H. Moser & Cie. Unveils Limited-Edition Endeavour Centre Seconds Genesis Watch
Even amid the market turmoil of recent months, the world of NFTs and blockchain authentication remains a vibrant and rapidly growing marketplace for brands aiming to interact with consumers in novel and secure ways. H. Moser & Cie. is no stranger to cutting-edge digital spaces, having recently begun accepting payment in cryptocurrencies, but for its latest release the Swiss marque takes things a step further and introduces a broad new campaign including digital authentication for physical watches, bespoke NFT artwork paired to individual timepieces, and a newly developed metaverse space intended to be a showcase for the brand and its collection. At the center of this new initiative is the new H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Genesis, a playful and visually striking take on its core design that incorporates a QR code link to the authentication page for that particular watch. In true Moser fashion, the limited edition H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Genesis blends the brand’s signature luxe minimalist form with a lighthearted, design-forward statement style for the Web 3.0 generation.
Measuring in at 40mm-wide and 11.3mm-thick, the micro-blasted stainless steel case of the H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Genesis largely follows the Endeavour series’ trademark rounded organic look. The flowing shallow case side divots, clean flowing lugs, and curving case profile are all present and accounted for here, but the Endeavour Centre Seconds Genesis’s additions to the familiar formula completely change the character of the design in initial images. At first glance, the “pixelated” blocky three-dimensional bezel and matching crown immediately dominate the case design and form a continuation of the QR code pattern used to identify each example of the watch. While the form itself is striking, futuristic, and unapologetically divisive, the methods used to achieve this unique look are equally cutting-edge. Both the bezel and the crown are crafted in 3D-printed titanium, preventing the need for complex milling and engraving. H. Moser & Cie. continues the QR code pattern through an intricately engraved sapphire crystal. While this dramatically impacts legibility in images, it certainly makes for a unique look and allows wearers to pull up the blockchain-verified authentication materials on their watch with a simple phone scan. The brand completes the case with a more standard sapphire display caseback. While H. Moser & Cie. does not list a water resistance rating for the Endeavour Centre Seconds Genesis, this is a far cry from a dedicated sports watch by anyone’s metric.
The dial of the H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Genesis cleaves more closely to the brand’s established style. As with several previous releases from the brand, this minimalist sterile dial surface is coated with ultra-dark Vantablack paint for a truly featureless look. You’d be forgiven for thinking the Endeavour Centre Seconds Genesis has no hands at first glance, but the brand’s distinctive leaf handset is on display here in low-contrast off-black. This is far from the first H. Moser & Cie. release to deliberately sacrifice legibility for aesthetics, and as with previous releases of this type, it’s likely to be a love-it-or-hate-it stylistic decision.
H. Moser & Cie. powers the Endeavour Centre Seconds Genesis with its in-house HMC 200 automatic movement. With a 72-hour minimum power reserve and a 21,600 bph beat rate, it should be a solid performer, but as with the brand’s other movements, it truly shines through its finishing. The three-quarter plates are decorated with broad Côtes de Genève and polished anglage, standing above a brushed balance bridge, multiple layers of variably sized perlage, and polished jewel sinks. The brand tops this with an arabesque brushed skeleton rotor in 18K red gold with frosted recessed accents. H. Moser & Cie. completes the watch with a suitably minimal strap in medium gray kudu leather.
With the limited edition Endeavour Centre Seconds Genesis, H. Moser & Cie. establishes itself at the leading edge of luxury brands looking to expand into digital spaces, while simultaneously delivering one of its wildest and most stylized Endeavour references to date. Only 50 examples of the H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Genesis will be made, and the watch is available now through authorized dealers. MSRP for the H. Moser & Cie. Centre Seconds Genesis stands at 27,000 CHF as of press time. For more information, please visit the brand’s website.
