Always expect the unexpected from H. Moser & Cie.! The brand has released two new Streamliner watches designed alongside… the shoe brand, Reebok?
When it concerns H. Moser & Cie., two things are certain: serious watchmaking, and an attitude that is anything but. The independent brand is one of very few to challenge the conventions of watchmaking in its own unique way. Pushing mechanical innovation and fine artistry are noble yet often dull goals, yet H. Moser & Cie. manages to do so with a sense of wit and tongue-in-cheek enjoyment.
Whether they make a watch out of Swiss cheese, team up with prominent microbrands like Studio Underd0g, or produce an ‘homage’ watch that receives nine cease-and-desist letters for copyright violations, you never quite know what’s next from their manufacture.
For this year’s Watches & Wonders, H. Moser & Cie. tackles yet another oddball collaboration with sneaker brand Reebok. Marrying the highly contrasting universes of luxury watchmaking and sneaker culture, the brand has unveiled a duo of new timepieces paying tribute to Reebok’s retro Pump basketball shoes.
My Favourite Quartz Watch
Limited to 250 pieces each, the Streamliner Pumps are sized in line with the wider collection. At 40mm in case diameter with an 11.4mm thickness, the pebble-shaped case of the Streamliner is highly ergonomic and, well, streamlined. Distinguishing themselves from the Streamliner line, however, is the Pump’s use of forged quartz fibre.
Technically, that does make the Streamliner Pump a ‘quartz watch’, but not in the way you might expect. Produced by compressing and resin-binding quartz fibres, the case material is both lightweight and robust, with a unique pattern on each piece; no two will ever look exactly alike. The watches come in either a stark white or black DLC case, bolstered by a titanium core for additional rigidity and 100m of water resistance.
The Streamliner Pump collection also does away with the classic Streamliner bracelet. Instead, it opts for colour-matched rubber straps integrated seamlessly into the watch and secured with a steel pin buckle. Between the lightness of the forged quartz and the flexibility of the rubber strap, H. Moser & Cie. captures the sporty feel of the Reebok Pump sneakers, effectively bringing it to the wrist.
A Pop Of Orange
Visually, the Streamliner Pump is the perfect marriage of H. Moser & Cie.’s minimalist approach and the expressiveness of the Reebok Pump. The colour-matched lacquer dial melds seamlessly into the overall design, allowing key features to take centre stage. If you look closely enough, you’ll notice H. Moser & Cie.’s typography subtly engraved into the lacquer. It’s a design detail they’ve used for a while, and one I personally quite like, cementing them as a brand that lets its watches speak for themselves.
In contrast to the rest of the watch are the hands and indices, as well as the bright orange power reserve indicator at eight o’clock. Furthermore, the iconic Pump button can be seen jutting out from the same location. Of course, this directly references the Reebok Pump’s core function: tightening the fit of the upper and ankle by inflating them at the push of a button.
When it was released in 1989, it became a global sensation. NBA stars like Dee Brown, Dominique Wilkins, and the legendary Shaquille O’Neal all wore the sneaker during the peak of their careers. As you might expect, H. Moser & Cie. hasn’t included the button purely for decoration.
Get Pumped
Turning the watch around, the manually wound Calibre HMC 103 greets you through the open sapphire caseback. Beating at 3Hz (21,600VpH) with a 74-hour power reserve, it showcases some of the most refined movement design in independent watchmaking, and perhaps the industry at large. While it serves a single complication, the power reserve indicator on the dial, it is more complex than it first appears.
As Reebok celebrates the return of the Pump sneaker to its standard catalogue, H. Moser & Cie. wanted to ensure the watch was just as functional. Instead of relying on the crown, the winding mechanism is tied to the button at eight o’clock. One press equates to roughly one hour of power, reflected by the orange indicator. It’s a novel and genuinely fun concept, but also foolproof; even after reaching the 74 presses required for a full charge, you can keep pressing the button without issue.
Initial Thoughts
Every time I write about a new H. Moser & Cie. watch, I find myself thinking, “surely they can’t get any crazier”. More often than not, I end up eating my own words, because they do. I can count on one hand how many watch brands have directly collaborated with the sneaker world, and this is one of them.
I’m a sucker for unexpected collaborations. Not only do they flex the creative muscles of the craftsmen involved, but they also provide much-needed exposure to other cultures within the watchmaking industry. For as dynamic as it can be, the watch world remains comparatively small and, at times, regrettably insular.
Yet odd-couple collaborations like Reebok and H. Moser & Cie. attract new eyes to both worlds while allowing them to create something fresh, unique, and genuinely fun together. As far as serious non-serious watchmaking goes, H. Moser & Cie.’s team-up with Reebok certainly knows how to push the watch world’s buttons.
References: 6103-2200 (Black) / 6103-2201 (White)
Specifications:
| Dimensions | 40mm case diameter x 11.4mm thickness |
| Case | Black / white forged quartz fibre with titanium core |
| Dial | Black / white lacquer dial with orange accents |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Open sapphire |
| Movement | Manual wind Cal. HMC 103 with Reebok The Pump inspired button-winding & power reserve indicator complications |
| Power Reserve | 60h |
| Beat Rate | 3Hz / 21,600VpH |
| Water Resistance | 100m / 10bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Black / white rubber strap with steel pin buckle |