H. Moser & Cie

H. Moser & Cie. is a Swiss luxury independent watchmaker founded in 1828 by Heinrich Moser. Renowned for minimalist aesthetics, in-house movements, and distinctive dials, the brand offers classic and limited-edition timepieces.

Heinrich Moser was born in Schaffhausen in 1805 and learned watchmaking from his father before continuing his training in Le Locle. In 1828 he established the original H. Moser & Cie. business in St. Petersburg, where it developed a reputation among wealthy Russian customers and the imperial court. Moser later returned to Schaffhausen and in 1848 founded a factory there, linking the commercial enterprise to the industrial development of his home region. Moser’s activities extended beyond watchmaking. He participated in the creation of SIG, helped develop hydroelectric infrastructure on the High Rhine, and was associated with the Rhine Falls railway. His business consequently formed part of the broader industrial history of Schaffhausen as well as the history of Swiss horology. After his death in 1874, the Swiss and Russian parts of the business were divided among the company’s managing interests. The Russian operation was expropriated following the October Revolution in 1918. The Swiss operation in Le Locle shifted from pocket watches to wristwatches during the twentieth century. Like many traditional mechanical manufacturers, it suffered during the quartz crisis and became part of the Dixi Mechanique Group. The historic name was temporarily changed to “Hy Moser & Cie.” The modern company was created in 2002 as Moser Schaffhausen AG by Dr. Jürgen Lange and Roger Nicholas Balsiger, a great-grandson of Heinrich Moser. In 2005, the company opened a new manufacture in Schaffhausen and relaunched H. Moser & Cie. as its trademark. The new business focused on small-scale independent watchmaking, producing proprietary movements and components while combining discreet, minimalist aesthetics with technically demanding complications. Important technical developments included the Straumann Hairspring, presented in 2007 and developed with Precision Engineering AG, and the Straumann Double Hairspring used in the 2009 Henry watch. The company also developed perpetual calendars, tourbillons, skeleton watches, and other high-end mechanical products. Its annual SIHH concept watches, beginning in 2016, became a defining part of its public identity. These pieces used parody, unusual materials, and cultural references to discuss subjects such as smartwatches, Swiss national identity, environmentalism, and the conventions of luxury marketing. Since 2012, H. Moser & Cie. has been owned by the Meylan family’s MELB Holding Group. Available reference material describes the company as producing roughly 3,000 watches annually and employing more than 100 people in 2023. The brand remains an active independent Swiss manufacturer whose profile rests on low volume, mechanical expertise, strong historical continuity, clean design, and unconventional communications.

1. 2022Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton wins category award

   Reference 3811-1200 won the tourbillon category at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

   Source
2. 2012Ownership transferred to MELB Holding Group

   The brand came under the ownership of the Meylan family’s MELB Holding Group.

   Source
3. 2009Henry tonneau watch introduced

   The Henry debuted with a Straumann Double Hairspring using two counter-rotating springs.

   Source
4. 2007Straumann Hairspring introduced

   The company presented a hairspring developed with Precision Engineering AG.

   Source
5. 2006Perpetual calendar receives Geneva recognition

   An H. Moser & Cie. perpetual calendar won recognition at the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix.

   Source
6. 2005Modern brand relaunched

   A Schaffhausen manufacture was established and H. Moser & Cie. returned to the market.

   Source
7. 2002Moser Schaffhausen AG founded

   Dr. Jürgen Lange and Roger Nicholas Balsiger established the company that would revive the H. Moser & Cie. name.

   Source
8. 1918Russian business expropriated

   The Russian part of the historical enterprise was expropriated after the October Revolution.

   Source
9. 1874Death of Heinrich Moser

   After Moser’s death, the business was divided between management interests in Switzerland and Russia.

   Source
10. 1848Schaffhausen factory established

    Heinrich Moser returned to Schaffhausen and founded a watch factory in his hometown.

