Swiss luxury watch brands H. Moser & Cie. and MB&F have jointly created the unique Streamliner Pandamonium timepiece for the Only Watch 2023 charity auction.
Only Watch is bi-annual event that raises funds for the Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy. Dedicated to music, this one-of-a-kind Streamliner watch represents the second collaboration between Maximilian Büsser and Edouard Meylan for Only Watch.
The H. Moser X MB&F Streamliner Pandamonium is a minute repeater watch with a miniature DJing panda, a creature that has become the signature of the Only Watch creations by MB&F.
It houses a three-dimensional movement that has been developed specifically and exclusively for this unique model, and a fumé dial in a brand-new Aquamarine colour.
Stripped of logos and indices, this dial illustrates the minimalist philosophy of H. Moser & Cie. and showcases the large suspended balance wheel characteristic of MB&F.
With the chime mechanism placed on the dial, the Streamliner Pandamonium Only Watch 2023 edition offers the visual retreat of the choreography of the hammers and gongs along with the acoustic indication of the passage of time. The hours and minutes are displayed directly on the dial via subtly elegant small leaf-shaped hands at 2 o’clock.
Pandemonium is a term to describe a situation of wild and noisy disorder or confusion. Here, the letter “a” which replaces the “e” is a nod to the miniature panda sculpture that adorns its dial.
At a height of just 5.35 mm, the little DJ panda in white gold was sculpted and decorated entirely by hand. Placed alongside the hammers, it seems to be mixing the soundtrack. Its turntables are fitted on the axis of the hammers and are driven by the rotation of the mechanism as it operates.
Taken from the Legacy Machine range, a large suspended balance wheel occupies centre stage. This beating heart features a double hairspring produced by Precision Engineering AG, H. Moser & Cie.’s sister company.
Thanks to this pair of perfectly matched hairsprings, the movement of the point of gravity on each spring when it expands is corrected, significantly improving accuracy and isochronism in continual pursuit of perfection. In addition, the paired hairsprings also reduce the effect of friction normally experienced with a single hairspring, improving isochronism.
This balance wheel posed an additional challenge as the gongs had to be bent in two places to allow them to pass over the balance wheel bridge. Occupying three dimensions, the shaped gongs feature a flat coil and an upper coil, positioned one on top of the other.
Within a steel frame on an integrated bracelet, the cushion-shaped case is topped with a domed sapphire crystal. It is water-resistant to 5 ATM.
The sliding bolt, used to activate the minute repeater mechanism and fitted on a Teflon runner to ensure it slides perfectly smoothly, is built into the main plate to save space.
The case middle has been completely hollowed out in order to accommodate the movement while allowing enough space to create a soundbox. This amplifies the chiming of hours, quarter-hours and minutes by two gongs, onto which fall two hammers that are raised based on information provided by different feeler-spindles.
The geometry of the case has been meticulously designed, developed and adapted to maximise the properties of steel and enhance its impact, whilst allowing the essential walls to form part of the resonance.
Inside this minute repeater watch beats the three-dimensional hand-wound HMC 906 calibre, which has been partially skeletonised to allow certain key components of the mechanism to be admired.
To integrate the calibre from the top of the case, a removable bezel was created. In addition to the fact that it opens up the required access, it also makes the case larger, which is beneficial for the sound.
Beating at 18,000 vibrations/hour, the calibre HMC 906 guarantees a minimum power reserve of 54 hours. Visible through the sapphire crystal case-back, it features highly contemporary finishes, with anthracite grey rhodium-plating on the bridges and the main plate, and the famous horizontal double Moser stripes.
Technical details
Model: H. Moser & Cie. X MB&F Streamliner Pandamonium Unique Piece for Only Watch 2023, Reference 6906-1200
Case
Steel case
Diameter: 42.3 mm
Domed sapphire crystal glass
Height with sapphire crystal: 17.0 mm
Height without sapphire crystal: 12.7 mm
Sliding bolt with runner made from Teflon
Screw-down crown, adorned with a panda paw print
See-through sapphire crystal case-back
Water-resistant to 5 ATM
Dial
Aquamarine fumé dial with sunburst pattern
Hammers and chimes on dial side
Micro panda sculpture in white gold decorated entirely by hand, with turntables and mixing desk, at 10 o’clock
Leaf-shaped hour and minute hands at 2 o’clock
Movement
Partly skeletonised, three-dimensional hand-wound HMC 906 Manufacture calibre
Balance wheel: specific model with a diameter of 14 mm, equipped with four traditional setting screws, floating above the movement
Diameter: 33.0 mm or 141/2 lignes
Height (excluding balance wheel): 10.55 mm
Frequency: 18,000 vibrations/hour
37 jewels
395 components
Power reserve: minimum 54 hours
Straumann® double hairspring
Bridges and main plate with anthracite grey rhodium-plating
Horizontal double Moser stripes on the plate and bridges
Movement and components hand-finished and decorated
Functions
Hours and minutes
Minute repeater with hour, quarter-hour and minute chimes
Large balance wheel suspended above the dial
Bracelet
Integrated steel bracelet
Folding clasp with three steel blades, engraved with the Moser hallmark
