Bare-faced, minimalist timepieces are not new. In fact, it appears that they have been in existence right about the time they began to grace the wrists. However, when H. Moser & Cie created its Endeavour Perpetual Calendar in 2005, it was with a truly unique twist.
Perpetual calendars are designed to give you all the information you would get on any calendar, including the days of the week, the month, leap year details and moon phases. This is in addition to telling you what time it is. Therefore, they are typically busy, although pieces like the Patek Philippe Grand Complication and Rolex Day-Date have rather simple designs.
With the H. Moser & Cie Endeavour Perpetual Calendar, however, simplicity is elevated to ultra-minimalism in a design that makes the timepiece simple to adjust, easy to read and yet difficult to damage. These three characteristics are exactly what sets it apart from other traditional perpetual calendars.
The foolproof perpetual calendar was first designed in 2005 with watchmaking genius Andreas Strehler. It was the first time the Swiss brand did not put its name on the dial of its timepieces, and it paved the way for a new kind of H. Moser & Cie design: timeless pieces with dials stripped of flamboyant details, including logos.
In celebration of the wildly radical yet highly successful concept, H. Moser & Cie has released two updated versions of the Endeavour Perpetual Calendar: the Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Funky Blue and the Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Tutorial.
The Funky Blue looks just like the original model, with the major noticeable difference being the addition of a logo in transparent lacquer. The Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Tutorial, on the other hand, is a massively different witty interpretation. Across its dial are scribbled notes that explain specific details about the piece, such as the length of the power reserve, or the fact the leap year indication is placed on the back of the movement. There is also a bright yellow warning line jutting out from the month of February telling you to watch out for the rare 29th number in the date window, which of course indicates a leap year.
Both updated versions of the Endeavor Perpetual Calendar use the familiar fumé blue dial that gradually darkens towards the edges, allowing them effortlessly play with light due to the sunburst brushed finish. They also both have the month pointer mounted on a central axis of the dial which follows the hour hand to indicate what month it is. (at 1 o’clock it’s January, at 2 o’clock it’s February and so on)
The Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Funky Blue & Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Tutorial come in 18k white gold and beige Kudu leather strap with an 18k gold pin buckle. The Funky Blue is part of the permanent collection and is priced at CHF 54,000 (approximately 58,400 USD). The Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Tutorial is limited to 20 pieces and has a price tag of CHF 59,000 (approximately 63,800 USD). They are available on the H. Moser & Cie website.