Grail watch, aka my 5-month long impulse purchase, attained!
I can't wait to share how excited I am, so here's a little teaser to my latest pick up. Lemme describe first so you guys can appreciate it for what it is without any association to bias your perspective. It's like blind tasting a wine!
First off, the dial since it's the obvious attraction. It's an enamel dial in a gradient blue - lighter inside, darker outside. They put a layer of enamel powder, fire it in the oven, another layer and fire, repeat 13 times with different colors to get that gradient effect. The dial is made of gold as a base and the boutique said they hammer it physically, but on the website it says it's a "hammered-like " texture, so not sure which one. Here's some more shots - I'll post macro photos when I'm back from traveling.
I emailed the company, so let's see what they say. If it's manually hammered that's super impressive as tremblage dials take a crap ton of effort. My money is on not hammered. Anyway, the dial is super clean because they want the dial to be the star. It keeps the attention away from the fact that it has a perpetual calendar function. Wtf am I talking about you say? See that little nubbin of a hand that points to nine o'clock? What month is it now? September, the ninth month.
I think that's quite clever. Keeps the focus on the dial and not a super cluttered perpetual calendar dial like you usually see the date is on the right and the leap year indicator (who cares whether we're in a leap year in any given day) is on the back. I'll show the movement in a bit.
Back to the dial - running seconds at the bottom and power reserve (7 days!) On the left. Perpetual calendar watches are usually automatic because of how pain in the a$$ they are to set, so they give you plenty of power and it's so quick to change the date. At the first crown pull position, the date changes very quickly forward and backwards. Instantaneous date change with a very robust movement so you don't have to be so careful.
Finally, the case is made of tantalum, a metal that's rarer than platinum, harder than platinum, and incredibly hard to work with. Tantalum is rarely polished and it took them two years to figure it out. The owner of this company was given a tantalum watch when he was a kid and he always wanted to make a watch made of it. It has a beautiful grey-ish blue-ish color and goes well with the blue dial. I only know of a handful of companies that have Tantalum cases, FP Journe's Chronometre Bleu, being one.
A gif where you can see how dark the metal is and the side case has nice concave detail on the side.
Now, the movement shot (not my pic, credit to quill and pad) because the watch is safely at home while I'm vacationing in Vietnam. The movement has beautiful finishing, but I'll focus on that star shaped wheel. This is the leap year indicator. 4 in black is the leap year. There's a gold triangle at lower left of the star pointing to the current year. Really innovative take on the perpetual calendar made by Andreas Strehler.
What do you think of the watch, dial, the case? I fell in love with it when I saw it first in April this year. I kept on dreaming of it. I handled it again last month while my wife was present and she called it, "the ugliest watch I've ever seen". I was discouraged, but I wear watches for me not her! Though it helps to get her buy in.
I was in HK last week and one was suddenly available and I pulled the trigger. A 5 month long impulse purchase. Loving it so far! I'll take some proper pics later.
Oh and this is the H. Moser Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Tantalum. Help me feel better by validating my decision, please! Jk. Tell me what you really think. Ugliest watch you've ever seen??
Avid watch wearer, not collector. Like my children, I love all of my watches equally, but I love my Lange the best.
Absolutely gorgeous. Congratulations on an awesome watch!!
Absolutely gorgeous. Congratulations on an awesome watch!!
Thanks man, I loooove it
Grail watch indeed! Absolutely beautiful and great engineering, on all levels. Love how they approached the perpetual calendar in typical Moser-style. And you picked the best dial by a long shot. I don't think a single day will pass without you looking lovingly at that blue fumé dial at least once.
PS: saw this one as well on their site, made me laugh -- the "Endeavour Perpetual Tutorial":
Fantastic acquisition. That's a great model from Moser. The 5 month wait was completely worth it. Congratulations!
That's an amazing watch. I was deciding between its green 3-hand brother and the streamliner (cause I am a simple 2-3 hand watch guy). I finally decided for the green streamliner, however this enamel dial is soooo impressive. I could stare hours long at it. I think this it is not hammered, enamel is a glas surface, so when you hammer it, it will break. I think too it's more hammer-like.
And this watch is for sure more stunning then the Pioneer you were thinking of. The Pioneer is for a 3-hand watch to beefy. However, a perpetual calendar is different thing, there is so much going on in the movement that it has to be larger. And I think at the Endeavour the lugs are shorter, from the picture/gif this one sits better on your wrist.
Congratulations!
Enjoy it, even if your wife is not the biggest fan XD
Grail watch indeed! Absolutely beautiful and great engineering, on all levels. Love how they approached the perpetual calendar in typical Moser-style. And you picked the best dial by a long shot. I don't think a single day will pass without you looking lovingly at that blue fumé dial at least once.
PS: saw this one as well on their site, made me laugh -- the "Endeavour Perpetual Tutorial":
Love how they have fun with their watches. Thanks man
Well, I wanted to see what people thought instead of labelling it straight away
That's an amazing watch. I was deciding between its green 3-hand brother and the streamliner (cause I am a simple 2-3 hand watch guy). I finally decided for the green streamliner, however this enamel dial is soooo impressive. I could stare hours long at it. I think this it is not hammered, enamel is a glas surface, so when you hammer it, it will break. I think too it's more hammer-like.
