Independent Swiss watchmaker H. Moser & Cie. has expanded its signature 30-second jumping retrograde complication into a full-on trilogy. The new collection spans three distinct lines: the bare-bones Pioneer Skeleton Retrograde Seconds, the vibrant blue Streamliner Retrograde Seconds, and the elegant Endeavour Retrograde Seconds.
While all three models feature the exact same display—a seconds hand sweeping across an arc for 30 seconds before snapping back instantly to zero—each timepiece aims to express a distinctive aesthetic for collectors of the avant-garde brand.
“One complication. Three personalities,” the brand announced in a launch statement. “H. Moser & Cie. brings this playful complication to life across three collections… Together, the three watches turn the passage of time into a continuous spectacle.”
H. Moser places the retrograde mechanism on the dial side, putting its motion on full display. A double snail cam guides the seconds hand through each 30-second sweep before a spring-powered mechanism snaps it back to zero to begin again. Beneath it, a two-tone disc indicates which half of the minute is underway, adding a distinctive visual touch.
The line’s design language adapts to each timepiece’s distinct identity. In the Pioneer Skeleton Retrograde Seconds, a 40-mm stainless steel case—which is water-resistant to 120 meters—frames a fully skeletonized structure with anthracite-finished bridges and gold leaf-shaped hands. It runs on the automatic in-house caliber HMC 251 and is accompanied by both an integrated steel bracelet and khaki rubber strap.
The Streamliner Retrograde Seconds pairs a Midnight Blue fumé dial with a sunburst pattern inside the brand’s fluid 40 mm cushion case, also relying on the automatic caliber HMC 252 and boasting 120-meter water resistance.
Finally, the Endeavour Retrograde Seconds presents a decidedly refined aesthetic using a Blackor fumé dial and night blue nubuck alligator leather strap while keeping branding discreet via a transparent lacquer logo. The limited-edition collection is available now through authorized retailers and H. Moser & Cie. boutiques, with pricing set at $35,200 for the Endeavour Retrograde Seconds, $37,700 for the Streamliner Retrograde Seconds, and $44,100 for the Pioneer Skeleton Retrograde Seconds.
For an even more exclusive example of H. Moser’s watchmaking prowess, check out its $440,000 “Cosmic Rain” timepiece released over the summer that’s designed to tell time with sound.