Cyrus Klepcys Prototypes by Jean-François Mojon

AndrewD shares an exclusive look at early prototypes of the Cyrus Klepcys, a timepiece that marked the official launch of Cyrus Watches in 2011. This article highlights the brand's foundational collaboration with independent watchmaker Jean-François Mojon and showcases the innovative design elements that define the Klepcys.

I found some images in my hard drive of the Cyrus Klepcys that I had not previously posted and thought you might enjoy seeing the early prototypes.

Cyrus Watches, Geneva, was formed by cousins Laurent and Julien Lecamp and was officially launched in 2011. Laurent is co-founder and Managing Director. Laurent and Julien have a background in design, architecture and engineering and, in addition, Laurent has extensive experience in the marketing of fine watches. The watches are developed and manufactured in Le Locle, Switzerland.

The Klepcys took more than three years to develop in partnership with the independent watchmaker, Jean-François Mojon. Mojon is well known for his work on the Opus X and runs his own independent watchmaking company, Chronode SA, in Le Locle which specialises in designing and constructing technically complex horological mechanisms.

These images are of the original 18K rose gold watch, limited to 33 pieces, and the 18K white (grey) gold and titanium black DLC version limited to 88 pieces.

The Klepcys showcases retrograde hands and a three-dimensional movement, including a realistic moon, on display through the front of the watch. The rear is solid but adorned with a copy of a 2500 year old coin of Cyrus bearing the likeness of a lion and a bull.

The first thing you notice looking at the watch is an hour indicator arcing 180 degrees across the left half of the ‘dial’. The retrograde hour ‘hand’, supported on a ruby bearing, continuously moves along this arc to indicate the hours, as well as the minutes and seconds.

There are two impressive features of this display. The first is that the retrograde hand incorporates a rotating day/night indicator. During daylight hours it shows yellow, and at night it rotates to indicate blue. The second is that regardless of the hand position, the minutes and seconds are always aligned to give an accurate reading of time. This system is patented and I think that Mojon earned his commission with this piece of engineering.

The display of the date is also innovative and the subject of a patent. There is a retrograde three-dimensional pivoting tens indicator (also on a ruby bearing) moving against a fixed units indicator arcing across the right upper quadrant of the dial. While this design may not add to the clarity of date reading, it is certainly in keeping with the design language used in the rest of the watch and adds depth, balance and interest to the dial.

In the (traditional) 4 o’clock position on the dial resides a realistic 6mm three-dimensional moon fashioned from rose gold. The lunar phase is indicated by a rotating black cover that moves around the moon and is accurate to 1 day in 125 years.

The movement is an in-house developed automatic movement (CYR598) which has a power reserve of 40 hours, beats at a speed of 28,800vph (4Hz), has 456 components, 30 rubies and an automatic winding rotor on ceramic bearings that does not require lubrication.

Although a large watch at 48mm (including crowns) a lot of thought has gone into the comfort and wearability of the piece. The lugs are short and curved downwards and the crocodile strap is wide. I found the watch to sit very comfortably when the strap was snugly fitted.

While it’s great to see the realistic moon peeking out from under a shirt cuff or jacket, I would have preferred that the display was inverted so that the hour-indicator could be more easily seen under a cuff and the time could be read at a glance.

The Klepcys is certainly impressive and imposing. The polished and brushed surfaces add interest to the architectural case and the design motifs are carried through the crowns and exposed bezel screws. The Klepcys looks like nothing else on the market and displays time, date and lunar phase in an interesting way. It is definitely a statement watch.