    Source
11. 1828Original H. Moser & Cie. founded in St. Petersburg

    Heinrich Moser established the original watchmaking business in St. Petersburg, serving elite Russian customers.

    Source

High-end luxury, independent, craftsmanship-focused

• Endeavour Perpetual CalendarPerpetual calendar watch

  A high-complication mechanical wristwatch built around H. Moser & Cie.’s restrained display philosophy. The model uses a relatively uncluttered dial while providing calendar information through a technically sophisticated movement. A perpetual calendar was among the brand’s early modern achievements and received Geneva watchmaking recognition in 2006.

• Straumann HairspringWatch movement component2007

  A proprietary hairspring development presented in 2007 and created jointly with Precision Engineering AG in Schaffhausen. Its alloy formulation drew on the technical heritage associated with Reinhard Straumann and strengthened the brand’s positioning as a movement-focused independent manufacturer.

• HenryTonneau-shaped mechanical watch2009

  A tonneau-shaped watch introduced in 2009. It featured the Straumann Double Hairspring, in which two hairsprings rotate in opposite directions. The model was later discontinued, with the Swiss Alp line taking over part of its conceptual and technical role.

• Swiss AlpSport-luxury mechanical watch

  A collection that followed the Henry and expressed H. Moser & Cie.’s interest in combining high-end mechanical watchmaking with a more contemporary, sport-oriented form. The line became particularly associated with the company’s playful engagement with modern connected-watch culture.

• Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon SkeletonSkeleton tourbillon watch2022

  A technically complex skeletonized tourbillon model, reference 3811-1200, incorporating a cylindrical hairspring concept. It won the tourbillon category at the 2022 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

• 2019Moser Nature Watch

  International

  A special watch covered with living Swiss plants, linking the product to environmental themes and presenting a highly unconventional interpretation of Swiss design.

  Outcome. Expanded the annual concept-watch program into environmental and material experimentation.

  Source
• 2018Swiss Icons Watch

  International

  A conceptual model combining recognizable features associated with several Swiss watch manufacturers, presented as a commentary on industry conventions and design language.

  Outcome. Extended the brand’s satirical discussion of Swiss watchmaking through a limited special product.

  Source
• 2017Swiss Mad Watch

  International

  A concept watch whose case incorporated real Swiss cheese, using an intentionally unexpected material to comment on Swiss identity and the symbolism surrounding Swiss watchmaking.

  Outcome. Reinforced H. Moser & Cie.’s irreverent independent-brand image.

  Source
• 2016Swiss Alps Watch Zzzz

  International

  A parody-oriented special watch that referenced the Apple Watch and used humor to draw attention to the contrast between traditional mechanical watchmaking and consumer technology.

  Outcome. Helped establish the brand’s recurring use of provocative, concept-driven watches as public communications.

  Source

• 2016Adopt annual concept watches as brand communicationStrategy

  A small luxury manufacturer needed distinctive ways to communicate with a wider public without relying solely on conventional product advertising.

  What changed. The company began unveiling a special watch each year at SIHH, using parody, unusual materials, and cultural commentary.

  Aftermath. The program became a recurring feature of H. Moser & Cie.’s public identity and differentiated it from more traditional Swiss watch brands.

  Source
• 2007Introduce the Straumann HairspringProduct launch

  The revived brand sought to demonstrate that it was more than a historical name and could contribute proprietary technology to contemporary mechanical watchmaking.

  What changed. H. Moser & Cie. presented the Straumann Hairspring, developed with Precision Engineering AG.

  Aftermath. The release strengthened the company’s technical identity and association with Schaffhausen-based precision engineering.

  Source
• 2005Re-establish the brand as a Schaffhausen manufactureStrategy

  The historical H. Moser & Cie. identity had disappeared or been altered during the twentieth-century restructuring of the Swiss business.

  What changed. Moser Schaffhausen AG established a new manufacture in Schaffhausen and formally relaunched H. Moser & Cie. as its trademark.

