The New H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Flying Hours

Launched in 2015, the Pioneer collection has become H. Moser & Cie’s vision of an everyday watch: robust yet elegant, refined yet versatile, and water-resistant to 120m. Alongside it, the brand has also explored original ways of displaying time, like the Flying Hours, introduced in 2018 in the Endeavour line and marking Moser’s entry into the world of satellite time displays, where hours are revealed gradually through orbiting discs. Now, these two strands of the brand’s identity come together in the Pioneer Flying Hours. It merges the casual robustness of the Pioneer with the poetic mechanics of the Flying Hours. It does so with a significant evolution: instead of gradually appearing, the hours now jump instantaneously, improving readability and giving the complication a sharper character.

The Pioneer Flying Hours debuts in two versions. The first, in a 42.8mm 5N red gold case with black DLC-coated titanium inserts, features a deep aventurine dial evoking a starlit night sky. The second, crafted in stainless steel, presents a more minimalist and industrial aesthetic, featuring a white fumé dial accented by a sunburst finish. Both cases are 120m water-resistant and feature the Pioneer’s signature curved sapphire crystal, screw-down crown and see-through caseback. Heights vary slightly, with the gold-and-titanium version measuring 16.1mm (12.5mm without crystal) and the steel version 14.2mm (10.6mm without crystal).

On the dial, three satellite hour discs rotate on their own axes, arranged around a skeletonised central minutes disc. At the exact turn of the hour, one numeral jumps into place, a crisp change that contrasts with the gliding display of the first-generation Endeavour Flying Hours. The result is a hypnotic planetary ballet that is both technical and playful.

The new H. The automatic HMC 240 calibre powers Moser & Cie. Pioneer Flying Hours models, developed in-house and adapted for this instantaneous display. Measuring 32mm across and 7.8mm thick, it features 35 jewels, a Straumann hairspring with flat overcoil, and a bi-directional winding system. Depending on the version, it has either a solid red gold rotor (for the gold model) or a tungsten rotor (for the steel edition). The bridges and plates are finished in anthracite tones, underscoring the technical yet restrained aesthetic. Beating at 21,600 vibrations/hour, the movement provides a minimum 72-hour power reserve.

The Pioneer Flying Hours is worn on a textured rubber strap, black for the aventurine model and grey for the steel version, both secured with a pin buckle that matches the case material. The Pioneer Flying Hours in red gold and titanium with aventurine dial will be limited to 100 pieces and is priced at CHF 39,000, while the steel with white fumé dial reference joins the permanent collection, priced at CHF 29,000. More details on www.h-moser.com.