H. Moser & Cie made fun of the Apple Watch – now it's built its own
Back in 2019, H. Moser & Cie. raised eyebrows with a cheeky idea: make a mechanical watch that looked like an Apple Watch. That piece, called the Swiss Alp Watch, is well worth checking out if you're a smartwatch fan. It was as much a parody as it was a protest – a reminder that a ticking, handcrafted watches could still hold their own in a world of black screens and constant notifications. But today, the brand isn't joking anymore…
With its new Streamliner Alpine Mechanics Edition, Moser has gone from mocking the smartwatch to building one of its own. This is a high-end, feature-packed, digital tool, built in partnership with Alpine Motorsports and designed specifically for the demands of the Formula 1 team.
The world of car-watch tie-ins is full of branding exercises. A carbon fibre dial here, a racing stripe there. Job done. But the partnership between H. Moser & Cie. and Alpine goes well beyond the usual badge-swapping.
The two brands started working together in 2024, aiming to do something meaningful – to make watches that serve a purpose within Alpine's F1 and Endurance racing teams. And that's exactly what they've done here.
They've released a pair of watches under the Streamliner banner: one mechanical, one digital. The first – the Streamliner Alpine Drivers Edition – is a bold, skeletonised flyback chronograph built for the wrists of Alpine's race drivers (Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto). The second – the Streamliner Alpine Mechanics Edition – is a fully connected hybrid smartwatch, designed for the mechanics and crew who keep the show running.
Streamliner Alpine Drivers Edition
Let's start with the mechanical one. The Streamliner Alpine Drivers Edition is powered by a skeletonised version of the AgenGraphe movement – a top-tier chronograph calibre developed with Agenhor. It's a sleek machine, built around legibility and racing functionality.
Gone are the traditional sub-dials. Instead, it uses a central display for minutes and seconds, with a flyback function for instant resets – a must in motorsport. Visually, it's like a stripped-down single-seater: V-shaped bridges hint at F1 suspension arms, the central bridge mimics a helmet, and the rotor is shaped like an Alpine wheel rim.
The 42.3 mm case is crafted from blue PVD steel and topped by a slightly domed sapphire crystal.
It's an ode to performance, yes, but with the stripped-back Streamliner elegance that's become Moser's signature.
Streamliner Alpine Mechanics Edition
But it's the Streamliner Alpine Mechanics Edition that's the real leap. It's an actual smartwatch, akin to a Withings or Pininfarina. A proper tool for Alpine's engineers, designed from the ground up with their input.
It runs on a connected platform built by Sequent and connects to your phone via Bluetooth Low Energy 5.3. It has a discreet black screen that lights up with race-critical information, and includes a unique 'Race Mode' activated by a Sync button. That mode brings up team-specific messages, countdowns to race starts, and alerts tied to the F1 calendar. There's also a GMT function with a country selector, a split-seconds chronograph, and a perpetual calendar.
The battery lasts up to a year in time-only mode, or six Grand Prix weekends when fully lit and connected. So there are no overnight charging rituals here.
The Streamliner Alpine Mechanics Edition is compatible with both iOS and Android.
Despite all the tech, Moser has kept the brand's visual DNA alive. There's a small domed Funky Blue fumé dial with hands and indices, giving it that classic Moser feel. It's part digital instrument, part luxury watch – entirely new territory.
Availability
The two watches come packaged as a set – only 200 of them will be sold together, in a proper collector's case, priced at $70,000 (approx. £52,000). But the Mechanics Edition will also be available separately to owners of Moser's previous Alpine-themed tourbillons, limited to 500 pieces, showing this isn't just a one-time experiment.
Moser calls it 'an opening chapter', and while there's no word yet on whether the Mechanics Edition will ever be offered to the wider public, it shows what's possible when a traditional watchmaker embraces tech.
Liked this? Omega boss teases new Swatch collab, but who's getting the MoonSwatch treatment next?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Stuff.tv
2 days ago
- Stuff.tv
H. Moser & Cie made fun of the Apple Watch – now it's built its own
Back in 2019, H. Moser & Cie. raised eyebrows with a cheeky idea: make a mechanical watch that looked like an Apple Watch. That piece, called the Swiss Alp Watch, is well worth checking out if you're a smartwatch fan. It was as much a parody as it was a protest – a reminder that a ticking, handcrafted watches could still hold their own in a world of black screens and constant notifications. But today, the brand isn't joking anymore… With its new Streamliner Alpine Mechanics Edition, Moser has gone from mocking the smartwatch to building one of its own. This is a high-end, feature-packed, digital tool, built in partnership with Alpine Motorsports and designed specifically for the demands of the Formula 1 team. The world of car-watch tie-ins is full of branding exercises. A carbon fibre dial here, a racing stripe there. Job done. But the partnership between H. Moser & Cie. and Alpine goes well beyond the usual badge-swapping. The two brands started working together in 2024, aiming to do something meaningful – to make watches that serve a purpose within Alpine's F1 and Endurance racing teams. And that's exactly what they've done here. They've released a pair of watches under the Streamliner banner: one mechanical, one digital. The first – the Streamliner Alpine Drivers Edition – is a bold, skeletonised flyback chronograph built for the wrists of Alpine's race drivers (Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto). The second – the Streamliner Alpine Mechanics Edition – is a fully connected hybrid smartwatch, designed for the mechanics and crew who keep the show running. Streamliner Alpine Drivers Edition Let's start with the mechanical one. The Streamliner Alpine Drivers Edition is powered by a skeletonised version of the AgenGraphe movement – a top-tier chronograph calibre developed with Agenhor. It's a sleek machine, built around legibility and racing functionality. Gone