Moser & Cie. are opening their latest standalone boutique in the heart of Silicon Valley in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. In order to mark the occasion they’re also launching a Streamliner Tourbillon Skeleton Boutique Edition in yellow gold. A golden version of one of their haute horological timepieces for the Golden State.
The Steamliner is one of the most instantly recognisable watch designs currently produced thanks to its smooth cushion case and mono-link, scaled integrated bracelet. It’s inspired by and named after a style of America locomotive which also had flowing lines along its bodywork. Here the body of the watch and its bracelet are presented in yellow gold giving it a luxurious lustre. Currently the only golden versions of the Streamliner are rose gold, so the yellow gold offers a much brighter alternative without the pinkish hue of the rose.
As for the dial it’s a skeletonised tourbillon display in dark anthracite grey. Special attention was paid to making the skeleton bridges as symmetrical as possible, which is why it has matching spokes above the hands leading to 11 and 1 o’clock that form a Y shape. As well as the arch from 7:30 to 4:30 around the edge of the tourbillon at 6 o’clock. It seems like a bizarre undertaking to commit to, given the natural asymmetry of a watch movement, but it does lend an architectural air to the piece.
The movement is the HMC 814 automatic calibre with 72-hour power reserve rating – that power is stored in the large, exposed barrel at 12:30. It also features H. Moser’s original double hairspring as part of the balance held in the rotating tourbillon, which rotates at a rate of once per minute, allowing it to serve as the timepiece’s seconds indicator. Between the gold case and this movement, this is a top end haute horology timepiece.
In principle, this is the kind boutique edition I like, a small twist on an existing model. It makes it feel special enough that it’s a worthwhile investment as a collector while at the same time not being so ground-breaking that you feel like you’re missing out if you don’t happen to live near one of their boutiques. A material change such as yellow gold on a haute horology is pitched perfectly for what H. Moser want to achieve with a California boutique. If you find yourself in one of their boutiques the Streamliner Tourbillon Skeleton Boutique Edition will set you back a casual £125,000.
Price and Specs:
Model:
H.
Moser & Cie. Streamliner Tourbillon Boutique Edition
Ref:
6814-0700
Case:
40mm
diameter x 12.1mm thickness, 18k yellow gold
Dial:
Skeletonised
Water resistance:
120m
(12 bar)
Movement:
H.Moser
calibre HMC 814, automatic, 28 jewels, 167 parts
Frequency:
21,600
vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve:
72h
Functions:
Hours,
minutes
Strap:
18k
yellow gold bracelet
Price:
£125,000
More details at H. Moser & Cie.
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