H. Moser & Cie Vantablack® Watch
The Vantablack watch by Swiss watchmaker H. Moser & Cie is one of the boldest design statements in modern horology: a timepiece whose dial is coated in the darkest man-made material on Earth, swallowing almost all visible light to create a face of pure, depthless black. What began as an April Fools' joke became three very real, very collectible watches that collectors now hunt down across the globe.
What is a Vantablack watch?
Vantablack is a coating grown from carbon nanotubes that absorbs up to 99.965% of visible light, which is why a Vantablack dial reads as a flat, bottomless void rather than a glossy black surface. H. Moser & Cie first teased the idea with a watch that appeared to have a completely black face and seemingly no hands. The resemblance to true Vantablack was so striking that, one year later, the brand followed through with the real deal.
Why did H. Moser & Cie turn a joke into a real watch?
Unlike the original gag piece, the production watch actually has hands, though it keeps the signature minimalist look with no numeral markings. It also uses genuine Vantablack instead of a simply retouched black dial. When people first saw the concept, the response was immense: customers asked, in all seriousness, where they could buy one. That reaction got the team at Moser thinking they should probably make the watch. So they did, and the rest is history.
The three Moser Vantablack models
The project produced three distinct watches. The 39mm Venturer Vantablack in 18k white gold was priced at $27,600. Its bigger sibling, the Blackvanta XL, measures 43mm and was priced at $26,600. Both are hand-wound, offer hour and minute hands, and carry a power reserve indicator on the movement side.
What makes the Endeavour Tourbillon Vantablack special?
The third watch, the Endeavour Tourbillon Vantablack, has the most impressive look of the three. With its stainless steel case finished in an Amorphous Diamond-Like Coating, it carries an entirely blacked-out aesthetic. As the name suggests, the watch features a one-minute flying tourbillon paired to a self-winding movement. You can read the brand's own account of the concept on the official H. Moser & Cie site. This version was limited to 50 pieces, each retailing for $69,000, which helps explain why every Vantablack watch price query continues to climb.
How much does a Vantablack watch cost?
Pricing for the original trio ran from around $26,600 for the Blackvanta XL up to $69,000 for the limited Endeavour Tourbillon. Later Vantablack references, including newer Endeavour Tourbillon Concept editions, have pushed well beyond that, as covered in detail by the watch specialists at aBlogtoWatch. Because production was deliberately tiny, a Vantablack watch for sale on the secondary market remains rare and highly sought after.
Where to find limited-edition watches at TheArsenale
If the stealth aesthetic of the Moser Vantablack speaks to you, TheArsenale curates its own selection of rare and exotic timepieces. Explore the full watches collection, including the design-led Anicorn x TheArsenale designer watch and the space-inspired Moon Time NASA watch. Serious collectors can also keep their pieces in show condition with the Ferrari engine block watch winder.
Ready to add a statement timepiece to your own arsenal? Browse the full TheArsenale watches collection and find a watch worthy of the Vantablack legacy.