And this watch is for sure more stunning then the Pioneer you were thinking of. The Pioneer is for a 3-hand watch to beefy. However, a perpetual calendar is different thing, there is so much going on in the movement that it has to be larger. And I think at the Endeavour the lugs are shorter, from the picture/gif this one sits better on your wrist.
Congratulations!
Enjoy it, even if your wife is not the biggest fan XD
Either choice would've been great. Love the streamliner too. Tried this on and I want a streamliner next. I'm fine with a simple 3 hander - I heard they will reissue the green one soon!
Lovely watch and I like a sterile dial. Adds mystery and interest imo. 👍
Absolutely stunning!
It’s a fascinating and beautiful watch I’d so much love to see in person! Congrats my friend! I’m sure your wifey is quite wonderful, but her horological opinion is misguided 😉
Watched vids on this model the day it was released.
I’ve loved Moser for over a decade.
Edourd’s care for the company, his irreverence and (correct) mocking of other Swiss watches that either aren’t very Swiss or that always lack for new designs... It’s all quite wonderful in my book.
Can’t imagine owning a perpetual, does the quick set mean it’s fine to let it wind down? Easy to reset all major functions? Or this one lives on a winder when not in use?
I’m not sure if I’ll ever own a Moser, but maybe someday I’ll get a pioneer or one of the more ‘affordable’ models. I also don’t mind getting a good condition used watch that’s scratched up!
For now I satisfy that itch for an epic hand made dial like yours with my humble Kurono- it’s a hand polished urushi tree sap lacquer on a gold (plated!) dial that only a few traditional artists (this studio is in Kyoto) can produce. Watch is otherwise a very simple steel case with a Miyota 9 series, that costs 4K (!!). Of course most of the cost for that dial
Process below if curious
https://youtu.be/cdcY-2pBtnA?si=5fSJHDS0O8M5DP_K
Beautiful timepiece.
Congrats on an amazing pickup!!!
My assumption would be that the website is correct, and while the boutique has heard the story, it's kind of ballsed up the interpretation and turned it into manually hammered, rather than just looking like it.
That dial needs no explanation. Absolutely stunning piece. Congratulations!
That is a HELL of a grail!! I saw the video on this and the leap year complication is fantastic. Congratulations 👏👏👏
That is a HELL of a grail!! I saw the video on this and the leap year complication is fantastic. Congratulations 👏👏👏
Heh, thanks. Will do up someore content when I have time as videos and write ups on this are somewhat scarce in the usual blogosphere
Change up the Mrs . If my wife fed me such a negative knowing I liked it , she wouldn’t be my Mrs
Change up the Mrs . If my wife fed me such a negative knowing I liked it , she wouldn’t be my Mrs
Them is fighting words! Haha. Either you're not married or you're like Key and Peele in one of my favorite sketches of all time: https://youtu.be/5LGEiIL1__s?si=ISMUz1g0CQILbVbA
No , third time married 😂, I finally picked a woman who respects me as the man . I’m only poking from my red pilled perspective. Most guys are blue pilled til they get divorced then all of a sudden the Red pill makes sense 😂 this skit is funny as fuck ….. 😂
No , third time married 😂, I finally picked a woman who respects me as the man . I’m only poking from my red pilled perspective. Most guys are blue pilled til they get divorced then all of a sudden the Red pill makes sense 😂 this skit is funny as fuck ….. 😂
Ah third time, then you have no more f's to give like some of my friends.
I am very lucky , I love and adore my wife , but when I think of the disparaging shit my last wife used to pipe up with , never encouraging always negative, I take no shit , do no harm , but definitely don’t want any negativity about my joy , no . Sorry , this isn’t good if a woman says she “ hates” something you love . Maybe it’s harmless , but in my experience it never is . Your a successful guy , and I am sure your got a great wife 🙂 Just pay attention…. 🙂 ( ranting old guy )
Congratulations on attaining your grail! I love this piece 🔥
I am very lucky , I love and adore my wife , but when I think of the disparaging shit my last wife used to pipe up with , never encouraging always negative, I take no shit , do no harm , but definitely don’t want any negativity about my joy , no . Sorry , this isn’t good if a woman says she “ hates” something you love . Maybe it’s harmless , but in my experience it never is . Your a successful guy , and I am sure your got a great wife 🙂 Just pay attention…. 🙂 ( ranting old guy )
Haha, appreciate the advice. I asked her opinion on the watch and she gave it, so fair play. I still got it because it's for me, but she doesn't give two hoots about my watches. I have few friends who love watches, so she has to play the part of a listening ear even if she doesn't care about my man jewelry! She's a great and supportive partner!
Absolutely stunning piece mate enjoy it
Absolutely stunning piece mate enjoy it
Cheers
2 simple words: beautiful, congratulations ❤️🤙❤️
2 simple words: beautiful, congratulations ❤️🤙❤️
Thanks man.
Wearing it now while on a zoom call and I keep staring at it!
Beautiful
Amazing! H Moser will be in my collection if by some chance I ever strike gold, oil, or something. Great timepiece!