H. Moser & Cie. Collaborates with Massena LAB to Present the Endeavour Chronograph Compax

Chronographs are an integral part of H. Moser & Cie.'s watchmaking aesthetics. Indeed, they have helped the company carve out a distinct niche in the high-end market, where it is known for pushing the boundaries of both technical and creative design. Established in 1828, Moser has a relatively unknown but extensive portfolio of historic chronograph wristwatches, manufactured in the 1940s and 1950s, as part of its Endeavour line. In collaboration with design company Massena LAB, the watchmaker has set out to recreate the legendary collection; the newly launched H. Moser & Cie. x Massena LAB Endeavour Chronograph Compax (Ref.  1220-1200) is limited to 100 pieces. 

Several contemporary watchmakers are tapping into the nostalgia factor and adding retro touches to their designs, often blending classic aesthetics with modern technology. This trend reflects a desire to evoke the charm of the past while maintaining the high performance standards of today’s horology. Earthy tones, patina-like finishes, and sunburst or matte dials, reminiscent of mid-20th-century watches, are popular. Brands are recreating the ‘aged’ look by using faded colours or lume that appears slightly discoloured, emulating the patina of older pieces. These retro-inspired pieces often use vintage-style fonts and numeral layouts, reminiscent of the 1960s’ and 1970s’ models. The new Endeavour Chronograph Compax watch certainly reflects this trend.

The Endeavour Chronograph Compax watch, housed in a 41 mm solid steel case, has a concave bezel. The standard layout showcases two pushers at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock, with a notched crown sporting an ‘M’ engraving. Different elements show their unique identity when you look at the dial. Massena LAB has transformed the iconic blue fumé Endeavour dial into a more intricate and vintage-looking watch face by utilising old codes from timepieces of yesteryear and the cherished elegance and practicality of mid-century chronographs. The Funky Blue fumé dial of the new watch has a sunburst pattern; the Moser logo has been retained in its historic form, along with such technical elements as the tachymetric scale, the chronometer graduation, the subdials, the leaf-shaped hour and minute hands, and Arabic hour markers featuring Super-LumiNova®. 

Taking design cues from the historic Moser chronographs of the 1940s, the latest Endeavour Chronograph has a classic configuration with two subdials, one at 3 o'clock for the small seconds counter and the other at 9 o'clock for the 45-minute chronograph; both get a spiral texture. The outer periphery of the dial has a double tachymeter scale, capable of calculating average speeds on a two-minute base (from 300 kph to 30kph). 

Powering this limited-edition timepiece is HMC 220 automatic Manufacture calibre with the Dubois Dépraz chronograph module. The automatic movement has a bi-directional pawl winding system with a power reserve of three days. It also has the original Straumann® hairspring and is finished with Moser stripes. Turning the watch over showcases the sapphire crystal and the see-through caseback with an oscillating weight, engraved with the H. Moser hallmark. The watch is finished on a hand-stitched brown kudu leather strap with stitching in white thread; the steel pin buckle is engraved with the H. Moser & Cie. logo.