Hello, today I’d like to talk about the Byrne brand, a young company launched in 2022. On 15/05/2024, the brand launched the third version of its Gyro Dial model, the Byrne Gyro Dial MECA. Before diving into a detailed examination of the watch, I’d like to revisit the origins of the brand.
John Byrne, founder of the brand and trained designer, specialized in restoring watches to bring vintage and modern watches back to life. Always desiring to create something unique, he founded his brand in 2015 with Claire Byrne, the company’s CEO. Inspiration struck during a performance of George Balanchine’s Apollon Musagète in Paris. Watching a scene where the dancers, arranged in a line, began to change places so quickly and easily that they appeared to be one entity with changing faces, the concept of BYRNE was born: “One watch, four faces,” a watch that changes its dial daily.
The founder of Byrne is passionate about mechanics and has wanted to introduce a mechanical movement since the brand’s inception, allowing for a watch with a more contained thickness. In this permanent collection, we find a watch with a more elegant and sport-chic look in a smaller and thinner case. Let’s get to the watch.
What are the features of the Byrne Gyro Dial MECA?
Case
The Byrne Gyro Dial MECA features a case with profiled flanks constructed from a block of titanium measuring 36 mm in diameter (38 mm at the lugs) and a slim 12.5 mm thickness. Boasting both polished and satin finishes and more taut spatial volumes, the case has been completely redesigned to improve its wearability. With a total optimized weight of 70 grams, this 5 ATM water-resistant case features, for the first time, a winding crown positioned at 12 o’clock. Offset to avoid impacts, this crown is more challenging to manipulate but greatly enhances the watch’s silhouette.
Dial
The Byrne Gyro Dial MECA is adorned with an exceptional “Meteorized Blue” dial, created by layering two rhodium coatings. Designed for maximum readability and visual comfort, the cubes with 4 faces display four distinct faces to match the wearer’s intimate mood. Here, the cube size has been increased to the maximum capacity of the movement. The first displays Roman numerals. The second shows Arabic numerals. The third features a “Ghost” face with no motif, and the fourth introduces a “Sport” variant: circled in blue and adorned with raised numbers, nodding to the iconic Breguet styles of the 60s and adding a retro-vintage touch. These indexes are crafted from a rare metal alloy and feature Super-LumiNova®, ensuring perfect readability even in low light.
Movement
The Byrne Gyro Dial MECA houses the brand’s first skeleton mechanical movement, the 5557, with mechanical winding. Developed and assembled in collaboration with Le Temps Manufacture, located in Fleurier, this caliber beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and consists of 243 components. Visible through the anti-reflective sapphire glass case back, the movement is equipped with a new sliding clamp system that secures the crown spring, facilitating smooth winding and offering a comfortable power reserve of up to 60 hours. The appearance of the Gyro Dial MECA changes daily, at noon or midnight – or as desired by the wearer – displaying the four different cardinal indexes in sequential succession.
Strap
The Byrne Gyro Dial MECA comes with a grained rubber strap in the same blue as the indexes and the dial plate.
How much does the Byrne Gyro Dial MECA?
The Byrne Gyro Dial MECA is a model that joins the brand’s permanent collection. It is available through the brand’s sales network worldwide at a price of CHF 25,000 (excluding VAT).
Byrne Gyro Dial MECA: A high-end watch with industrial edginess
Byrne has rethought the entire aesthetic of its model while amplifying its unique interpretation of time measurement. This edition targets a new segment of demanding clients eager to own an exceptional watch. I think this piece will be very well received. A superb dial, streamlined lines, and a thinner, less bulky case seem like excellent attributes for an everyday watch. My sincere thanks to Claire and John for their warm welcome and the energy they exude.
Byrne Gyro Dial MECA – Watch Specifications
- Brand: Byrne
- Model: Gyro Dial MECA
- Case Exposed Movement Mainplate in « Meteorized Blue » colour – 4 cuboids carved from a rare metal alloy
- Functions: Hours, Minutes
- Movement: 5557 (manufactured with LTM), Self-winding, 28’800vph frequency (4Hz), 39 jewels and 243 parts
- Power Reserve: 60 hours
- Water Resistance: 5 ATM
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Caseback: Sapphire
- Case Dimension: 36 mm (Width) × 38 mm (Length) x 12,5 mm (Thickness)
- Strap: Blue Rubber with Textile Pattern and Grade 5 Titanium Pin Buckle
- Availability: Now Available – Permanent Collection
- Retail Price: CHF 25’000 (Excluding VAT)
What do you think of this new version and its manual winding dial? Share your thoughts in the comments.
For more information about Byrne, click here.
The Review
Byrne Gyro Dial MECA
From The Time Production - Please note that the ratings provided here solely reflect my subjective opinions. These assessments are based entirely on my personal experiences and interactions with each watch. As such, they may differ from the opinions of other enthusiasts or experts in the field. My aim is to offer personal insights that might help you understand how each timepiece might feel in everyday use.
