ReviewPresenting H. Moser & Cie.’s Dazzling Streamliner Tourbillon Rainbow
The Streamliner Tourbillon Rainbow is the brand’s vibrant take on horology with its chromatic design meeting state-of-the-art technology
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In the luxury and lifestyle space, there’s one term that’s been making a lot of noise lately—the ‘Quiet Luxury’ aesthetic. It’s a trend where brands let go of the logos on their apparel and let the material, style, design, and execution do the talking. Contrary to jarring patterns, lurid details, and logos stamped all over—that scream for attention, new-age minimalism is the way forward in the luxury space and brands are going all out to woo customers with their toned-down aesthetic that leans more towards the ‘keep it vintage’ philosophy.
And in the horological landscape if there’s any brand that’s pioneered this philosophy, it definitely has to be H. Moser & Cie. With their sophisticated timekeepers that are usually pared-down, often even devoid of any numerals on the dials, their watches make quite a statement in their own right. One of their most popular collections—the Streamliner—inspired by the sleek automotive and locomotive designs from the 1920s is a lesson in contemporary minimalism as it beguiles with its refined persona. It features a cushion-shaped case, which is meticulously finished to give it an ultra-luxurious feel. There have been several iterations of the Streamliner (chronograph with flyback function, perpetual calendar, centre seconds, and the tourbillon—all equipped with Moser’s manufacture calibres. And the brand have also introduced two Tourbillon Rainbow versions—one in stainless steel and the other in red gold—which stand out for their dazzling bezels that are encrusted with vibrant sapphire gemstones. While the stainless-steel model comes with the brand’s signature fumé dial in a greyish-brown tone, the red-gold reference is hot on the heels of the Streamliner Tourbillon Vantablack—crafted entirely in the precious metal. Here’s a closer look at the two watches:
Prismatic Brilliance: The H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Tourbillon Rainbow
Both the H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Tourbillon Rainbow pieces (stainless-steel and red-gold renditions) come in a case measuring 40mm x 12.1mm, which is water-resistant to 120m. They are mounted on matching bracelets with a triple-blade folding clasp with a quick-release feature. As mentioned earlier, the stainless-steel model features a fumé dial with sunburst pattern, with faceted applied hour markers and hands—replete with Globolight inserts. This is a ceramic-based luminous material, which glows in the dark and helps with keeping track of time in low-light conditions. At six o’clock lies the one-minute flying tourbillon with skeletonised bridges, which is one of the major highlights here. The red-gold model comes with the Vantablack dial, forming a perfect contrast between the two materials.
However, it is the gem-setting on the bezel, which enhances the appeal of the timepiece and also showcases the brand’s prowess when it comes to executing these artistic techniques. It consists of 60 baguette-cut colourful sapphires, totaling 290 carats, which display a full spectrum of tones around the dial, protected by a slightly domed sapphire crystal. The screw-in crown is positioned at three o’clock on the case side and is engraved with an ‘M’.
It is driven by the in-house automatic HMC 804 calibre, equipped with a double hairspring designed and produced in-house by H. Moser & Cie.’s sister company Precision Engineering AG. Thanks to this pair of matched hairsprings, the movement of the point of gravity on each spring when it expands is corrected, and the effect of friction is reduced significantly, thereby improving accuracy and precision. Beating at 21,600vph, it provides an autonomy of at least 72 hours with a power-packed performance.
