Byrne Gyrodial Arqaam

BYRNE WATCH opens the Middle East and presents a limited series of 10 watches in honor of its new partner 10 tenlabs. 

10 tenlabs , one of the main actors in the Middle East's independent watch market with bases in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, will be opening its retail sales location in Jeddah in February 2024. This launch marks BYRNE WATCH’s inaugural official retail venture in the region.

A new unique collection : ARQAAM blending history and modernity

To celebrate and memorialize their new partnership, Byrne x 10 ten labs jointly present ARQAAM, an exclusive creation in a limited edition of 10 pieces developed exclusively for 10 ten labs . ARQAAM meaning ' numbers' in Arabic is inspired by the rich history of numerology on the Arabian Peninsula, especially in Saudi Arabia.

Between heritage and innovation

This exclusive series stands out by its unique and original design, which fuses Nabataean numerals discovered on an ancient stone in the desert with Musnad numerals from an early Arabic script. This blend spans a symbolic bridge from tradition to modernity, intertwining the past with the present. The numerals, exude a rare elegance , stand out against the dials soft salmon backdrop and the textured titanium case. The visual harmony is the result of relentlessly meticulous attention to detail and weeks of dedicated research and craftsmanship. 

Expressing the texture of time in desert hues

The ARQAAM limited edition offers a fresh take on the flagship on Byrne’s GyroDial 311 watch which features a high precision mechanical movement derived from the brands celebrated 5555 caliber. Encased in polished Grade 5 titanium, the 41 mm salmon dial interacts with sunlight, displaying up to three distinct shades depending on the lights intensity. This dynamic color play is inspired by the tri colored sand dunes that grace the deserts of Saudi Arabia.

A first in watch dial design: Nabataean numerals

Powered by the caliber 5555, ARQAAM harbors Byrne’s hallmark mechanism animating the indices at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock. Quite spectacularly, the cardinal markers change when the hour hand passes 12 o’clock , instantaneously presenting a new watch face.

Through this complication, the ARQAAM limited editions showcases a quartet of numeral styles that draw inspiration from the Arabian Peninsula's rich numerological heritage. It begins with the Nabataean numerals, marking their debut on a watch dial a pioneering moment in watchmaking history. This is followed by the Musnad numerals, hailing from ancient South Arabia. The journey continues with traditional Arabic numerals, culminating in the widely recognized Indo Arabic numerals. Each set in the series represents a historical epoch, charting the evolution from ancient times to the contemporary usage of Arabic and Indo Arabic numerals.

The textured black strap provides an elegant contrast to the titanium and salmon dial. The ARQAAM limited edition of 10 pieces is priced at 24,500 USD each.

Technical specifications

Byrne Gyrodial Arqaam

Limited edition of 10 pieces, available exclusively at 10 tenlabs

Case

• Material: Grade 5 titanium, made in Le Locle, Switzerland
• Diameter: 41.7 mm x 48.1 mm
• Thickness: 14.45 mm
• Finishes: Hand crafted, sand blasted, rhodium plated
• Glass: Sapphire box
• Back: Sapphire box, anti reflective
• Water-resistant to 5 ATM, equivalent to 50 meters

Dial 

• 5N sand blasted line
• 4 faces
• Nabetéen SuperLuminova white
• Musnad Superluminova white
• Arabian SuperLuminova white
• Indo Arab Phantom
• Winding mechanism engraved with the Nabataean numeral 7 Symbol of the 7 United Arab Emirates

Movement

• Calibre 5555
• Mechanical self-winding movement
• Swiss, developed in Fleurier at LTM
• Diameter: 30.00 mm
• Height: 9.90 mm
• Number of parts: 261
• Number of jewels: 42
• Power reserve of 60 hours
• Frequency: 28'800 vph (4 Hz)
• Finishes: Sand blasted and rhodium plated brass plate and bridges, drawn lines, off center Côtes de Genève hand bevelled and hand finished

Functions/Indications

• Hours, minutes
• Mobile hour markers with instantaneous change at midnight every day, or on request

Strap and buckle

• Ballistic black
• Grade 5 titanium buckle

MSRP: USD 24'500

For more information, please visit byrnewatch.com and 10tenlabs.com.