The relationship between Moser and Barkley began in May, when the 28-year-old Bronx native wore Moser’s Endeavour Tourbillon Concept to the Met Gala. Barkley was looking for a watch company that fit his bold tastes, but also had some mystery and eccentricity about it. H. Moser & Cie—a company that was founded in 1828, rose to prominence crafting watches for Russian princes, and more recently have become known for exquisite minimalist designs and a cheeky sense of humor—seemed to fit the bill perfectly.
The watch he sported on fashion’s biggest night boasted an inky dial made from Vantablack—the darkest man-made substance on Earth—which looked particularly striking alongside his Rat Pack-y Thom Browne tuxedo. “The watches speak for themselves, to be completely honest,” Barkley said. “Timeless, classy, so many things I could say about that.”
“The beauty of this relationship is that it is organic, genuine,” said Claudio Terjanian, H. Moser & Cie’s North American brand president. When Barkley first approached the brand, Terjanian said, he did so with real enthusiasm: “I like you guys, I like what you’re doing, I appreciate your watches” is how the executive recalls the conversation going.
After the successful Met Gala linkup, Terjanian traveled with Edouard and Bertrand Meylan, Moser’s co-owners, to Saquon’s home in Pennsylvania to pitch him on an official partnership. As Barkley’s son, Saquon Jr., ran around the spacious living room, the four men connected over their shared love of fine watches and family. “It’s from top to bottom,” Barkley said of his relationship with the Moser crew. “Everyone me and my team has come in contact with has done a phenomenal job.”
