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H. Moser celebrates its partnership with Alpine Motorsports with two Streamliner Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton Alpine Limited Editions, each a new, beautifully skeletonized tourbillon iteration of the independent watchmaker’s successful Streamliner design.

The new H. Moser Streamliner Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton Alpine Limited Edition, Pink Livery

While we’ve seen at least one skeletonized version of this watch previously, the new offerings utilize a different tourbillon movement (HMC 811, with a cylindrical balance spring) and sport the colors of the race team’s two primary liveries: pink and blue.

The most recent version, with pink-hued accents, was launched as a limited edition of twenty pieces in celebration of the 2024 Miami Grand Prix earlier in May. Its pink hue is the result of H. Moser artisans use of synthetic corundum (ruby) to manufacture the small domed dial that tops the skeletonized main dial.

The watch is available exclusively on the H. Moser e-commerce website. H. Moser will make one addition pink model as a fundraiser to be sold at a charity auction to benefit the environmental foundation Aqua Pearls.

The new H. Moser Streamliner Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton Alpine Limited Edition, Blue Livery.

The blue-accented model, offered as a limited edition of 100 pieces, features a skeletonized main dial topped with a small translucent domed dial in blue, a color resulting from the use of synthetic spinel.

On both watches H. Moser fits its superb one-minute flying tourbillon with a blue cage bridge while the namesake cylindrical balance-spring rotates at the 6 o’clock location.

H. Moser explains that “the cylindrical hairspring – fitted with two Breguet overcoils attached at two points – reduces the friction of the pivots and improves the isochronism properties, all the more so if the hairspring is combined with a tourbillon, as is the case here.”

The indices on both models glow with SuperLuminova while the inserts above the blued hour and minute hands feature Globolight. Pink or blue molded rubber straps attach the watch to the wrist. (See full specifications below).

Prices: $98,000 (pink) and $89,000 (blue).

Specifications: H. Moser Streamliner Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton Alpine Limited Edition, Pink Livery

Reference 6811-1202, fully skeletonized steel model, small domed dial in synthetic corundum, pink rubber strap, limited edition of 20 pieces + 1 unique piece (ref. 6811-1201)

Case:

Steel topped by a slightly domed sapphire crystal

Diameter: 42.3 mm

Height without sapphire crystal: 11.0 mm

Height with sapphire crystal: 14.0 mm

Screw-in crown adorned with an engraved “M”

See-through case-back

Water-resistant to 12 ATM

Dial:

Small domed dial in deep pink synthetic corundum at 12 o’clock

Skeletonized main dial

Super-LumiNova indices

Blued hour and minute hands with Globolight inserts

Movement:

Fully skeletonized HMC 811, automatic three-dimensional Manufacture calibre

Diameter: 34.0 mm or 15 lignes/height: 5.5 mm (without hands or tourbillon)

Frequency: 21,600 Vib/h

28 jewels

171 components

Automatic bi-directional pawl winding system

Gold, fully skeletonized oscillating weight

Power reserve: minimum 74 hours

Cylindrical balance-spring with two Breguet overcoils

One-minute flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock with blue skeletonized bridge; hand-bevelled balance bridge

Diamond beveling

Main plate and bridges with anthracite finish

Functions:

Hours and minutes

Strap/bracelet:

Pink rubber strap

Steel folding clasp, engraved with the Moser logo

Price: $98,000.

 

Specifications: H. Moser Streamliner Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton Alpine Limited Edition, Blue Livery

Reference 6811-1200, fully skeletonized steel model, small domed dial in synthetic spinel, blue rubber strap, limited edition of 100 pieces

Case:

Steel topped by a slightly domed sapphire crystal

Diameter: 42.3 mm

Height without sapphire crystal: 11.0 mm
Height with sapphire crystal: 14.0 mm

Screw-in crown adorned with an engraved “M”

See-through case-back

Water-resistant to 12 ATM

Dial:

Small domed dial in bright blue synthetic spinel at 12 o’clock

Skeletonized main dial

Indices in Super-LumiNova

Hour and minute hands with Globolight inserts

Movement:

Fully skeletonized HMC 811, automatic three-dimensional Manufacture calibre

Diameter: 34.0 mm or 15 lignes/height: 5.5 mm (without hands or tourbillon) 

Frequency: 21,600 Vib/h

28 jewels

171 components

Automatic bi-directional pawl winding system

Gold, fully skeletonized oscillating weight

Power reserve: minimum 74 hours

Cylindrical hairspring with two Breguet overcoils

One-minute flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock with skeletonized bridge; hand-bevelled balance bridge

Diamond beveling

Main plate and bridges with anthracite finish

Functions:

Hours and minutes

Strap/bracelet:

Blue rubber strap

Steel folding clasp, engraved with the Moser logo

Price: $89,000.

