The new Byrne Gyro Dial Golf Edition

Founded by couple John and Claire, Byrne is an independent watchmaking brand that debuted in 2022. John, a watchmaker with a design background, serves as the creative driving force behind the brand, while Claire, his wife, handles business-related affairs. What makes Byrne’s creations stand out is their unique display. The face of their watches evolves. The markers at 3, 6, 9 and 12 consist of rotating cubes that shift every 24 hours, revealing a new appearance. The initial models experimented with various font types and numeral styles, such as Arabic and Roman numerals. Byrne is now delving into new themes, expanding its repertoire with even more diverse designs. Following the Casino, which pays homage to the universe of gambling, Byrne now introduces a golf-themed Gyro Dial watch.

One watch, four faces. The versatile Byrne Gyro Dial Golf transitions between classic and playful styles. Inspired by John Byrne’s passion for Golf, the four rotating blocks of this limited-edition Gyro Dial are engraved with either numerals or golf-inspired representations, allowing for a dynamic, changing appearance. The cubes switch once every day, either at midnight or midday, based on how you have set your watch. Or on-demand through the crown. In the case of this new limited edition, you have either numerals (sporty Arabic numerals or more classic Roman numerals), golf clubs (driver, 7 iron, sand wedge, putter) or golf balls. 

For Byrne, it involved exploring new manufacturing techniques as the rotating cubes are now featuring miniature sculptures, bringing an extra sense of depth, and achieving a remarkable level of detail. The dimples on the golf ball surfaces are particularly well executed, capturing their texture with precision. The numerals are filled with luminescent material for optimal legibility in all conditions while the golf miniature sculptures have a chrome finish. These rotate on a mechanical background, as the Golf is based on the no-dial Zero model, and exposes the magic tricks of its mechanism. The grained main plate is here rendered in a green, another wink to golf. It also entailed ensuring that their automatic calibre could effectively handle these new, heavier revolving blocks, enabling them to perform their trick flawlessly.

The Byrne GyroDial relies on the automatic calibre 5555, developed and assembled in collaboration with Le Temps Manufacture, located in Fleurier. This calibre, measuring 30mm, operates at 4Hz and features a 60-hour power reserve when fully wound. Comprising 261 parts, one of its particularities is of course the mechanism responsible for driving the rotation of the indexes. From a technical standpoint, each rotating cube is linked to a central gear via a small upright wheel, resulting in an instantaneous daily jump. One of the primary technical challenges involves power management. Given the inertia of the four revolving blocks, the mechanism must accumulate energy in a dedicated spiral spring. Rotation is initiated by a trigger finger when necessary, with the jump requiring precise rotation of the cubes by exactly 90 degrees. 

The Byrne Gyro Dial Golf is presented in the brand’s cushion-shape case. Characterized by its sleek lines, it showcases a carved profile and a circular bezel opening. Crafted from grade 5 titanium, the case measures 41.7mm in diameter and combines brushed and polished finishes for a refined aesthetic. Turning the watch over, the sapphire caseback offers a glimpse of the reverse side of the calibre 5555, showcasing its openworked rotor. The decoration boasts curvy stripes of varying widths and circular graining.

The Byrne Gyro Dial Golf is presented on a green rubber strap with a titanium pin buckle. It is released in a limited edition of 24 pieces only. The price is set at CHF 25,000. For more information, please visit www.byrnewatch.com.