H. Moser & Cie Pioneer All-Terrain Steel Tourbillon: Malaysia Price & Review

Melissa Kong 21 November 2018

We call this Blue Steel.

Moser & Cie is at it again, delighting aficionados with its latest novelty, the Pioneer All-Terrain Steel Tourbillon—a bold move by the Swiss brand. Why? Because we’re used to seeing tourbillons—a complex and high complication—encased in a precious metal housing, affording it the prestige and value it deserves. So when H. Moser & Cie decided on the inexpensive material, it was a pleasant surprise.

The watch itself retains the brand’s classic and minimalist aesthetics. With the Pioneer collection, the trademark bold faceted indexes and luminous dots take pride of place on the fumé dial, this time in midnight blue. The fantastic double-hairspring tourbillon sits at the six o’clock position and is powered by an automatic movement with a solid gold rotor.

Thanks to the in-house double flat hairspring, the friction that normally comes with a single hairspring is reduced. The pair also corrects the point of gravity on each spring, improving the accuracy of the watch. The unique design of this tourbillon allows it to be assembled and regulated separately from the main movement, resulting in easier servicing.     

In another innovation, the rotor uses a bi-directional pawl winding system, which reduces the time taken to fully wind the watch. Additionally, the 18K red gold oscillator is skeletonised to offer a clearer look at the movement beneath.

As its name suggests, the Pioneer All-Terrain Steel Tourbillon is well-suited for all occasions, formal or otherwise. And just because the tourbillon is housed in a steel casing doesn’t mean it’s of less value. In fact, it goes a long way in making the complication a little less intimidating. At RM214,570, it’s still a hefty price tag but for the sheer beauty and simplicity of the watch, it’s something we think collectors will have in their minds for a long time.