Luminox launches a trio of new field watches called the Atacama Field Series.  Each watch features a textured dial meant to evoke the terrain of its namesake Atacama Desert.

These 43mm carbon-cased watches offer easy-to-read Arabic numeral markers within a clean, open dial that is especially broad thanks to a fairly thin bezel.

Smaller numerals display a 24-hour scale while a red-tipped seconds hand and red arrow next to the date (at 3 o’clock) make for instant readability.

As with all Luminox watches, each of the new Atacama Field Series watches are notably visible thanks to Luminox’s own Always Visible Light Technology, which the brand says will remain bright for up to twenty-five years.

Luminox offers the new Swiss quartz-powered series with three dial color options: full blackout, a dark green dial with sand-colored hour numbers, and with a black dial with sand-colored hour numbers.

Each is also fit with a black rubber strap with black textile on top (tone-in-tone stitching) and a buckle made of a carbon composite called CARBONOX, the same shock-resistant material that makes up the case. All are water resistant to 100 meters.

Prices: $445 to $495.

By Steve Huyton

Distant galaxies and the thought of potential planets with life forms have fascinated astronomers for centuries. It has also inspired writers and filmmakers to re-imagine certain possibilities. Ultimately this has filtered into costume design and various accessories.

Within the world of horology, several brands are conceiving futuristic creations that display time differently. Their work offer a perfect balance of innovative design and traditional mechanical watch technology. Here are five brilliant examples that have an intergalactic aesthetic.

Azimuth Land Cruiser

The Land Cruiser was developed over four years and carries the DNA of its predecessor, the SP-1 Landship. This incarnation has a much more curvaceous façade and futuristic appearance.

The Azimuth Land Cruiser

For this particular piece, Azimuth has opted for a 316L stainless steel case rather instead of a titanium case. Functionally the watch features regulator hour and retrograde minute complications. Beneath the sleek façade lies a specially modified Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement with perlage finishing. This calibre comprises twenty-six jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28.800 vibrations per hour.

Gelfman IN-16 Nixie

The Gelfman IN-16 Nixie watch was officially nominated for the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2022 in the “Petite Aiguille” category. In my opinion, this watch is a brilliant example of modernistic design.

The Gelfman IN-16 Nixie

The timepiece exudes masculine proportions and has a hand-polished sculpted stainless-steel case measuring 45.9mm x 47.8mm x 20.5mm. Time is displayed on two IN-16 Nixie tubes and is programmable via a PC or Mac App. Functionally the watch features hours, minutes, date and battery percentage indications. This device also has an accelerometer with gesture recognition.

Hublot MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System

The MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System is one of the most distinctive pieces Hublot of produced to date. Incredibly, this watch required five years of fastidious research and development to create.

The Hublot MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System

With 592 individual components, two linear weights, one inclined tourbillon and a circular power reserve, this is definitely a formidable piece. What makes it so remarkable is the open-worked architectural 3-D dial that is devoid of hands. Hours, minutes, seconds and dates are presented on anodized black aluminum cylinders. Beneath the titanium micro-blasted chassis is a sophisticated self-winding inclined tourbillon movement.

MB&F Horological Machine Nº11 Architect

MB&F is synonymous for the production of exquisite timepieces, and they don’t come much finer than the Horological Machine Nº11 Architect.

The MB&F HM11 Architect

The original concept was first introduced by acclaimed designer Eric Giroud in 2018. However, it was several years before the completed version was presented to the market. By comparison, this particular timepiece is smaller than previous models released by the brand.

Nevertheless, the futuristic spaceship-style Grade-5 titanium case is designed to make a bold impression. Powering the watch is a highly complicated 29-jewel mechanical hand-winding movement that is composed of 364 individual parts.

SEVENFRIDAY FreeDb

SEVENFRIDAY is a progressive Swiss brand that has gained a solid reputation within the watch industry for its modernistic designs. Recently the brand decided to incorporate 3-D print technology into its flagship models.

Three versions of the SevenFriday FreeDb

The FreeDb is a new release that utilizes a special polyamide (PA11 & PA12) normally associated with the medical, aerospace, and racing sectors.

