H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Vantablack

We introduced the H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Tourbillon Concept back in 2017 and were in awe of its striking minimalism. No name, no indices, no logo – just an hour and minute hand above a flying tourbillon, surrounded by a stark blue dial. Although stripped to its bare essentials, the piece was unmistakably from H. Moser & Cie. That’s a quite an achievement in and of itself. The company is back with a new variant that blends astrophysics and military technology with the minimalist “Concept” aesthetic, almost eliminating the dial from sight with the darkest synthetic material on Earth – a material already used by the brand. Meet the new H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Vantablack.

Vantablack was developed by UK-based Surrey NanoSystems Limited in 2012 and uses billions of vertically aligned nanotubes (10,000 times finer than a human hair) to absorb 99.975% of light. Vanta is an acronym for “vertically aligned nanotube arrays”. The material is used for multiple applications such as solar panels, military camouflage and telescopes, but its artistic potential is also huge. H. Moser & Cie. is no stranger to Vantablack, previously using it for pieces like the Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept Vantablack. That watch allowed the 6 o’clock moon phase to shine within a sea of black space, always the focal point for the wearer. 

When nothingness becomes so present… Vantablack is truly fascinating.

The Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Vantablack now focuses on the flying tourbillon, which spins like the eye of a black hole. Housed in an 18K white gold case measuring 42mm x 11.6mm, the black dial disappears as if you’re gazing into space itself. There are sapphire crystals on the front and caseback, showcasing the in-house automatic movement and the knurled crowned is signed with the company’s M. Other than the movement, that’s the only mark of the company on this piece (disregarding the strap). 

The flying tourbillon has been enhanced with aerospace aluminium for the cage, including the cage wheel, balance bridge and escapement bridge. More rigid than standard aluminium and lighter than brass, it reduces inertia and offers more stable isochronism over time. These parts also have a black PVD coating to add to the dark theme. Spinning once per minute, the tourbillon has no seconds track as many comparable dials exhibit. This tourbillon lives in a hole of blackness with nothing but silver-toned leaf-shaped hour and minute hands for contrast. 

Powering the watch is the HMC 804 automatic Manufacture calibre with an in-house double hairspring – the two working together over the balance to further compensate for gravitational forces and improve both isochronism and accuracy. The calibre has 28 jewels, beats at 21,600vph (3Hz) with a 72-hour power reserve. Functions include hours and minutes with a modular tourbillon escapement, which allows the cage and regulating organ to be easily removed for service or replacement. Plug and play, if you will. The openworked rotor is 18k red gold with the H. Moser & Cie. logo engraved.

The three-part case is fitted with a hand-stitched black alligator leather strap with an 18k white gold folding clasp engraved with the Moser logo. The H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Vantablack is limited to 50 pieces and priced at CHF 75,000 or USD 75,000. More information can be found at the H. Moser & Cie. website.