Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland

 H. Moser & Cie has stunned the design world with the introduction of a watch that completely disappears—except for the watch’s moving hands—becoming the darkest timepiece on the planet.

The new Streamliner Chronograph “Blacker Than Black” features a case, bracelet, and dial, all coated in Vantablack. 

Vantablack is a carbon nanotube coating with microscopic tubes that measure just one-millionth of a millimeter thick and is packed incredibly densely on whatever surface its been applied to.

This remarkable material—able to absorb 99.965% of light and making it the darkest material on the market—has made its way onto the Endeavour, Swiss Alp Watch, and also the HMC 810 Cylindrical Tourbillon version of the Streamliner, as part of the dial, this new concept covers the entire watch minus the hands in the technical material.

The result is like a black hole on your wrist.

The entire watch disappears, seeming as if the hands were floating on their own.

For now, it remains a concept—Vantablack is too fragile for the watch to be worn or handled.

However, H. Moser is working on developing a way to strengthen the material to make it more shock-resistant for the future. 

“We envision one day to be able to have a Vantablack case,” states Edouard Meylan, the watchmaker’s CEO.

“[The watch was] very difficult to transport. The structure is quite fragile. It’s not something you can wear every day, or do whatever it is you do with your watches. It’s a very complicated process, but I think the most complicated part has been keeping this watch in a stable state while transporting it.”

H. Moser’s specific brand of watchmaking has always welcomed irreverence and humor—previous unique pieces like the Swiss Mad watch, made using Swiss cheese, and the controversial Swiss Icons timepiece, have given the Schaffhausen-based operation a one-of-a-kind voice in the watch world today that continues to feel fresh and exciting.

Amusingly, if actually worn, the “Blacker than Black” would create the illusion of your wrist separated from your forearm, levitating.

Project: Blacker than Black Streamliner Chronograph
Designers: H. Moser & Cie
Manufacturer: H. Moser & Cie