When Art Tells Time: Hands-On with the Muse Tanoura

The philosophy of Muse watches is not focused on exploring the depths of the ocean, evoking the world of fighter pilots, or dazzling your surroundings with precious metals and gemstones. They do not even seem to have a particular interest in legibility, which is quite something for a Swiss watch brand rooted in the tradition of Haute Horlogerie. At Muse, they want you to experience the passing of time in a more philosophical way and, by doing so, give it extra meaning. 

This particular version is based on the 'moucharabieh,' the intricate latticework often found on second-story windows in the Middle Eastern region. Muse recreated the beautiful patterns in the hands of the Tanoura, with the added element that this pattern is ever-changing, as the hands still indicate the time. They do so by two more pronounced tips, a closed one telling the hours, and one with a small opening that serves as a minute indicator. In the middle, a smaller segment makes its rounds, acting as a seconds hand. The result is quite mesmerizing, more so because the dial never seems to be the same when you look at it. While it takes you just a bit longer to tell time, that moment is enough to captivate you with the beauty of the watch. 

Muse cleverly opted for blue aventurine glass as the backdrop for this spectacle. The shimmers within this material perfectly match the character of the Tanoura, much like looking through the moucharaby (window) at the night sky. As it is still a watch, Muse didn't entirely forgo legibility over artistic presence, as the Tanoura is fitted with a blue chapter ring with dashes marking the hours. They are a great help in telling time, and after a few glances, it turns out that this watch is not as challenging to read as one might think based on a single picture.

Another thing that also translates better to real life than you might imagine at first is the diameter of 44mm. While this sounds rather large, the original case shape of the Tanoura is very wearable. More so, there is no angle at which it is not attractive. The entire case is beautifully machined and finished, and also has a trick up its sleeve that further increases its wearability. While you would expect the watch to be made from stainless steel, Muse opted for Grade 5 titanium. This makes especially picking the watch up for the first time quite a surprising moment, as you expect it to weigh so much more. Together with the clever design of the case, this is also the reason why the wearing comfort of the Tanoura is exceptional. 

The caseback also doesn't disappoint, as here we see more of the clever construction. A sapphire insert allows us to view the automatic caliber MU01-A1, which is based on an ETA movement. The finishing does not disappoint, with its ruthenium finish that gives it a nice dark look that suits the rest of the caseback. The Tanoura is a limited edition of just 100 pieces, and Muse made the effort to number them individually and also engraved this in the caseback. The calf leather strap is well-made and comfortable, but perhaps a tad plain compared to the rest of the watch. Fortunately, that is an easy fix for those who feel the same, especially as the buckle does not disappoint and is crafted with the same care and dedication as the rest of the watch. The Tanoura is priced at €3,350 (excluding taxes) and is also available with a titanium case coated in pink gold PVD or black PVD.

For more info, visit Muse, here