmic Green is USD 11,900. More details on www.h-moser.com.