Dispatch: H. Moser & Cie. X Alpine Motorsports At The F1 Spanish Grand Prix

The noise is deafening, the heat is stifling. I’m sunburned and not properly hydrated. This is because I’m in motorsport heaven, at the practice session of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix. I am also attempting to remain composed, sane, and act more like a journalist than a fanboy.

As you may have read in TanTan’s story last week, Moser has released an even more surprising two-pack than the flamboyant Studio Underd0g duo from 2024. The most unexpected of the pair is a tech-packed hybrid analogue-digital and connected edition of their distinctive Streamliner, the brand’s signature range. Was it a step too far?

As the Alpine mechanics endure the heat of final engine testing in the pit below us, I ask Edouard Meylan, Moser’s CEO, his thoughts on the public reception of the new release: ” It was very positive, more than I thought, as I always expect a lot of criticism, especially on a project so different from what people probably expect. But people look beyond the products, at the ambition of Moser pushing the envelope and exploring,” Meylan says.

This launch takes a hands-on approach to the concept of motor racing partnerships, and I ask if he thinks it will inspire other watch brands to get more involved. “I hope so. I think the markets push brands, but people want to see beyond the simple partnership where an ambassador wears your watches. It’s not authentic enough anymore. I think brands have to go beyond that and get involved,” he says.
 
On the tech-laden Mechanics Edition, I ask Meylan about the potential for further development of this new approach: “We have already defined a second generation with more functions and display changes, and we will gauge people’s reactions first. In fact, we have already brainstormed a Gen 3, which would take it even further in that field. And as the race season progresses, we need to get feedback from the F1 team too, because for them the Mechanics Edition is a tool.”

Trackside With The Streamliner Drivers Edition

Will the drivers wear this skeletonized Streamliner and glance at it in the F1 cockpit during an actual race? Certainly not, as watches and jewelry are prohibited from being worn by drivers during a race, as per FIA rules. But that doesn’t detract from its sharp, monochrome design. Sporting a lug-to-lug measurement of 45mm, it is shorter than many 39-40mm watches, so it wears much more comfortably than the 42.3mm case suggests, especially on the slender rubber strap in a fresh white.

Sure, I love the armadillo-chic of the Streamliner bracelet, but the white against the midnight blue PVD of the radial brushed case works like a charm. At this price, some collectors might expect a matching clasp, but the casual, slimmer fit of a normal tang buckle only enhances the comfort. 

As I was shooting and talking to the BWT Alpine F1 mechanics in the morning heat of Barcelona, I double-wristed with the haute sports watch, stacked with bracelets and hospitality access bands.

And despite the glare of the sun on a cloudless Barcelona sky, the skeletonized dial remained on the crisp side of legibility. Sure, the chrono seconds hand could be a poppin’ red or orange to aid in readability, but that would take away from the industrial charm of the piece.

During a break, I had five minutes with Alpine driver Jack Doohan during a special moment for him. The Streamliner Drivers Edition was co-designed by him and Pierre Gasly at the H. Moser & Cie. manufacture, and this was the first time he had seen a production example. 

“It’s crazy. From the moment we started, seeing all the different sketches and prototypes and what they could become, to this,” Doohan says. “I’m a huge fan of the skeletonized design, and the Streamliner is beautiful, but in Formula 1, everything’s done under the covers. So, it’s very cool to be able to see the mechanics, see what’s going on, and see how much detail goes into it.”

We also talked about the similarities between the openworked dial with its exposed rotor evoking F1 engineering on a microscale, and Doohan reminisces on the design process: “I enjoyed it so much, to be honest. Before I visited the manufacturer and began our partnership with Moser, I had a passion for watches, but not to this level. It wasn’t until I saw what went into the process, and how much effort, time, and precision that went into each and every single part, that I actually grew a love for what Moser is doing.”

In The Pit With The Streamliner Mechanics Edition

The 42.6mm Mechanics Edition is a Streamliner by name and nature, but in a new quartz-and digital form. You might dismiss this latest foray into connectivity, but for me, it’s a game changer. Not a single brand has managed to capture the craftsmanship of watchmaking on a higher level in this format. Indeed, TAG Heuer and Hublot attempted it, but it wasn’t a huge success. 

