Latest news with #H.Moser&Cie.
Mint
4 days ago
- Business
- Mint
India is one of the fastest growing luxury watch markets: H. Moser & Cie. CEO
Earlier this month, H. Moser & Cie., the independent Swiss watchmaker for nearly 200 years, opened its first standalone boutique in India. Located at City of Time by Ethos in Gurugram, the newest boutique is the sixth standalone H. Moser & Cie. boutique globally, following openings in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Menlo Park, and Seoul. Launched in partnership with Ethos Ltd, the store is designed as an experiential destination showcasing boutique-exclusive timepieces such as the Streamliner Tourbillon Skeleton Boutique Edition, limited to only 17 pieces worldwide. In a Zoom interview with Lounge, Edouard Meylan, the chief executive of H. Moser & Cie., talked about the importance of the India market and the future of haute horlogerie. Edited excerpts: What made you pick Gurugram for the first India store? H. Moser & Cie. is a relatively small brand. We make 4,000 watches, so we want quality over quantity. It's difficult to have too many doors to cover a big market like India, so we rather have a few points of sales in two locations with high visibility. Opening a boutique here (in Gurugram) is obviously a way for us to bring the universe of H. Moser & Cie to the customers in a central point of destination. It's a strategy we use in certain big markets like China, and it works very well for us. What's your observation about the Indian luxury market? We see the growth. I mean, it's in the top 15 in the world, one of the fastest growing markets at the moment. Huge, passionate community of watch collectors, very knowledgeable. We see a lot of passion for our world. I think it's just the beginning. That's why it's great to come and visit, to meet many of them. I think there's huge potential in India. And that's why you see so many brands putting more and more efforts in India, like us opening a boutique here. Let's talk about your partnership with Ethos. What led to the partnership? Well, to be honest, it's really Pranav's (Pranav Saboo, CEO, Ethos Ltd) idea. He fell in love with our category, with independent brands, and wanted to bring them to the market. We believe he resonated early with a lot of discussions, and at some point, he convinced us, and I think his vision was right. I think the India market is really going through a transformation. Did you tweak your offerings for the Indian market? So what you find here is what you would find if you go to our Seoul, Hong Kong or Shanghai boutique. At every store, you will find identical design and same products. It's important to us. We don't tailor for certain tastes. We believe the brand is what it is. If you want something that is much more in line with certain other traditions or tastes, then there are other brands. But we are very strict about it. We don't adapt to the customers. It's the customers that adapt to the brand. Is there a specific Indian customer you really identify with? Majority is masculine, but more and more women buy those watches, or even watches that are quite unisex. A lot of entrepreneurs, and I think there are many in India, and that's probably part of the success of H. Moser & Cie here. You need to buy a Moser, you need to understand. If you know, you know. Your family has been in watch making for generations, and you studied microengineering and then joined the watch industry. Could you talk about your journey? When you are born in watchmaking, you cannot leave it. Whenever you try to leave it, it takes you closer back. So yes, I studied microengineering, but that's probably the closest engineering you have from watchmaking. We actually studied watchmaking mechanisms as part of our studies. So I was already a little bit into it. Production, processes, optimisations, all things that are related to watchmaking. So I was not far away from one another. In my first job, I was consulting (with PwC). That was my attempt to escape. One of my first projects ended up being in watchmaking. And then I was back into it. What keeps you interested in the watch industry? I love the product. That's the core of the idea of creating and bringing innovation and creativity into a very special product that I can actually wear myself. That's part of it. The second aspect that really excites me and drives me every day is the idea and ambition of building a brand. So something that moves beyond that actual product. Something that brings people together behind values, a vision and a philosophy. How has the luxury watch consumer evolved over the years? Yeah, I think people understand much more about what's behind a watch and appreciate the true, traditional watchmaking and the people behind it. That has been at the core of the growth of independent watchmaking in recent years. I think this education helped people go beyond the actual logos. For many years, people were buying if they wanted a certain brand because that represents 80% of what they are. And now they go beyond that and understand the intrinsic value of what watchmakers do, the artistic aspect, the value of the human beings behind it. There's a completely different game today which helps us tremendously. And what kind of watches do you personally like? Do you have a current favourite? I create watches that I wear myself. Today, I'm wearing two watches. One is an Endeavor with an enamel dial. Vibrant and modern at the same time, even though it's traditional. On the other wrist, I have a more sporty watch, which is this Streamliner Skeleton. It's a watch that is comfortable to wear because it's an integrated silk bracelet. It allows you to, we