Byrne Gyro Dial Meca – a 38 mm marvel

BYRNE Watch unveils the GYRO DIAL MECA, the inaugural model of a new permanent collection primarily destined for collectors and connoisseurs. A new model that heralds a new staple collection – more sophisticated, more elegant, designed for collectors and aficionados of independent and creative Haute Horlogerie. With a fresh and unexpected perspective on its hallmark complication, BYRNE is rethinking its entire aesthetic, while amplifying its singular interpretation of timekeeping.

With its sleek, sport-chic look, and the advanced engineering it packs in a smaller, slimmer 38mm diameter, the GYRO DIAL MECA watch targets a new segment of discerning customers eager to own an exceptional timepiece. As the third pillar of the BYRNE brand, it offers an innovative, gender-neutral take on its distinctive interpretation of timekeeping.

When the GYRO DIAL was first unveiled in 2022, what John Byrne presented was a timepiece with a distinctive identity and a resolutely modern vision – a different kind of Haute Horlogerie, high-end but with an industrial edginess. The GYRO DIAL offered a new way of looking at the face of one’s watch, and seeing it change according to one’s mood and the time of day.

Within just 18 months of stepping onto the world stage at Geneva Watch Days 2022, BYRNE Watch achieved remarkable international acclaim. Renowned retailers – ChronoPassion/Laurent Picciotto in France, Provident in the USA, Noble Styling Gallery, Mitsukoshi, and Kijinkan in Japan, EBillion in Canada, James Porter & Son in the UK, Haag Juwelier and Pletzsch in Germany, and 10:10 LABS in the Middle East (Kingdom of Bahrain) – have all embraced the brand for its creativity, inspiration, dynamism, and agility in watchmaking.

The GYRO DIAL MECA’s design epitomizes the brand’s independent spirit, taking it a step further in pursuit of sophistication and elegance, while maintaining its industrial vibe. To John BYRNE, designing and creating this watch was as much of a technical challenge as it was an aesthetic one – a journey that demanded patience, rigor, ingenuity, and finding a harmonious balance between design and functional constraints. This philosophy does not just embody precision and innovation; it also carves out a new realm of creative liberty, a fresh canvas for expression.

A ‘Meteorized Blue’ dial with pivoting, and visually more prominent, cardinal indices

As a marvel of engineering, the GYRO DIAL MECA’s dial combines leading edge innovation with a unique aesthetic. True to the ‘One Watch, Four Faces’ concept, it undergoes a striking transformation every day at midnight – or when the wearer wants with a twist of the crown. The four cardinal indexes at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock pivot in a flash, altering the watch’s face to mirror the wearer’s mood.

The dial is designed for maximum legibility and visual comfort. Its exceptional ‘Meteorized Blue’ is created by superimposing two layers of rhodium plating; the effect is one of unparalleled depth and intensity. Super-LumiNova® accents enhance this visual spectacle, ensuring perfect readability even in low light.

The cardinal indices (each is in fact a cuboid cut from a rare metal alloy) are now more prominent – their size has been increased to the maximum of the movement’s driving capacity. Each of the cuboids’ four faces is sculpted in high relief, featuring magnified numerals crafted from a block of Super-LumiNova®.

Three of the GYRO DIAL MECA’s watch faces – with the Roman, Arabic, and the minimalist ‘Ghost’ indices – show designs that are quintessentially BYRNE. The fourth face introduces a ‘Sport’ variant: encircled in blue and featuring raised numerals, it nods to the iconic Breguet styles of the 60s and adds a touch of retro-vintage appeal.

A shaped titanium case – slimmer, sleeker, and lighter

Designed with recessed flanks that mirror the alcoves of architecture, sporting both polished and satin-brushed finishes, and tauter spatial volumes, the case has been completely rethought. Its original lines draw inspiration from the iconic rear silhouette of the Porsche 911; a new shape that is not only 30% lighter, but also more compact and slender than ever. Carved from a block of Grade 5 titanium for an optimized total weight of 70 grams, the case measures 36mm across (38mm at the lugs) and a svelte 12.5mm in thickness, delivering on the promise of comfort, elegance, and wearability.

As a nod to his early days in after-sales service and his love of repairing pocket watches, John Byrne has positioned the winding crown at 12 o’clock, slightly offset to prevent shocks, as both a practical and an aesthetic feature. Crafted, as the case, from a block of Grade 5 titanium, the crown on this watch – as with all BYRNE watches – bears an engraved numeral 1, the top of the podium, emblematic of the founder’s competitive spirit.

BYRNE presents its second hand-wound Manufacture calibre, an exclusive, proprietary technical development.

