H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Centre Seconds and the Pioneer Tourbillon “CURE ALS”

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H. Moser & Cie. is proud to join the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by creating two limited edition watches- the Pioneer Centre Seconds and the Pioneer Tourbillon “CURE ALS” in support of ALS research at Duke. Established in 2001 by Richard Bedlack, MD, PhD, the Duke ALS Clinic is one of the largest and most comprehensive ALS care centers in the world. Part of Duke’s Department of Neurology, Bedlack and his team provide multidisciplinary, compassionate care for people with ALS and are committed to finding better treatments—and ultimately a cure—for this devastating disease.

Comfortable and designed for everyday wear, the Pioneer collection by H. Moser & Cie., features an audacious and contemporary design with references to the industrial world. Its pioneering, adventurous spirit shines through and is of special significance for these timepieces, which were designed in honor of Loy Stewart, a businessman local to Charleston, SC who owned Detyens Shipyards, one of the largest commercial shipyards in the world. Loy was diagnosed with ALS in the early 2000s, after which he set out to find a cure for the disease. An inspiring entrepreneur and avid watch collector, Loy was ecstatic to work with his close friend, George Wendt, and H. Moser to design a watch to raise funds for a disease that robs too many of their mobility, speaking ability and eventually life.

“We are very excited for the H. Moser Pioneer “CURE ALS” timepieces,” says George Wendt. “Loy, unfortunately, passed between design and production of the watch after a 19-year battle with ALS. This watch will help fund research at the Duke ALS Clinic and keep his legacy alive.”

“We are honored to have worked with Loy and George on the design of the Pioneer “CURE ALS” timepieces,” says Edouard Meylan, CEO of H. Moser & Cie. “Time is a precious, yet finite resource; we are thrilled to present these today to help find a cure for ALS.”

With its sturdy character, the Pioneer timepieces are as elegant as they are practical. They adapt to every situation to serve everyday heroes and are suited for wear in the city as well as at the beach. Equipped with a steel case, the Pioneer “CURE ALS” models are water-resistant to 12 ATM. Crowning the steel case, a curved sapphire crystal highlights the deep and mysterious tones of the dark green fumé dial, a shade specifically created for the occasion and inspired by a book Loy used to gift to everyone he met; it symbolizes hope and his belief in people. The indices, tipped with a luminescent dot, are faceted, and the hands are partially skeletonised with Superluminova® tips, perfectly in line with the open, streamlined aesthetic. A matching green leather strap provides the final touch, reinforcing the contemporary dynamic of this resolutely stylish model, with a bold touch of non-conformity. Each watch will also come with an additional rubber strap.

At the heart of the Pioneer Centre Seconds model, a limited edition of 15 pieces, beats the HMC 200 movement. Designed, developed and produced entirely in-house, this calibre is equipped with a regulating organ manufactured by Precision Engineering AG, the sister company of H. Moser & Cie. Decorated with the famous Moser double stripes on the bridges and plate, housing a large red gold oscillating weight, engraved on one of the references, the calibre HMC 200 is 100% Swiss, 100% Moser.

In the Pioneer Tourbillon model, limited to 5 pieces, the self-winding HMC 804 Manufacture calibre is visible behind the skeletonized bridge of the 60-second flying tourbillon. A marvel of ingenuity, this calibre is equipped with a double flat hairspring designed and produced in-house. Thanks to this pair of matched hairsprings, the movement of the point of gravity on each spring is corrected when it expands, significantly improving accuracy and isochronism in continual pursuit of perfection. In addition, the paired hairsprings also reduce the effect of friction normally experienced with a single hairspring. Finally, the tourbillon’s unique design makes it an interchangeable module, assembled and regulated independently of the movement via a simple plug and play system which allows easy servicing.

The Pioneer “CURE ALS” timepieces will be available on a first come, first served basis. In order to receive a Pioneer Centre Seconds, a minimum donation of $16,000 USD is required; in order to receive a Pioneer Tourbillon, a minimum gift of $55,000 USD is necessary. Part of the gift will be tax deductible and qualify for Duke Health giving societies. Please inquire for exact tax-deductible amounts.

For information on how to make a donation to support ALS research please contact Whitney Martin, Director of Development for the Neurosciences at Duke Health Development and Alumni Affairs (whitney.w.martin@duke.edu).

H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Centre Seconds “CURE ALS” Technical Specifications

Reference 3200-1211, steel model, CURE ALS Green fumé dial, green alligator leather strap, limited edition of 15 pieces

Functions

Hours and minutes
Central seconds

Movement

HMC 200 automatic calibre
Diameter: 32.0 mm or 14 1/4 lignes
Height: 5.5 mm
Frequency: 21,600 Vib/h
27 jewels
Automatic bi-directional pawl winding system
Oscillating weight in 18-carat red gold, engraved on ref. 3200-1212
Power reserve: minimum 3 days
Hacking seconds
Original Straumann Hairspring® with flat overcoil
Finish with Moser stripes

Case

Solid steel
Diameter: 42.8 mm,
Height without sapphire crystal: 10.6 mm
Curved sapphire crystal and see-through case back
Screw-in crown adorned with an “M”
Water-resistant to 120 metres

Dial

CURE ALS Green fumé with sunburst pattern, marked with the inscription “CURE ALS”
Applique indices, with hour markers in Superluminova®
Leaf-shaped hands, partially skeletonised
Superluminova® luminescent elements on hands

Strap

Green alligator leather and additional black rubber strap
Steel pin buckle, engraved with the H. Moser & Cie. logo

H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Tourbillon “CURE ALS” Technical Specifications

Reference 3804-1202, steel model, CURE ALS Green fumé dial, green alligator leather strap and additional black rubber strap, limited edition of 5 pieces

Functions

Hours and minutes

Movement

Self-winding HMC 804 Manufacture calibre
Diameter: 32.0 mm or 14 1/4 lignes
Height: 5.5 mm
Frequency: 21,600 vibrations/hour
Automatic bi-directional pawl winding system
Oscillating weight in 18-carat red gold, engraved on ref. 3804-1203
Power reserve: minimum of 3 days
Original double hairspring
One-minute flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock with skeletonized bridges

Case

Solid steel case
Diameter: 42.8 mm,
Height without sapphire crystal: 10.6mm
Curved sapphire crystal and see-through case back
Screw-in crown adorned with an “M”
Water-resistant to 12 ATM

Dial

CURE ALS Green fumé with sunburst pattern, marked with the inscription “CURE ALS”
Applique indexes, with hour markers in Superluminova®
Hands: Leaf-shaped, partially skeletonized
Superluminova® luminescent elements on the hands

Movement