The New H. Moser & Cie Streamliner Centre Seconds Smoked Salmon (Live Pics & Price)

The Streamliner collection marked H. Moser & Cie‘s incursion into the luxury sports watch segment in 2020, represented by an impressive Flyback Chronograph. With its fluid and sophisticated design, the Streamliner is a far cry from the usual suspects dominating the upper echelons of luxury sports watches. Now a fully-fledged collection, Streamliners range from straightforward three-hand models to tourbillons and a deceptively simple Perpetual Calendar. The latest Streamliner on Moser’s menu is this Centre Seconds model served with a delectable “smoked salmon” dial. Catalogued as a special edition thanks to its griffé dial, the watch will be available for one year only.

The Streamliner Centre Seconds is the most elemental or straightforward model in this family, offering hours, minutes and central seconds. Moser’s characteristic minimalism is at play here, and the beauty of the fumé griffé dial (gradient with an emphatic vertical brushed finishing) is the true star of the show. Similar to the Matrix Green Streamliner Centre Seconds of 2020, nicknamed the ‘Green Dragon’ by fans, this is the second colour to appear on board this three-hand model.

A salmon by any other name…

As we have come to expect from H. Moser & Cie, there is always a bit of tongue-in-cheek humour in its product presentations. Instead of settling for a more banal name for the colour of the dial, Moser describes it as “smoked salmon” and then explains why it doesn’t look anything like the bright orange/pink colour most of us associate with smoked salmon. This smoked salmon colour is not taken from the “traditional Atlantic salmon,” explains CEO Edouard Meylan, “but from its very rare cousin, the Oncorhynchus kisutch.” But things get even more convoluted as Meylan shares the secret life of this species that are “massaged each day by specialists using an oil infused with aromatic herbs picked from the slopes of the Himalayas” and their unusual diet of “crustaceans that have been pre-digested by pink flamingos.” According to Meylan, all these factors combined with “a secret recipe using Scottish whisky” are what give the flesh of this species its exceptional colour. He was obviously having a lot of fun with this one!

Call it what you like (taupe, dark salmon, pinky brown), but the dial is lovely and as temperamental as they come, constantly changing mood – and in this regard, it differs from the classic pink salmon dials on most other watches. Flaunting Moser’s signature fumé technique that makes the colour lighter in the centre and darker towards the periphery, the dial is also decorated with a pronounced vertical brushed finishing (griffé = scratched). This combination of finishings allows the dial to play with the light, producing different tonalities that can range from chocolaty brown to gold. Reading off the applied indices are the hour and minute hands with Globolight inserts, an innovative ceramic-based material that contains Super-LumiNova. However, unlike the Matrix Green dial, the brand name is not printed in white letters. Instead, the inscription is recreated in transparent lacquer with such discretion that it is practically invisible.

Sleek lines

The Streamliner takes its design cues from the sleek automobile and locomotive designs of the 1920s-1930s. The name of the collection is taken from the Streamline Moderne period that followed directly on the heels of Art Deco. Described as “Art Deco on the Move, ” the Streamline movement celebrated the modern machine age and the new-found passion for speed with sleek, aerodynamic designs found on trains, ocean liners, aeroplanes, cars and even diners.

The case of the three-hand Streamliner Centre Seconds is a study of harmonious proportions and fluid lines. The 40mm rounded cushion case in stainless steel is gently cambered and features a matte satin-brushed finish. The height of the case is 10.3mm without the domed sapphire crystal and 12.1mm with the crystal. The case middle is slightly recessed and brushed and sandwiched between two brightly polished bevels. It’s these small design details that go a long way in adding character and interest to the case, which, incidentally, is water-resistant to 120 metres.

Slinky links

It’s a curious fact: the design of the Streamliner started back to front with the bracelet. A masterpiece of design, its elegant arched profile follows the anatomy of the wrist beautifully. All the slinky links are articulated for enhanced flexibility, and the gentle wave-like pattern is highlighted with a vertical brush and contrasting polished bevels where one link meets the next.

Calibre HMC 200

Designed, developed and produced in-house, calibre HMC 200 is an automatic movement with a bidirectional pawl-winding system and an original Straumann Hairspring with a flat overcoil (made by Moser’s sister company Precision Engineering AG). The large solid gold oscillating weight is engraved, and the bridges are decorated with the famous Moser double stripes. The movement guarantees a minimum three-day power reserve.

Availability & Price

The Moser Streamliner Centre Seconds Smoked Salmon will be available for one year only. The retail price is CHF 19,900 (incl. tax) – for more information, please visit h-moser.com.