Even if they said the correct time, you'd probably be too confused and simply ask someone else. Well, this situation could become a reality now that H. Moser & Cie. has released what's called the 'Swiss Alp Watch Concept Black.'
The watch is unashamedly designed like an Apple Watch, right down to the rectangular shape and silver crown, but that's not even the weirdest thing – the company has indeed made a timepiece with no watch face or dials, but instead you'll have to press a button and listen for distinct chimes and gongs in order to tell the time. Does being different have to mean strange? H. Moser & Cie. clearly thinks so, and they're charging an eye-watering $350,000 for the wearer to have the privilege of only being able to properly hear the time when you're in a silent room or a quiet street.
Here's what the brand has to say about the watch:
"As it was in the time before the use of electricity became widespread: people had to use minute repeaters to discover the time when it was too dark to see. H. Moser & Cie. is using this delightful nod to a highly prestigious watchmaking tradition to play with contrasts: this most minimalist of creations integrates a minute repeater and a tourbillon in a rectangular case that looks like a smartwatch."
Yeah, yeah, it's still a stupid idea no matter how many fancy words you use.
We're not saying that watches shouldn't be able to branch out a bit from the typical formula, but there's branching out and then there's being unusual just for the sake of it. Well, we suppose it worked, as H. Moser & Cie. got a headline out of this. It's fair to say that These are what we think of when someone mentions Swiss-made watches: classy, cool, encrusted with gold plating and diamonds, and with actual numbers and hands to indicate the time. H. Moser & Cie. is seemingly capable of making normal watches, but it's always the wackier designs which get them attention – usually for the wrong reasons.
The company's other bizarre designs have included:
- A watch made with real lichen and stone for the dial and woven grass for the strap
- A watch with a dial made from hardened Swiss cheese resin
- A watch which stole design elements from other Swiss luxury watch brands
So, basically what we're saying is that if you want to spice up your winter styling, this isn't the watch for you – nor for anyone, come to think of it.