Our review of the Cyrus Klepcys GMT Retrograde, an exclusive timepiece offering an original and distinctive design with a manufacture movement
Following our presentation article of the Klepcys GMT Retrograde last October 2020, we had the opportunity to spend a few days with this new model from Swiss manufacture Cyrus and we are delighted to share our live pictures and impressions.
Thanks to its independence and the special relationship with Chronode, a renowned manufacture of high-end mechanical movements led by talented master watchmaker Jean-Francois Mojon (the two companies are part of the same group), Cyrus can develop its timepieces with greater design freedom and less constraints compared to most watch brands that have to adapt their models to available movements. This approach makes it easier to innovate and break conventions, just think to the impressive Klepcys Vertical Tourbillon and the Klepcys Vertical Skeleton Tourbillon.
The creativity of the brand is once again demonstrated with the Klepcys GMT Retrograde which offers a clever and easy to use dual time function powered by a new in-house developed self-winding movement.
A dual time function - also referred to as "second time zone" or GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) function - is useful to keep track of the current time in other countries by displaying two time zones at once: local time and home time.
The dial of the Klepcys GMT Retrograde is particularly eye-catching with its multi-layered structure.
On a first level, the openworked rhodium-plated hour and minute hands indicate the local time on a transparent antireflective sapphire disc with large Arabic numerals.
On a lower level, the upper plate of the movement has an elegant sunray openworked pattern providing a glimpse of the golden-hued wheels and gears.
The home time is indicated by a blue hand with triangular luminescent tip moving along a 24-hour retrograde display in blue lacquer. This is interrupted at 6 o'clock by the small seconds counter decorated with small raised triangles and finished in black PVD. The small second hand has the shape of a blue three-armed helix, the symbol of the brand. When the blue hand with the triangular tip reaches the 24 at 5 o'clock, it makes a jump to the 24 at 7 o'clock so that it never hides the small seconds sub-dial.
All hands, indices and numerals are generously treated with white Super-LumiNova emitting a long-lasting blue glow for improved legibility in dark conditions.
Setting the second time zone is super easy thanks to the two crowns featuring a caoutchouc rubber ring for improved grip.
The crown at 3 o'clock winds the movement in position 0 and adjust the hour and minute hands of local time when pulled out to position 1. When you perform this operation, the blue retrograde hand indicating the home time turns together with the local time hands.
The crown at 9 o'clock is used to set the local time. By pressing the pusher on the crown, the local time hand moves forward by one hour jump to set the desired time, for example when you arrive to a new destination. During the adjustment, the indications of the minutes and the home time remain unchanged. Easy as well as fun.
The unconventional cushion shaped case maintains the same proportions used for the Vertical Tourbillon models but in a reduced diameter of 42 mm instead of 44 mm (excluding the crowns).
This model is also much thinner (13.9 mm) and, being crafted from grade 5 titanium, it is also very light. Thanks to short and slightly curved lugs, it sits very comfortably on the wrist.
Water-resistant to 10 bar (100 metres / 330 feet), the Cyrus Klepcys GMT Retrograde is produced in three variations: natural polished titanium, two-tone with a black DLC titanium bezel and all black DLC titanium (the model used for our review). Each version will be produced in just 50 units.
The transparent sapphire crystal case back reveals the manufacture automatic movement, Calibre CYR708, and its anthracite grey NAC bridges with slightly curved sunrays in a satin and microbillé finish. The design of the openworked oscillating mass reprises the pattern of the plate visible on the dial side.
The manufacture self-winding CYR708 calibre guarantees the highest precision standards. Beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, this high precision movement offers 55 hours of power reserve.
Enhanced by a central groove bearing the Cyrus symbol, the black caoutchouc rubber strap is secured to the wrist by a perfectly executed titanium folding clasp.
Retailing at the price of Euro 18,100 in polished titanium (ref. 539.507.TT.A), Euro 18,300 in polished titanium with black DLC bezel (ref. 539.507.TD.A) or Euro 18,600 for the all black DLC titanium version, the Cyrus Klepcys GMT Retrograde is an exclusive timepiece offering an original and distinctive design, a clever dual time solution and the overall quality of a Haute Horlogerie creation. cyrus-watches.ch
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