Is this the first time H. Moser & Cie.has brought out a 24-piece limited-edition Pioneer?
It is. Even for a small company such as ours, 24 is a very exclusive edition. Our limited editions tend to be much larger, especially in this price segment and particularly for the Pioneer.
This particular Pioneer has a very special dial.
That’s right, as it’s the first in the Pioneer collection in this shade of green. We love green and use multiple variations. This one is very close to Matrix Green,which is an olive, almost military green that adapts beautifully to any light.
Another first are the hands and numerals, which are borrowed from a different collection.
Yes and it makes for an interesting combination. It’s actually linked to the movement, which we’ll talk about in a minute, but they are indeed the Arabic numerals and hands which, so far, had only been used for the Heritage collection. They give the watch a vintage feel, which is a nice touch with this complication.
Speaking of which… this is another first for the Pioneer.
Yes, and only the second time we’ve used this dual-time and date complication at Moser. We like to focus on useful complications which slip into the background when they aren’t needed, giving the impression of a three-hander. In this instance, the hand for the second time zone is hidden by the hour hand, revealed when you pull the crown to set it, in one-hour increments. It’ll keep you in-synch while travelling then, when no longer needed, disappear back under the main hour hand.
Which is your favourite feature or what do you most like about this watch?
I think it’s a really versatile product. For example, if you’re not using the dual-time function and you wear it on a kudu leather strap, you have the look of a three-hand pilot’s watch, with a green dial and raised numerals in Globolight®, a ceramic material infused with Super-LumiNova® that we haven’t mentioned. Then suddenly, out comes the dual-time hand in this vibrant orange shade that gives a fabulous twist to the design. Personally, I like to wear it on an orange rubber strap for a completely different style. You can head for the beach in Bermuda shorts, a white T-shirt and this watch. It’s just great. The thing I love about the Pioneer in general, and this model in particular, is just how versatile it is yet utterly elegant. It can be a beautiful watch to wear with a suit and a really cool watch to take to the beach.
Particularly as our limited edition is delivered with two straps, one calfskin and one rubber, plus the option of a steel bracelet.
Absolutely. You can have a steel bracelet with micro-adjustment for another entirely different look. Not forgetting 120-metre water-resistance, meaning you can wear it for swimming in just about any circumstances. Which is why I particularly like the natural rubber strap, which wears really comfortably. The orange colour echoes the dual-time hand and the small “24” at 12 o’clock, which is a fun reference to this collaboration: 24 watches for GMT’s 24th anniversary!
So definitely a limited-edition our readers will love to own! What made you agree to it?
With GMT? Probably because we’ve been friends for… how long? 22 years? Almost 24. We met shortly after GMT launched and have always said that one day we’d collaborate on a limited edition. I think now is the right moment. Moser has matured and it’s a great celebration. Congratulations on this 24th anniversary and everything GMT has given the watch industry..