  Aftermath. The modern company developed into a small independent manufacturer focused on in-house technical work and high-end mechanical watches.

  Source

• 2022Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton receives Geneva award

  Reference 3811-1200 won the tourbillon category at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

  Other
  Source
• 2022Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton wins a Geneva watchmaking award

  Reference 3811-1200 received the tourbillon of the year award at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

  Product launchOther
  Source
• 2019Moser Nature Watch incorporates living Swiss plants

  The Moser Nature Watch used living Swiss plant material on its exterior as an environmental and brand-identity statement.

  CampaignProduct launch
  Source
• 2018Swiss Icons Watch comments on Swiss watchmaking

  The Swiss Icons Watch combined recognizable design references associated with Swiss watch manufacturers in a provocative conceptual product.

  CampaignProduct launch
  Source
• 2018Swiss Icons Watch references the visual language of Swiss watchmaking

  H. Moser & Cie. released a concept watch combining recognizable design cues associated with several Swiss watch manufacturers.

  CampaignProduct launch
  Source
• 2017Swiss Mad Watch uses a Swiss-cheese case

  The Swiss Mad Watch used real Swiss cheese in its case as a deliberately playful statement about Swiss identity and watchmaking culture.

  CampaignProduct launch
  Source
• 2017Swiss Mad Watch uses Swiss cheese as a case material

  The Swiss Mad Watch used real Swiss cheese in its case construction as an attention-getting statement about Swiss identity and the luxury-watch industry.

  CampaignProduct launch
  Source
• 2016H. Moser & Cie. launches annual SIHH concept-watch program

  The company began presenting an annual special watch at SIHH to draw attention to public and industry topics through satirical or conceptual designs.

  CampaignProduct launch
  Source
• 2016Swiss Alps Watch Zzzz begins H. Moser & Cie's annual SIHH concept-watch series

  The company used a deliberately provocative Swiss Alps Watch Zzzz concept to comment on the Apple Watch and the relationship between traditional mechanical watches and connected technology.

  CampaignProduct launch
  Source
• 2009The Henry introduces the Straumann Double Hairspring

  H. Moser & Cie. introduced the tonneau-shaped Henry watch with two counter-rotating hairsprings. The model was later discontinued in favor of the Swiss Alp line.

  Product launchProduct generation
  Source
• 2009H. Moser & Cie. presents the Henry tonneau watch

  The Henry introduced a tonneau-shaped case and a Straumann Double Hairspring with two counter-rotating hairsprings. The model was later discontinued as the company shifted emphasis toward the Swiss Alps line.

  Product launchProduct generation
  Source
• 2007H. Moser & Cie. develops the Straumann Hairspring

  The brand presented a hairspring developed with associated company Precision Engineering AG, reinforcing its emphasis on proprietary mechanical-watch technology.

  Product launchOther
  Source
• 2007H. Moser & Cie. introduces the Straumann hairspring

  At Baselworld, the company presented a hairspring developed jointly with Precision Engineering AG, using an updated alloy formula associated with Reinhard Straumann.

  Product launchOther
  Source
• 2005Moser Schaffhausen AG relaunches H. Moser & Cie.

  A new Schaffhausen manufacture was established and the H. Moser & Cie. trademark was formally relaunched under Moser Schaffhausen AG.

  OtherProduct launch
  Source
• 2005H. Moser & Cie. formally relaunches in Schaffhausen

  The H. Moser & Cie. trademark was relaunched through a new manufacture in Schaffhausen, with the first modern watches introduced after the revival.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2002H. Moser & Cie. launches the modern brand after the creation of Moser Schaffhausen AG

  Moser Schaffhausen AG was established by Dr. Jürgen Lange and Roger Nicholas Balsiger, beginning the modern reconstruction of the historic H. Moser & Cie. business.

  Other
  Source

1. H. Moser & Cie.
2. H. Moser & Cie. official website