Baselworld 2007 - H. Moser & Cie

The company presented two new models this year. One was a variation on an existing model, a Mayu in palladium, a dense platinum-group metal, with an ardoise dial. Previously the Mayu only came in gold or platinum. The other new model was wholly new, and contained an intriguing new innovation.

Named Henry (Heinrich anglicised), the new tonneau shaped watch uses the Straumann double hairspring escapement, developed by a sister company of Precision Engineering AG, a sister company of H. Moser.

The Henry with Straumann double hairspring - shown in rose gold with silver dial but also offered in white gold or platinum

The hairspring was so named in honour of Prof. Dr. h.c. Reinhard Straumann, the inventor of the Nivarox hairspring alloy. It consists of two hairsprings, one top of one another, each oscillating in opposing directions. In theory the errors in the oscillations of each hairspring cancel each other out, resulting in superior timekeeping.

The cal. HMC324.607 with Straumann double hairspring

The double hairspring looks like an ingenious solution to the problem current solved by the tourbillon escapement. However, a potential issue with the double hairspring is the possibility that a shock to the movement will cause both hairsprings to entangle in one another; that already occurs with a Breguet overcoil, albeit very rarely. It remains to be seen how this will perform under real world condition over the long term.

Like all other Moser watches, the Henry uses the interchangeable escapement, which offers the convenience of having the old escapement replaced with a freshly oiled one during service, which in theory reduces the time requiring for an overhaul. The escape wheel and pallet fork are also in hardened, solid gold.