Pumping Up Horology with the Surprising H. Moser & Cie. x Reebok Streamliner Pump

H. Moser & Cie. is one of the few Swiss brands that knows how to have fun. Unlike the solemnity and pomp of most top-tier Swiss watch brands, Moser brings a refreshing playfulness to the table without compromising its impeccable watchmaking credentials. In an industry where partnerships are predictable, Moser’s latest collaboration with sneaker titan Reebok is nothing short of audacious. Inspired by Reebok’s revolutionary Pump sneaker – with its patented inflatable air chambers activated by a hand-operated orange button – Moser transposes the Pump’s pumping mechanism into watchmaking, inside the Streamliner’s case.

Reebok’s Pump sneaker, launched in 1989, revolutionised footwear and became a cultural phenomenon, thanks in part to NBA stars like Dee Brown, who famously pumped his Reebok Pump high-tops before each dunk in the 1991 Slam Dunk Contest. Fitted with inflatable chambers for a customised fit and superior support to reduce injuries during dynamic sports like basketball, Reebok’s innovative Pump was activated by a circular, basketball-shaped pusher on the tongue.

Maybe not the first object you’d turn to for inspiration, Moser’s talent for thinking outside the box comes into play. Fascinated by Reebok’s simple gesture of pressing the pump to inflate different areas of the sneaker, Moser has interpreted this feature on its Streamliner luxury sports watch. Replacing the traditional winding crown, Moser has incorporated an interactive orange anodised aluminium pusher on the left side of the case. Push the button, and energy is transmitted directly to the barrel spring – one press provides more than 1 hour of power reserve. Enjoying the action courtside, the pusher also activates the power reserve indicator on the dial with its orange bar. Even when the power reserve is full, you can still push the button for fun.

Naturally, the movement powering the pumping action requires a manual-winding calibre, and Moser has adapted its HMC 500 automatic for the occasion. Seen inside the Streamliner Small Seconds, the slim automatic HMC 500 has been re-engineered to become the hand-wound HMC 103. A compact and remarkably slim movement (30mm x 4.5mm), the new HMC 103 beats at 21,600vph and delivers a robust 74-hour power reserve. The interactive winding system can also be seen through the sapphire caseback, thanks to the openworked bridges and fully skeletonised rack.

Rarely seen in watchmaking, the cases are made from matte forged quartz fibre. To produce forged quartz fibre, it is cut into segments, placed in a mould, compressed and injected with resin. The process produces a matte material with a unique mottled or moiré pattern. Purer and whiter than glass fibre, resistant to UV exposure, and lightweight, quartz fibre offers an advantage over carbon in that it can be coloured. An internal titanium casing – referred to as a sarcophagus by the brand – shields the movement, ensures water-resistance to 100 metres, and secures the integrated rubber strap.

The two Streamliner Pump models, in black (finished with a DLC coating) and white forged quartz fibre cases, share a 40mm case diameter, a height of 9.7mm (11.4mm with sapphire crystal), a screw-down crown with a rubber ring, 100m water resistance, and a titanium caseback with a sapphire crystal. As members of the Streamliner family, their ergonomic cushion-shaped cases feature an integrated rubber strap, replacing the signature bracelet for a sportier feel.

Although it is not one of Moser’s minimalist Concept watches, the dial is deliberately stripped down to essentials. Matching the colour of the case, the black or white lacquered dials are polished with applied hour markers and hands treated with grey or white Globolight inserts that glow green in the dark. With so much empty space on the dial, the arched power reserve indicator at 8 o’clock, with its orange bar, really stands out.

The timing of Moser’s release is perfect, coinciding with Reebok’s release of new Pump models this year. The Streamliner Pump is a limited-edition run of 250 pieces per colour and retails for CHF 31,360 (excl. tax). More information at h-moser.com.