Form and function become one as Mauron Musy debuts the MU09 NODE°, featuring their first-ever manufacture movement!
Every watch brand has its niche. Perhaps that’s the telling of accurate time, or turning horology into remarkable works of art. It often boils down to these two main avenues, with countless permutations equally as fascinating as the last. But there is a third avenue not as frequently travelled as the rest: the matter of mechanical problem-solving. Such is the story of independent watchmaker Mauron Musy.
When Eric Mauron and Christophe Musy founded their eponymous brand in 2013, that wasn’t the case. As the latter put it in an interview last year, the intent was mostly to make watches for family. However, they found themselves enraptured with solving a single, near-constant issue in the watch industry: the use of a rubber gasket for water resistance.
Despite centring their entire MO around such an unusual premise, it worked; the nO-Ring® technology has since become the brand’s crowning feature. With the code cracked, though, it’s now given them time to refine their aesthetic and horological prowess. The result is the Mauron Musy MU09 NODE° collection, and the debut of three models that have become indicative of the brand’s future.
Industrial ID
At 41mm in diameter and 13mm thick, the MU09 NODE° trio represent more compact offerings of the hyper-industrial Mauron Musy aesthetic. The case is highly architectural, assembled in multiple segments that make it feel more like a Transformer than a wristwatch.
The complexity of the case makes sense in context: composed of 24 components, it utilises Mauron Musy’s nO-Ring® mechanical sealing system to achieve 200m of water resistance without the use of a rubber gasket. The bulky frame is offset by the use of Grade 5 titanium, allowing for a feather-light wearing experience alongside an improved capacity for polishing.
One of many firsts within the MU09 NODE° is the use of an integrated titanium bracelet. Said bracelet is just as sculpted as the case, and has been finished with a mixture of polished, brushed, and micro-blasted surfaces down to a butterfly clasp. If the integrated bracelet isn’t your thing, though, don’t worry — Mauron Musy have also included interchangeability, offering a complimentary rubber strap and folding clasp combination as well.
Factory Fresh
The MU09 NODE° comes in three distinct dial colours, each underscoring Mauron Musy’s industrial design language. The Ref. MU09-101 comes in a grained anthracite grey finish, with the -102 following suit in silver. For a more contemporary aesthetic, though, perhaps you’d do well to reach for the -103. The sunray-brushed blue dial is more familiar, and adds a tasteful pop of contrast against the titanium construction. However, you do miss out on the rose gold hands of the grey and silver models.
The dial layout is the same across the board: a semi-openworked dial showcasing an open escapement alongside a smattering of other components. Between seven and eight o’clock, a small seconds sub-dial has been placed, with a ring encircling the gears visibly attached to the hand.
The layout feels somewhat familiar to me; it recalls the aesthetics of Ferdinand Berthoud mixed with Mauron Musy’s modern sensibilities. Regardless, it’s remarkably legible for the busyness of the dial, and includes lume on the hand tips for low-light readability.
Finally Through The Door
As alluded to in the beginning, though, the true magic of the MU09 NODE° shines from within. Admittedly, you don’t get as much from the back compared to the front — the Calibre MM03 mostly features decorative engraving on the rear — but it doesn’t make the achievement any less stunning. Creating a 100% manufacture movement is often considered the ultimate feather in the cap of any watchmaker, and Mauron Musy’s Cal. MM03 now elevates them into rarified air.
An automatic micro-rotor movement, the Cal. MM03 spared no expense in its debut. The watch operates at a luxurious 4Hz (28,800VpH) beat rate bolstered by a 96-hour (four-day) power reserve. Featuring 32 jewels and a free-sprung balance with inertia screws, the movement is as meticulously engineered as it is finished, underscoring Mauron Musy’s passion for cross-pollinating engineering and traditional watchmaking methods.
Initial Thoughts
Because of the methodical and independent nature of Mauron Musy’s MO, we at Watch Advice don’t often get the privilege of talking about their achievements. But when they release new watches, all of us find ourselves enamoured by the brand’s commitment to refining its flavour of watchmaking. Doubling, tripling, and quadrupling down on its distinctive aesthetics, mechanics, and spectacular engineering, the MU09 NODE° represents the ambitions of the brand made real.
The introduction of the Cal. MM03 is also an incredible feat, as it indicates that Mauron Musy have found their offbeat rhythm within the industry. In that regard, the MU09 NODE° has carved the brand a place in the watch world that remains entirely its own. More than just a sports watch, it’s a promise of better things in the young brand’s future — and we’re privileged to see where it goes.
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | MU09-101 (Grey) MU09-102 (Silver) MU09-101 (Blue) |
| Dimensions | 41mm case diameter x 13mm thickness |
| Case | Grade 5 titanium with nO-Ring® mechanical water-tightness |
| Dial | Semi-openworked with grained grey / silver / sunray-brushed blue |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Open, sapphire |
| Movement | Automatic micro-rotor Cal. MM03 with small seconds complication |
| Power Reserve | 96h |
| Beat Rate | 4Hz / 28,800VpH |
| Water Resistance | 200m / 20bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Interchangeable integrated titanium bracelet with butterfly clasp OR Complementary rubber strap with titanium folding clasp |