Heinrich Moser, was born in Schaffhausen, in 1805, into a family of watchmakers. He followed the footsteps of his forefathers and learned the watchmaking trade. After making his way to Saint Petersburg and becoming the specialist for the aristocracy, he founded H. Moser & Cie. in 1828, building a factory which employed several hundred artisans in Switzerland. The watches ranged from basic three-hand watches to “grande complications”. Heinrich Moser is also well known for his involvement in the industrialisation of Schaffhausen, notably the building of the first Swiss dam featuring hydro-mechanical turbines to produce energy.
After Moser died in 1874, the company was split up between its Managing Directors. One of the Swiss parts in Le Locle went to the family of Paul Girard, the business in Russia was expropriate in 1918 due to the October Revolution.
After the 1917 Russian revolution, the owners of the Moser Cie returned to Switzerland and this was not the good time for business. All warehouses and shops were nationalized by new Soviet government and many Moser movements remained on Russian territory.
This is a unique watch. Taking its name from the French for barrel, the tonneau has an elongated lozenge-type shape with parallel flat edges at the top and bottom. lugs. I have always wanted to look for the original Moser watch in Tonneau shape.
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