Its unique textural qualities give the timepiece a futuristic aesthetic. Hour, minute and second indications are displayed on domed discs.

At the heart of the watch is a Swiss automatic Sellita SW300-1 movement. This mechanism comprises 26 jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour.

Steve Huyton is an industrial designer, illustrator and author who publishes Total Design Reviews

Watch and jewelry retailer Wempe teams with Girard-Perregaux to launch the newest model in Wempe’s Signature Collection of limited editions.

The new Wempe Signature Collection x Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph is a 42mm by 12.1mm edition of the watchmaker’s well-known integrated steel-cased series. With Wempe, Girard-Perregaux has created a special copper-colored dial with a Clous-de-Paris pattern specially designed to reflect and refract light.

To enhance the light play here, Girard-Perragaux has also coated the watch’s baton-shaped hour markers and its hour and minute hands with luminous gold. Within the copper dial are the three subdials, each with a silver-colored background.

As a reminder, the running seconds is located at the 3 o’clock position while the two other counters display elapsed minutes (at 9 o’clock) and hours (at 6 o’clock). Chronograph seconds are read from a central chronograph second hand.

Inside, Girard-Perregaux’s superb automatic Caliber GP03300-2361 powers the chronograph, which offers a strong 46-hour power reserve.

“Ever since Girard-Perregaux introduced the newest generation of the Laureato collection in 2017, originally born in 1975, the model has been a top seller for Wempe,” says Ruediger Albers, President of Wempe U.S. “There are a lot of synergies between the two brands, both being independently owned and rooted in tradition; I am delighted to have the opportunity to offer such an exceptional watch to our clientele.”

The Wempe Signature Laureato Chronograph is a limited edition of 100 pieces.

Price: $18,600.

Louis Vuitton added ‘watch designer’ to the already impressive list of accomplishments by renowned architect Frank Gehry.

The new Louis Vuitton Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Poincon de Geneve Sapphire Frank Gehry.

The new Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève Sapphire Frank Gehry is the result of a collaboration with Gehry and Louis Vuitton, which adds the watch to its High Watchmaking collection.

The stunning 48.3mm flying tourbillon watch is made with a clear sapphire case, dial, crown, lugs and hands. With its transparent architecture, the wearer has an uninterrupted view of the flying tourbillon caliber, produced and assembled at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton.

Gehry was inspired by his own work at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris and the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul when creating the new watch. For example, the dial echoes Gehry’s rippling glass structure atop the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul. Like that structure, which appears to float over the roof of the building, the dial on the watch also is meant to recall the airiness of the nautical world.

“My inspiration comes from the sea, fish, boats, the nautical world, because they embody the notion of movement, mobility, speed,” said Gehry.“I like to express movement, inject this energy and dynamic into static materials.”

Louis Vuitton explains the its artisans crafted the crystalline face of the watch from a single 200-kilo block of sapphire. With 250-hours of work required to complete just the dial, the project was one of the most ever made by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton.

The watchmaker’s dial artisans used medical tools to create the asymmetric forms and curves to echo many of Gehry’s architectural projects.

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Moon Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève Sapphire, which is the first watch with a sapphire dial and case to bear the Poinçon de Genève seal, is fitted with manufacture flying tourbillon LFT MM05.01. The rose-gold-bridged movement is entirely visible thanks to the full sapphire case and dial. (See below for full technical specifications).

Price: $935,000.

Specifications: Louis Vuitton Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Poinçon de Genève Sapphire Frank Gehry

(Limited edition of five pieces)

Case:

• Case, lugs and crown in sapphire
• Frank Gehry’s signature engraved on the case-back • 43.8 mm diameter
• 11.27 mm thickness
• Anti-reflection sapphire crystal
• Water-resistant to 30 meters

Dial:

• Sapphire, polished and mattified by hand, inspired by Frank Gehry’s architectural works

• Sapphire hands, outline in HyCeram Luminex (luminescent pigments)

Movement:

• Caliber LFTMM05.01: mechanical movement with manual winding developed and assembled by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton

  • “Poinçon de Genève” certification, visible on the central bridge
  • Functions: skeleton flying tourbillon, hours and minutes, Monogram flower tourbillon cage rotating in one minute
  • 160 components
  • 80 hours of power reserve
  • 21,600 vibrations per hour
  • 17 jewels

Strap:  White taurillon leather strap  with a rose gold folding buckle.

Price: $935,000.