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This Apple Watch lookalike requires no updates, no charging, doesn’t ping notifications, and doesn’t have any functions other than telling time. First released in 2016 in a limited edition run of 50 pieces, the Swiss Alp was H. Moser & Cie’s cheeky rebuke on the rise of connected watches, a sort of industry insider joke.
At the time of the launch of the original watch, people were questioning the longevity of traditional watchmaking, and whether connected watches would soon take over precious wrist space on collectors. (It had not.)
We all love watches that make a statement, and the original Swiss Alp was an instant success. Since then H. Moser & Cie had developed the collection further, with different versions in white gold and steel, fitted with different complications and dial colours. But this latest release marks the end of the collection. There’s a ring of finality to it, as the caseback is engraved with the words “last edition”.
The Swiss Alp Watch Final Upgrade by H Moser & Cie (Photo: H Moser & Cie)
The first thing you’ll notice about these watches is that they look nearly identical to the Apple Watch. The watchmaker s latest edition comes with an ultra-modern and rounded rectangular-shaped case. The super-slick dial is coated with Vantablack, which is known to be one of the blackest materials produced artificially.
“We’re been using Vantablack for a couple of years,” says Meylan. “It’s amazing––the darkest material ever created. It absorbs 99.965% of light.” It’s the first time Vantablack has been used for the Swiss Alp Watch. “We wanted to finish this series with a strong message so using Vantablack was perfect.”
broached the idea (blasphemy!) of taking Moser across the border to neighboring Germany.
The company is now capping one of its most highly publicized product lines, the Swiss Alp Watch, with a 50-piece limited edition featuring a dial made from Vantablack, one of the darkest man-made materials in the world, absorbing up to 99.965% of visible light. Developed at first for scientific applications, the material has gone on to see further use in artistic applications under exclusive license to the artist Anish Kapoor. There have also been luxury applications, including watches. Moser has recently leaned into using Vantablack for its dials, dropping a trio of Vantablack-clad watches last year.