yrne Watch and dynamic local retailer 10tenlabs have teamed up to open the Middle East market. They made the announcement with an off-show presence during the recent Dubai Watch Week.

To celebrate and mark their new partnership, Byrne x 10tenlabs jointly present Arqaam, an exclusive creation in a limited edition of 10 pieces, developed exclusively for 10tenlabs. Arqaam – meaning ’numbers’ in Arabic - is inspired by the rich history of numerology on the Arabian Peninsula, especially in Saudi Arabia.

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 dial’s 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 brand’s 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 light’s intensity. This dynamic colour play is inspired by the tri-coloured sand dunes that grace the deserts of Saudi Arabia.

A first in watch dial design: Nabataean numerals

Powered by the caliber 5555, Arqaam harbours 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-recognised 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

Reference Arqaam Limited edition 10 pieces

Functions

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

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-resistance: 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: Swiss, developed in Fleurier at LTM
• 5555, mechanical self-winding,
• Finishes: Sand-blasted and rhodium-plated brass plate and bridges, drawn lines, off-centre Côtes de Genève, hand-bevelled and hand-finished -* Components: 261
• Stones: 42
• Diameter: 30.00 mm
• Height: 9.90 mm
• Power reserve: 60 hours
• Frequency: 4 Hz / 28,800 vib/h

Strap

• Ballistic black
• Grade 5 titanium buckle

Warranty: 3 years