Byrne is a young watch brand created by its eponymous founder, John Byrne. It stands out in the watch market for its revolutionary innovation: a changing dial. A watch with four different dials: that’s the crazy challenge the Swiss Maison has set itself. Claire Cohen, the label’s president, talks to Luxus Magazine, revealing Byrne’s philosophy behind its original models. Interview.
How would you describe the unique style of Byrne watches?
Byrne Watch is not just a watch manufacturer, it’s a philosophy, rather linked to a past that revolves around a passion: the restoration of antique watches. This is what the company’s eponymous creator, John Byrne, has been developing over the past 20 years. He has seen the world’s finest watches, owned them, restored them, and finally put them back in the hands of their owners.
John has always had the desire to create his own model, and behind Byrne is the idea of a very pure watch, both in terms of design and functionality. So there’s the idea of this ultra-legible watch, with no date and no complications.
We liken Byrne’s philosophy to the proverb “Change your mind in a flash”. In other words, a new watch every day, or “1 watch, 4 faces”. Four different dials in a single timepiece, with Roman numerals, Arabic numerals, ghost numerals and a secret number for the customer to choose.
Byrne’s philosophy is reflected in the limited-edition Indo-Arab model. Here, it brings together several civilizations: the Hindu world, Arabic numerals and Roman numerals with Christianity, or any other symbols or precious stones, as the complication (Gyro Dial) has been sized for this. This is the first time a model like this has seen the light of day. In addition to being atypical, our watches are customizable, and therefore unique.
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What’s a typical Byrne customer profile?
The Byrne customer is a risk-taker who doesn’t take himself too seriously. But he also appreciates beautiful things, without necessarily stopping at a brand. He focuses on the beauty of the story or what lies behind it.
For example, having the option on the same watch of going to a restaurant with a classic dial (Arabic numerals) and spending the rest of the evening at the casino with a diamond-set numerals dial.
What can we expect from Byrne in the coming years?
First of all, we want to develop the Gyro Dial model by releasing a limited series each year. We are currently working on the 2024 limited edition. You can expect something new every season. For Geneva Watch Days, we’ll be unveiling a gold novelty with a rose gold case and indexes. And a limited edition with diamond indexes. At Watches & Wonders, we’ll be revealing a new complication.
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Read also > [LUXUS+ MAGAZINE] GENEVA WATCH DAYS 2022: DISCOVER LUXUS+ MAG’S SELECTION OF NEW PRODUCTS
Front cover photo: © Byrne Watches