call it 'beach to tuxedo". You can go out and swim with it and, at the same time, you can wear a suit like I'm wearing today and wear this watch and it fits perfectly. And what, according to you, makes a great watch? I personally value the work that goes behind it, especially when it comes to research, development and innovation. And I think I can understand and value that part. How many years and how many people had to work and how different it is from the others—I think it's a lot about the level of the details and the finishing, and not all the things that you can see. I think that's what makes a watch extraordinary—those small details that you discover three months after you bought it, and you're still wearing and discovering those very fine, small elements. I think that's the beauty of what we do. That's why you find watches costing $100 or $100,000; they still give the time the same way, and sometimes even the cheapest is the most accurate. What makes the very expensive one so special are those small details. Where do you see the traditional mechanical watchmaking in the realm of luxury watches? I think it's the core, it's the base, it's the roots of our industry. We should never forget it but embrace and preserve it. It's very easy to move towards new technologies, and forget about the past. Respect your tradition, but live in the moment, and embrace the future. But don't forget to respect where you come from, and preserve it. Your brand is known for watches with no visible logo, nothing too flashy. Is that how you interpret luxury? I think there are different types of luxury. For me, the ultimate luxury is very close to art, and that's what we do. Art is something where signature is almost insignificant, it's on the side. What really talks is the product. It's the finishing, it's the artistic traits that you find in the product. And that's why we felt that it would be almost an insult to sign our products on the dial, which is so beautiful. And for me, it's important to put effort into creating a product that people can associate and recognise, rather than having to put my logo on it. How do you see the future of haute horlogerie? It has to continue to preserve itself. In terms of craftsmanship, tradition, at the same time embrace new technology in terms of communication. But even sometimes in terms of optimising production. So we're in a world where today everybody talks about AI and how it could influence creativity, how to meet new customers. I think what made Swiss traditional watchmaking survive over the years is its ability to adapt, but at the same time remain true to its roots. As long as we can do that, I think we can go fast. Manish Mishra is a Delhi-based writer and content creator.
Hype Malaysia
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hype Malaysia
Not-So-Stealth Luxury: Deluxe New Drops From H. Moser x Cie. & Richard Mille
When it comes to the world of watches, there's luxurious, and then there's downright divine. From low-key releases for a select few, to spotlight-stealing crown jewels – you'll find that the extravagant watches highlighted here aren't just accessories, but otherworldly creations meant to take your outfit to the next level. H. Moser & Cie.'s Streamliner Skeleton Rainbow H. Moser & Cie. are back to unleash another colourful creation that's sure to make even a rainbow blush. Introducing the Streamliner Tourbillon Skeleton Rainbow! Precious stones are not typically used by Moser in their watches. This new model, however, shows a conscious decision to highlight the movement's beauty, balance, and even overall minimalism through the use of brilliance. As a result, the watch successfully combines watchmaking skills with jewellery artistry. Featuring steel or 5N red gold, this timepiece has 60 vividly-coloured baguette-cut sapphires. The stones are subtly positioned in the centre of the case in a dual gradient; one gradient mimics the rainbow's colours, while the other highlights the Streamliner 40mm cushion-shaped case. The fully-skeletonised HMC 814 movement, which is fully visible through the watch's face, is also aesthetically enhanced by the gemstones. The Streamliner Tourbillon Skeleton Rainbow is available for enquiries now. You can also reserve a unit for yourself for CHF159,000 (~RM814,703) at H. Moser & Cie.'s official website. Richard Mille's RM72-01 'Charles Leclerc' Edition Charles Leclerc, a Ferrari F1 driver and long-time brand ambassador, helped Richard Mille discreetly unveil their newest limited-edition watch. Inspired by the Monégasque driver's signature colours and racing heritage, the brand's automatic flyback chronograph has been boldly reinterpreted in the new RM72-01 'Charles Leclerc.' Honouring the Monegasque flag, the watch is finished in white Quartz TPT with eye-catching red stripes. The red-and-white motif is maintained by a skeletonised dial that highlights chronograph counters with racing influences while removing hour numerals. The date window is framed in red and white, and the black crown mimics the twisting motion of a high-torque Formula One tyre. The watch, which is powered by the CRMC-1 calibre, has a 50-hour power reserve, a function selector, and a flyback chronograph with 30-minute and 24-hour counters. With a platinum rotor and ceramic bearings for high-efficiency winding, it operates at 28,800 vph. Although the release was just confirmed, Leclerc has been wearing the 38.4mm x 47.34mm watch for weeks. The RM72-01 'Charles Leclerc,' which is limited to just 150 pieces and costs US$330,000 (~RM1,407,777), is reportedly already being delivered to a few chosen clients. You can visit Richard Mille's official website for more details.
