Edouard Meylan is the young, dynamic CEO of the independent watch brand H. Moser & Cie. Born in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland, Edouard’s connection with Swiss watchmaking goes back generations. After earning a Master’s in Engineering from the EPFL in Lausanne, and an MBA from Wharton, Edouard became CEO of H. Moser in 2013.
Since then he has been credited with refreshing the brand, both in terms of defining a clear brand identity and sales numbers. Ten years on, H. Moser’s timepieces are admired for their minimalist aesthetics and daring innovation.
Edouard was kind enough to speak to Signé Magazine about some of the exceptional watches to bear the H. Moser & Cie name as well as the brand’s special relationship with the region.
H. Moser & Cie. presented a very exclusive limited edition of 15 pieces, based on the Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton, as a tribute to your long-standing partnership with Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. What is the significance of this watch and how did it come about?
The friendship which links the Seddiqi and the Meylan families goes back two generations. The Seddiqi family has helped us when no one knew anything about H. Moser & Cie., 10 years ago. They believed in us and supported us. To celebrate our partnership and the values that we share, we created this limited edition, very exclusive.
In this series, everything is about elegance and understatement. The minimalism is enhanced by the transparent sapphire sub-dial, which allows a perfect and undisturbed view of the skeletonized movement. A true masterpiece for a true partnership.
The Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton won the Tourbillon watch prize at GPHG 2022. Your thoughts on winning this prize?
This award means a lot and shows that we are on the right track. It is the recognition of our almost 200-year-old know-how, of uncompromising mechanical watchmaking, and of the power of classicism approached in an offbeat and sexy way. It is also a great reward for independent watchmaking. This award marks an additional stage in the development of the Moser brand and sets a very positive outlook for the future.
The Endeavour Centre Seconds Genesis is a watch that bears a unique QR code engraved on its sapphire crystal. What is this watch about and how does it fit into your brand experience?
At H. Moser & Cie. we are constantly seeking to innovate, to explore new territories and to push our limits. Our main objective is always to be customer-focused and to bring added value. With the development of new technologies, we are now able to follow the consumer journey, which does not end once the watch is sold, much further.
C to C business has expanded with the emergence of the secondary market. Thanks to the ecosystem that we have developed, we are now able to offer a warranty with increased transparency, traceability and security to our customers. The Genesis watch is a symbol of this commitment and represents the future. It is a hybrid product embodying the project, which combines the physical, virtual and digital dimensions.
The new Streamliner Tourbillon Vantablack Rainbow, with its rainbow gem settings, appears to be a departure from the conservative or minimalist aesthetics of the collection. Is this a true assessment?
With this model, we wanted to create a poetic interpretation of our Streamliner Tourbillon model. More than the beauty of the sapphires, we loved the contrast between their reflections and the Vantablack dial. A jewellery model with roots in horological tradition, the Streamliner Tourbillon Rainbow marries the fundamentals of minimalism and contemporary elegance, and adds a dash of opulence.
Plans ahead – upcoming launches and outlook for 2023?
We have lots of beautiful launches scheduled for 2023 spread across our four collections. We will introduce two entirely new calibres and a new diameter in the Pioneer and Streamliner collections, and we will play on new colours for our dials. One of our biggest launches will happen during the Dubai Watch Week, so stay tuned.
What are the peculiarities that you have observed or find interesting about the Middle Eastern luxury watch market?
Middle Eastern is a very interesting market, with huge potential. The customers have a precise and demanding knowledge of watchmaking. They are also passionate about independent watchmakers. We are very happy to have a good presence here, thanks to our subsidiary MELB Middle East and to our partner, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons.
