Round-UpCelebrating The Day Of The Leap Year: H. Moser’s Latest Streamliner Perpetual Calendar

Today is February 29, 2024. Last year, at around this time, we were probably correcting the date on our watches from the 29th to the 1st, because February got over on the 28th, and March had already begun. And that will be the case for many of us tomorrow, on March 1, when we’ll be correcting our watches from the 30th to the 1st. However, if you have a perpetual calendar watch, that correction won’t be required. While we’re in awe of this fascinating complication, we’re even more in awe of one of the latest watches featuring this complication. And though the first word that came to my mind when I saw this new release was ‘breath-taking’, it shouldn’t be surprising in the least. It is, after all, the award-winning complication from the house of H. Moser & Cie. The latest in their line of illustrious perpetual calendar watches—this Streamliner Perpetual Calendar Concept Smoked Salmon timepiece—is as much a winner as those that came before it.

A Fresh Take On The Complication: The Streamliner Perpetual Calendar Concept Smoked Salmon

That’s not to say that there’s nothing exceptional about this one. The fact that the Neuhausen am Rheinfall-based manufacture can still bring out something fresh with the same complication that won them the GPHG complication prize in 2006 is what is particularly awe-inspiring. Where’s the difference, one may ask. Yes, the complication has been featured on their Concept dial before. Yes, the complication has been seen in the Streamliner collection before. And yes, the complication has been seen in an exclusive new smoked or fumé hue too. But all together? No… Hence this is a first.

The last time we saw the perpetual calendar on H. Moser’s Concept dial, it was in an Endeavour watch, which had an ‘abyss blue’ fumé dial, with grand feu enamelling. It was even before that Endeavour was released that the brand had introduced the perpetual calendar in the Streamliner—the second complication to make its way to the line, after the chronograph edition. For the chronograph, with which the collection made its debut, the crown was placed at four o’clock—a move the brand decided to take forward with the Streamliner Perpetual Calendar that was unveiled in 2021. This made them rotate the display of the perpetual calendar as well. The date and power reserve indicators moved from three and nine o’clock respectively—as they were in previous watches with this complication—to the four and 10 o’clock positions. And now in the Streamliner Perpetual Calendar Concept Smoked Salmon edition, we see the same placement—a first for a Concept dial.

The signature cushion-shaped steel case of the Streamliner Perpetual Calendar Concept Smoked Salmon is sized at 42.3mm, and is water resistant up to an impressive 120m

The manual-winding calibre HMC 812 has a massive power reserve of 168 hours or seven days

The Streamliner Perpetual Calendar Concept Smoked Salmon Reinvigorates The Collection

The smoked salmon dial itself is not a new feature of H. Moser’s. Last year, they unveiled a new version of the Streamliner Centre Seconds with this smoked salmon. ‘Smoked salmon’ was a play on the smoky gradient of the dial, and also to spin salmon as more of this beige-grey that we see than the conventional salmon pink. This gorgeous dial is even more arresting in real life, as the angles of light falling on it reveal shades ranging from black to chocolate to gold. Standing out against this, ever so minimally, are only the absolute essentials—four central hands, the power reserve indicator and a date window. While the stunted central hand indicates the months—in tandem with the imagined hour positions, doubling as month positions—the date at four has a ‘flash calendar’ system. This means that tonight, the date will instantaneously go from February 29 to March 1, at the stroke of midnight. Globolight on the hands aids visibility in the dark.

Everything moving on the dial runs on the in-house manual-winding calibre HMC 812, which can be seen through the exhibition caseback, with an anthracite grey PVD treatment. In addition to the detailing—including Moser’s double-stripe decoration and bevelling on the bridges—there’s also a leap year indicator. This year, we know what this 12-point star will indicate.

‘Smoked salmon’ was a play on the smoky gradient of the dial, and also to spin salmon as more of this beige-grey that we see than the conventional salmon pink

This gorgeous dial is even more arresting in real life, as the angles of light falling on it reveal shades ranging from black to chocolate to gold

Standing out against this, ever so minimally, are only the absolute essentials—four central hands, the power reserve indicator and a date window

01

Very Rare: The Streamliner Perpetual Calendar Concept Smoked Salmon For A Year Only

And speaking of this year, H. Moser & Cie. have also announced that this special edition Streamliner Perpetual Calendar Concept Smoked Salmon will only be available for 12 months. This is a common feature from the house of H. Moser—releasing limited-time models, even if they’re not limited editions. Yes, some things are common even from the brand whose tagline is ‘Very rare’.

While the stunted central hand indicates the months—in tandem with the imagined hour positions, doubling as month positions—the date at four has a ‘flash calendar’ system

The case is well integrated with a ‘streamlined’ bracelet that presents a slinky effect and feel on the wrist

What is very rare is this date, the 29th day of February. It comes only once in four years. And it’s the day of the year when we appreciate the perpetual calendar complication the most. That, by no means, means that this Streamliner Perpetual Calendar Concept Smoked Salmon will be appreciated next only in 2028. It will most certainly be among anyone’s most appreciated watches, every year, perpetually.

For now though, happy leap year day!