Korea Herald
13-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Swiss watchmaker H. Moser & Cie. opens 1st boutique in S. Korea
Swiss luxury watch brand H. Moser & Cie. is set to open its first South Korean boutique on Wednesday at the Galleria Department Store in Seoul's Apgujeong-dong. The boutique, created in partnership with Damiani Group's retail chain Rocca, is the fifth for the brand globally, following locations in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong and San Francisco. 'Korea is a very important and influential market,' said Edouard Meylan, CEO of H. Moser & Cie., at a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday. 'We've grown quickly in the past 10 years, and now we're ready to bring Moser to Korean collectors.' With fewer than 4,000 watches produced annually, H. Moser & Cie. is known for its exclusivity and craftsmanship. The new boutique reflects the brand's minimalist and modern aesthetic, using glass and concrete to evoke the feeling of an art gallery. 'Our watches are created as pieces of art,' Meylan said. 'We don't place our logo on the dial because we want the craftsmanship to speak for itself. It's a quiet confidence that our customers appreciate.' Moser's signature collections as well as one limited-edition Streamliner Tourbillon Skeleton Boutique Edition will be available at the Seoul location. Only 17 Streamliner Tourbillon Skeleton Boutique Edition watches are available worldwide. The launch comes amid growing demand for high-end independent watch brands in Korea's luxury market. The boutique aims to offer local consumers a deeper connection to Moser's heritage and artisanal approach.
Forbes
31-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
H. Moser & Cie. Launches A Bright Cheerful Pop Collection
Small seconds pop H. Moser & Cie. has never been one to shy away from a bold idea, but its new Pop collection might be the most vibrant expression of the brand since many years. This series of limited edition watches takes the minimal Endeavour platform and completely reimagines it using natural gemstones, turning each piece into a wearable, and highly technical, work of art. The Pop collection is made up of various Endeavour Small Seconds Concept, Endeavour Tourbillon Concept, and Minute Repeater Tourbillon Concept models, all distinguished by vivid, two-tone dials crafted from precious stones such as Burmese jade, pink opal, lapis lazuli, lemon chrysoprase, turquoise, and coral. The result is a dramatic contrast between Moser's typically minimalist aesthetic and an unapologetically colourful, maximalist material palette. Pistachio dial There are no indices or logos on the dials, just the natural texture and hue of the stones, and the brand's signature leaf-shaped hands. The Small Seconds Concept models are housed in 38mm steel cases and run on the automatic HMC 202 calibre with hacking seconds, a bi-directional pawl winding system, and a solid gold rotor. These models are limited to 28 pieces per dial combination. Tourbillon Movement The Tourbillon Concept editions take things a step further, introducing a one-minute flying tourbillon into a 40mm steel case, powered by the automatic HMC 805 calibre with a skeletonised red gold rotor. Each dial variation is limited to just five pieces. At the top of the series, the Minute Repeater Tourbillon Concept comes in a red gold case and combines both complications, minute repeater and flying tourbillon, on a dial adorned with hand-lacquered and gemstone surfaces. Each of these is a unique piece. Blue dial Beyond the technical specs and finishing, what stands out most is how confidently these watches break away from traditional high horology watch design. The dials are vivid and unusual, but thoughtfully paired: jade with pink opal, lapis with lemon chrysoprase, and turquoise with coral. Each pairing balances softness and saturation, structure and chaos. The use of ostrich and alligator leather straps in muted grey tones helps ground the otherwise eye-catching compositions. This is not the first time Moser has played with colour, but it's the first time they've combined natural stones in this way. It's also another reminder that for all of its mechanical sophistication, the brand continues to value creativity, humour, and surprise, making the Pop collection less of a gimmick and more of a genuine contribution to modern independent watchmaking.