are the traditional sub-dials. Instead, it uses a central display for minutes and seconds, with a flyback function for instant resets – a must in motorsport. Visually, it's like a stripped-down single-seater: V-shaped bridges hint at F1 suspension arms, the central bridge mimics a helmet, and the rotor is shaped like an Alpine wheel rim. The 42.3 mm case is crafted from blue PVD steel and topped by a slightly domed sapphire crystal. It's an ode to performance, yes, but with the stripped-back Streamliner elegance that's become Moser's signature. Streamliner Alpine Mechanics Edition But it's the Streamliner Alpine Mechanics Edition that's the real leap. It's an actual smartwatch, akin to a Withings or Pininfarina. A proper tool for Alpine's engineers, designed from the ground up with their input. It runs on a connected platform built by Sequent and connects to your phone via Bluetooth Low Energy 5.3. It has a discreet black screen that lights up with race-critical information, and includes a unique 'Race Mode' activated by a Sync button. That mode brings up team-specific messages, countdowns to race starts, and alerts tied to the F1 calendar. There's also a GMT function with a country selector, a split-seconds chronograph, and a perpetual calendar. The battery lasts up to a year in time-only mode, or six Grand Prix weekends when fully lit and connected. So there are no overnight charging rituals here. The Streamliner Alpine Mechanics Edition is compatible with both iOS and Android. Despite all the tech, Moser has kept the brand's visual DNA alive. There's a small domed Funky Blue fumé dial with hands and indices, giving it that classic Moser feel. It's part digital instrument, part luxury watch – entirely new territory. Availability The two watches come packaged as a set – only 200 of them will be sold together, in a proper collector's case, priced at $70,000 (approx. £52,000). But the Mechanics Edition will also be available separately to owners of Moser's previous Alpine-themed tourbillons, limited to 500 pieces, showing this isn't just a one-time experiment. Moser calls it 'an opening chapter', and while there's no word yet on whether the Mechanics Edition will ever be offered to the wider public, it shows what's possible when a traditional watchmaker embraces tech. Liked this? Omega boss teases new Swatch collab, but who's getting the MoonSwatch treatment next?
Stuff.tv
23-05-2025
- Stuff.tv
These F1 Lego Technic sets are a must for any racing fan
Lego and F1's collaboration is one of my favourites. Lego has already produced sets for F1 teams over the years including Aston Martin, Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes. And now, there are a bunch of new Lego sets in the collection that are a must for any racing fan. The main event is the Lego Technic Ferrari SF-24 F1 Car. This 1361-piece behemoth comes with front and rear suspension, a two-speed gearbox, and a V6 engine so detailed it might as well start itself. You even get Pirelli-branded slicks and a functioning DRS, because Lego decided on the most elite levels of authenticity. Alongside it are three more stunners joining the Technic garage: the Aston Martin Valkyrie, Ferrari FXX K, and Lamborghini Revuelto Super Sports Car. These aren't your average toy cars. The Valkyrie, for instance, rocks gullwing doors and a working V12 engine. The Ferrari FXX K is all fire-engine red flair with butterfly doors and the kind of detailing that makes you wish it was full size rather than Lego. Then there's the Lamborghini Revuelto, the boldest of the bunch. It comes with glow-in-the-dark headlights and Control+ app integration that lets you pretend you're in the driver's seat while sitting in your pyjamas. You can take all three for a spin in Asphalt Legends Unite, just in case your thumbs aren't getting enough action. The Lego Technic Ferrari SF-24 F1 Car is already available to order from Lego, priced at $229.99/£199.99. The Aston Martin Valkyrie is up for pre-order from 1 June for $73.99/£55.99. The Ferrari FXX K and Lamborghini Revuelto follow on 1 August, for $73.99/£55.99 and $202.99/£152.99, respectively.
Stuff.tv
20-05-2025
- Stuff.tv
Acer's newest release was a total surprise – you'll never guess what it is
So far at Computex 2025, Acer has released some excellent new computing devices – as you'd expect. My favourite so far has been the lightweight Swift Edge 14 that competes with the MacBook Air. But Acer's newest release was a total surprise – a health-tracking smart ring. Yep, I'll say it again. A health-tracking smart ring. I wear the Ultrahuman Air smart ring to track my steps and sleep when I don't want to wear my Apple Watch. It looks great, works really well, and even syncs with Apple Health. And other options from Samsung and Oura are quite popular. But Acer isn't a brand I expected to make a health wearable. That said, it seems the brand has done a good job. The FreeSense ring goes for $199 and doesn't require a monthly subscription – a big tick in my book. Wrapped in a lightweight titanium alloy, the FreeSense Ring aims to blend in while monitoring everything from your heart rate and HRV to blood oxygen levels and sleep. It comes in seven sizes and weighs just 2 to 3 grams. It's water resistant up to 50 metres and, crucially, doesn't look like you've strapped a fitness tracker to your knuckle. Of course, it's not just about looking slick. The real pitch here is wellness tracking without the monthly wallet drain. Unlike Oura, Acer isn't asking for a subscription to access the good stuff. That includes AI-driven insights via the companion app, which will analyse your vitals and spit out lifestyle advice. Whether these insights actually help you live better or just guilt-trip you into going to bed earlier remains to be seen. Battery life is pegged at four days, which, let's be honest, isn't exactly brag-worthy compared to some of the competition, but still nothing to be sniffed at. And there's a whiff of possibility that Acer might integrate the ring into its wider ecosystem in the future. Imagine waving your finger to pause a video on your Acer laptop or unlocking your device like a wizard. The Acer FreeSense Ring will be available from August with a price tag of $199 to $250. It comes in seven different sizes, and either matte rose gold or glossy black. As I mentioned, you don't need a subscription to access health data the ring collects.