A Streamliner case is on a radial-brushed higher level, and it is a handsome beast. The small fumé lacquer dial at 12 is unmistakably Moser, complete with useful lume on the small hands. The polished, domed dial appears to float on a deep black surface that comes to life with a crisp display, thanks to the proprietary Calibre DI0 developed in collaboration with Swiss-based smartwatch maker Sequent.

Every day functionality is useful and intuitive, brought to life through the central pusher on the right case flank. It features a GMT mode with an easy list of common world destinations, a perpetual calendar, and a split-seconds chronograph controlled by two responsive pushers. The hybrid movement has a roughly one-year power reserve (in time-only mode), and the intrigue of that big SYNC button on the left side of the case.

When connected to an app, the watch will download the schedule of three upcoming F1 races and display countdowns and alerts for these. The watch will display a countdown message before each practice and race session and provide a vibrating alert some 60 minutes before. The same applies to the last 30 minutes, 10 minutes, 5 minutes, and 1 minute remaining before the lights go out.

This is all pretty cool for a race fan, but it’s the “Team” functionality that makes this watch stand out. Talking to a few of the pit crew at work on the BWT Alpine F1 cars, they were already wearing and using the watches. Pushing the SYNC button displays the race countdown, but holding it in for 2-3 seconds locks all functionality except for the analogue time at 12, and it becomes a vital race team comms channel. This Racing mode enables the transmission of vital team messages instantly following a vibration, with a maximum of 18 characters. If the message is longer, it reduces text to a smaller font and expands to 24 characters.

The display is sharp and legible, even in bright sunlight, and can beat the speed of team radios, as Adrian Buchmann, the CEO of Sequent, explains: “At the race in Bahrain, sometimes crew radios were in a blind spot and didn’t receive a signal. The watch serves as a secondary source of information when it is locked in Race mode, and we transmit from a team iPad (image above) after installing extra antennas in the pit area. The Bluetooth in your iPhone reaches 5 to 10 meters, but we use long-range Bluetooth in a small environment. Here in the pit lane, the range is up to 50 meters, and it is faster than any other network. “

I think the markets push brands, but people want to see beyond the simple partnership where an ambassador wears your watches. It’s not authentic enough anymore. I think brands have to go beyond that and get involved.

Edouard Meylan, CEO of H. Moser & Cie.

Buchmann also confirms Edouard Meylan’s thoughts on further development, and a more sustainable view on wrist tech: ” When I started on this project with Moser, my biggest issue was what’s going to happen in 10 years, 15 years, or 20 years when these watches are older? Looking at some of the first generation of Polar or Garmin wearables, they are all outdated and rendered obsolete; in fact, you often can’t even set the time anymore”. Speaking with Buchmann and considering some of the comments on TanTan’s first story on these two watches last week, it was an interesting look into the strategy for a very unexpected watch. 

Connecting Moser And Alpine Through F1

Being part of the circus of a hot F1 weekend with blue skies and a Spanish heatwave can color the most objective of reviews. But faced with this beautiful barrage of speed, noise, and smells, I am left impressed by Moser’s recent approach to a racing partnership.

Not everyone wants or needs a smartwatch, connected watch, or a hybrid take like the Moser Streamliner Mechanics Edition. However, the elevated blend of a crafted steel case, comfort, and discreet tech made me enjoy it greatly as a wrist companion this weekend, and I am a fan. Not to mention its brother, the midnight blue Drivers Edition. It is a comfortable and understated monochrome take on what remains a remarkably modern chronograph (complete with a few subtle racing additions). 

This might be pure speculation, but maybe, just maybe, the BWT Alpine F1 team’s use of the Mechanics Edition helped them to perform better? Pierre Gasly finished in the top ten for the first time since the Bahrain Grand Prix, securing 8th position and earning 4 points for the team. In a sport that often comes down to fractions of a second, even a slight edge over the competition can go a long way by the end of the season. 

For more information, visit H. Moser & Cie online. 

​Hodinkee 

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