The Byrne Gyro Dial Meca 36mm, a Smaller, Hand-Wound Model with the Hallmark Complication

Indie watch brand Byrne may have only emerged on the scene in 2022, but its innovative concept of “one watch, four faces” creates an impression of a more extended presence, almost as if there are four times as many references in its collection. The brand’s distinctive Gyro Dial complication is the key here, allowing the cuboid indices at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock to turn instantaneously at midnight or at the wearer’s command with a simple crown twist. This transforms the watch’s face, and the effect is captivating with the interplay of the four sides of a cube. Recently, Byrne paid homage to founder John Byrne’s passion for golf with the Gyro Dial Golf Edition. Now, the brand is introducing a new series with the launch of the Gyro Dial Meca. While retaining the signature complication, this edition boasts a fresh, slimmer and more compact case design and is powered by a new hand-wound movement.

Crafted from grade 5 titanium, the new Byrne Gyro Dial Meca’s case weighs a mere 70 grams and measures 36mm in diameter, expanding to 38mm at the lugs, with a thickness of 12.5mm. While bearing resemblances in shape and applied finishes to earlier Byrne creations, it introduces a notable feature: the crown, traditionally adorned with an engraved “1” and crafted from titanium, now sits at the 12 o’clock position. According to the brand, this placement is practical, with the slight offset to prevent shocks, and sentimental, harkening back to John Byrne’s practice of restoring pocket watches, which typically featured crowns at the 12 o’clock position. The watch is framed on both sides by box-shaped sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coating and boasts 50m water resistance.

The dial of the Byrne Gyro Dial Meca presents a recognizable display in the “Meteorized Blue” hue, achieved by layering two coats of rhodium plating, with Super-LumiNova dots at each index position. The time is read via the central hour and minutes hands in blue, with a Super-LumiNova outline. Despite the case’s smaller dimensions compared to previous collections, the cuboid cardinal indices have been enlarged, maximizing the available space within the movement’s capacity. The Gyro Dial Meca offers Byrne’s four classic faces: Roman and Arabic indices and Ghost and Sport variants. The Ghost variant boasts a minimalist aesthetic, while the Sport variant features raised numerals for added depth and texture.

With the introduction of the new series, Byrne unveils a novel movement: the hand-wound calibre 5557, developed and crafted by Le Temps Manufacture in Fleurier. Comprising 261 components, this calibre operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and boasts a power reserve of approximately 60 hours. The skeletonized movement showcases sandblasted, rhodium-plated mainplates and bridges, each meticulously straight-grained and finished by hand, visible through the exhibition caseback. This juxtaposition of industrial front-facing design with the more refined aesthetics of the movement visible from the caseback is a deliberate touch intended to appeal to connoisseurs and collectors alike, as envisioned by the creators of the Gyro Dial Meca.

The Byrne Gyro Dial Meca comes with a grained blue rubber strap secured by a titanium pin buckle, with the option of a deployant clasp upon request. Priced at CHF 25,000 or EUR 25,850 (excluding VAT), you can find further details on byrnewatch.com.