I think I let out a little whoop when I opened the press release for these two timepieces as everyone in the office looked up. Of course, it was under embargo, so I had to turn it into a little cough to cover up. I’m not sure I convinced anyone but my colleagues were all too busy getting ready for Geneva Watch Days to care. Now, of course, it is their turn to whoop!
Of all the Swiss watch brands, there are only a handful who dare to embrace the “funky” side of watch design, and H. Moser & Cie is definitely one of them. If you remember, this is the brand that brought us the Swiss Cheese timepiece in 2017, the provocative Swiss Icons model that was a mash-up of famous models in 2018, and then the Nature Watch made out of natural stone and lichen in 2019. This new H. Moser & Cie. X Studio Underd0g collaboration is quite different, however, as the pieces are made to be worn, not just to delight and surprise.
Who is Studio Underd0g?
Studio Underd0g is a young British design studio founded by Richard Benc in 2021. Its mission is to bring a little playfulness to the watch industry and it did just that with its inaugural trio of colourful chronographs that caught everyone’s eye. With heaps of creativity and now a new collaboration with H. Moser & Cie., Benc is starting to leave his “underdog” status behind.
Two Brands, Two Watches
There are two watches in the collaboration – the first is the H. Moser Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Passion Fruit and the second is the Studio Underd0g 03SERIES Passi0n Fruit.
The H. Moser Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Passion Fruit model comes in a 42mm stainless steel case and is fitted with a hammered 18-karat yellow gold dial adorned with purple lacquer and Maracuja fumé “Grand Feu” enamel. On the mechanical side, the movement is powered by the brand’s hand-wound HMC 800 Manufacture calibre that features a seven-day power reserve.
Now for the Studio Underdog 03SERIES Passi0n Fruit, which features the same colour palette with a coarse degradé amber and royal purple dial. It comes in a smaller 38.5mm diameter and is powered by a hand-wound Sellita mono-pusher chronograph movement. Both timepieces stand out on their own, and yet complement each other. We can imagine that many collectors are going to want to purchase both, but there will only be 100 pieces made of each.
There is a touch of green on each dial, symbolizing the seed of passion that flourishes within every watch enthusiast. This also links to the passion fruit colour theme and the passion of the watches’ makers. “Our collaboration is fuelled by a shared passion – a passion for crafting timepieces that are not just functional, but truly artistic,” says Edouard Meylan, CEO of H. Moser & Cie. “Together with Studio Underd0g, we have embarked on a journey to celebrate the beauty and joy of horology, creating a fun and unforgettable experience for collectors”.
We can’t wait to discover these at Geneva Watch Days this week and listen to the whoops live!
