The dynamic Horological Machine No. 9 Flow is an spectacular exercise in aerodynamic principles for your wrist.
In the post-war years of the late 1940s and 1950s, aerodynamic principles were just beginning to take root in the field of automotive design, with the boxy, carriage-like shapes of previous decades melting into something more streamlined. Now you can wear those iconic lines on your wrist.
For gents looking for a timepiece that’s both practical and eye-catching, the Horological Machine N°9 ‘Flow’ takes its inspiration from the dynamic profiles of mid-century automotive and aviation design.
Reminiscent of a jet engine, a highly complex titanium case in alternating polished and satin finishes encloses an equally complex manual winding movement, developed fully in-house. Independent twin balance wheels beat at a leisurely 2.5Hz (18,000bph) on each flank of the Horological Machine N°9, visible under elongated domes of sapphire crystal. A third pane of sapphire crystal on the central body reveals the gearbox of the HM9 engine: a planetary differential that averages the output of both balance wheels to provide one stable reading of the time.
Sitting perpendicular to the rest of the HM9 engine is the dial indicating hours and minutes, driven by conical gears that ensure precise engagement even when motion is put through a 90-degree planar translation. The winding and setting crown is located on the rear of the central body, its deep fluting providing ergonomic grip as well as aesthetic coherence with the overall design.
Two satin-finished air scoops are mounted alongside the pods containing the oscillating balance wheels, evoking the raised vents that allow continuous airflow to high-performance motor engines.
HM9 Flow treads the path first opened by the HM4 Thunderbolt and subsequently by the HM6 Space Pirate, utilising a geometrically complex combination of milled sapphire crystal and grade 5 titanium case elements. However, HM9 goes beyond its predecessors, redefining what was thought to be possible in case design, illustrated for example by a patented three-dimensional gasket ensuring water resistance.
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This dramatic timepiece is limited to just 33 mezmerising pieces across two titanium editions – the Air, which comes with a dark movement and aviator-styled dial, and the Road, in rose gold with a classic speedometer dial – and is presented with a hand-stitched brown calf-leather strap with custom-designed titanium folding buckle. All for just US$182,000.
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