Less than two years since its inception, BYRNE unveils the new mechanical calibre 5557. Developed and crafted in Fleurier, this manually wound movement enhances the refinement of the GYRO DIAL MECA, tailored for discerning enthusiasts. The intricately skeletonized movement, discreetly visible from the watch’s rear, embodies founder John Byrne’s penchant for sleek, sophisticated aesthetics with an underlying industrial flair.

The anti-reflective sapphire crystal caseback reveals the movement’s robust mechanics, where meticulous attention has been paid to every detail. For instance, the new sliding clamp system secures the crown spring, facilitating smooth winding and providing up a comfortable power reserve to 60 hours for impeccable reliability. Aesthetic refinements impress as well, such as the mainplate’s finish in ‘Meteorized Blue’ achieved with a special rhodium-plating process, echoing the indexes on the dial.

Finally, for maximum comfort and ease of use, whether in the water (water-resistant to 50 meters) or at the office, the watch head seamlessly integrates the inserts of a grained rubber strap in the same blue as the indexes and mainplate. This design harmoniously complements the shape of the winder, with the titanium buckle ensuring complete security.

A Commitment to Excellence

The GYRO DIAL MECA is a shining example of BYRNE’s commitment to combining tradition and modernity.

Launched at Geneva Watch Days in September 2022 by John and Claire Byrne, the brand – whose watches are developed and manufactured in Switzerland – has consistently distinguished itself by its avant-garde design and deep respect for watchmaking craftsmanship.

BYRNE Watch’s range now comprises three collections and a variety of singular creations:

• The GYRO DIAL, which debuted in September 2022 with the inaugural 311 GTS series, presents a a full dial and a full case; it was the first watch to mechanically change its face thanks to 4 small cuboids positioned at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock and pivoting synchronously every evening at midnight or when the wearer wishes.
• From day one, BYRNE has been offering bespoke versions of its pivoting indexes, decorated with numbers or symbols, by special order.
• In March 2023, on the occasion of the Geneva Watch Week, BYRNE presented the ‘dial-less’ GYRO DIAL ZERO, boldly showcasing the movement’s distinctive industrial aesthetic on the watch face. The model swiftly became a bestseller.
• In May 2023, the brand began to introduce limited series, such as the GYRO DIAL INDO-ARABE. This model featured a solid dial in a striking green hue, reflecting multiple shades of blue, green and turquoise reminiscent of the Indian Ocean. True to its name, the indices feature Indo-Arab numerals.
• That same year, bridging sophistication and industrial design, the GYRO DIAL ZERO PINK GOLD (available with or without diamonds) introduced a new, more refined realm for creative expression and exclusivity.
• In February 2024, embracing its sense of humor and whimsy, BYRNE introduced a playful twist with the GYRO DIAL CASINO, offered in two versions: Midnight Blue and Jet Black. Complete with symbols from the green felt and slot machines, this timepiece captures the spirit of chance and sizzles with the energy.
• In March this year, the GYRO DIAL GOLF limited series made its debut during Geneva Watch Week 2024. Inspired by the verdant greens of Scotland’s golf courses, this watch also represents the brand’s first foray into the realm of Métiers d’Art artistic crafts – it features exquisitely sculpted three-dimensional micro-artworks of symbols that reflect John Byrne’s deep-seated passion for golf.

Ultimately, the GYRO DIAL MECA is not just a timekeeping device; it is also an intimately personal object, featuring four distinct faces that speak to the wearer’s moods and lifestyle. With manual winding and a refined aesthetic, it is poised to captivate connoisseurs of sophisticated independent watchmaking.

Byrne Gyro Dial Meca Technical Specifications

Retail price CHF 25,000 / USD 27,700 / EUR 25,850 (excluding VAT, exchange rates at time of writing)

Movement

• Calibre 5557, mechanical, hand-wound
• Developed and manufactured at the FLEURIER workshops in Switzerland
• Functions Hours, minutes
• Finishes Brass mainplate and bridges sandblasted, rhodium-plated, straight-grained
• Beveling and finishing by hand
• Components 261
• Rubies 42
• Frequency 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour)
• Power reserve approximately 60 hours

Case

• Material Grade 5 titanium
• Diameter 36 mm x 38 mm
• Thickness 12.5 mm
• Finishes Sandblasted, rhodium-plated, all by hand
• Crystals ‘Box’ sapphire, antireflective coating
• Open caseback with ‘Box’ sapphire crystal, antireflective coating
• Crown Grade 5 titanium; ‘1’ symbol engraved in high relief
• Water resistance 5 ATM (approximately 50 meters)

Dial (Display Complications)

• Indices 4 cuboids carved from a rare metal alloy, pivoting instantaneously at midnight every twenty four hours or at the wearer’s whim.

Strap & Buckle

• Material Blue rubber, grained
• Buckle Grade 5 titanium
• Deployant clasp available on demand