Babylon : An intellectual and scientific capital of the ancient world. This city embodying great material wealth and carrying powerful spiritual connotations was renowned for its magnificent architecture. Although considered impregnable, it was nonetheless conquered by Cyrus the Great 2,500 years ago. Contrary to military custom of the time, he decided to preserve this gem from destruction. Its famous hanging gardens and its huge seven-storey tower, known as the “House of the Foundation of Heaven and Earth”, inspired the founders of Cyrus and the movement design engineer Jean-François Mojon* in creating the Klepcys model, a patented timepiece featuring three exceptional functions and an avant-garde design. The architecture of the case in DLC-treated titanium and white gold, or full 5N red gold, asserts a powerful presence as well as four ramparts in the form of highly sophisticated lugs surrounding the main body of the timepiece. These beveled lugs perfectly mold the curve of the wrist and merge into a black crocodile leather strap. A double message is addressed to the owner through the inscriptions on the case-back : a first stating that the watch is “Proudly made for demanding people” and, a second around the ancient stater coin : “… Babylon is a city-state with a unique architecture and gathering all the technical and intellectual know-how of its time…”. This know-how is expressed through an original triple complication. Firstly, the retrograde hour hand which moves across a 180° axis and changes colour (by a 90° rotation) in order to indicate day or night. Whatever the position of the hour hand, the minute and seconds disks are always lined up with it and indicate time in linear read-off mode. This alignment, based on a mechanism that is unique in the world and regulates the speed of the gear trains for the hours (which are retrograde and pivoting) as well as the minutes and seconds, is duly patented – as indeed is the date. The numerals indicating the units of the date (from 0 to 9) are static and follow on from each other and only the tens move past the units. Each time a ten numeral reaches the figure 9, the ten becomes retrograde and pivots 90 degrees to leave room for the following ten which takes its place in front of the 0 units number. And finally, inspired by the fabulous temple tower of Babylon, a spherical moon-phase display with representation of craters of the moon serves to connect this timepiece with the sky. The moon phases are shown by the progressive rising of a black cover that gradually enshrouds the spherical moon.
Last year, the Cyrus team captured the face of Mars and decided to produce two limited editions of 33 timepieces each with the exact replica of the face of Mars on the dial : the Klepcys Mars Collection, in titanium, or in black titanium DLC. Both of them feature two worldwide patented functions: the three-dimensional retrograde display mechanism displays hours, minutes and seconds on a movable axis with a day/night indication, while maintaining precise control over the height of the retrograde hour hand with a ruby bearing ; while the calendar with large date is indicated by three-dimensional retrograde and pivoting tens (also featuring precise control of the height of the tens hand with a ruby bearing). The Red Planet has been removed from the solar system and now appears in a hand-painted version rotating inside Cyrus watches at the same speed as it does in the universe, i.e. every 24 hours, 37 minutes and 22 seconds. A unique Martian complication. The dream of Cyrus the Great has come true. Mars has been conquered. Only 66 earthlings will be able to enjoy this unique experience on their wrist. Third millennium collectors can rest assured that watchmakers still have plenty of good stories left to tell.
* Jean-François Mojon won the Best Watchmaker award at the 2010 Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix
The powerful conqueror is considered as the precursor of human rights
The design of the Kambys was developed in perfect synergy with the brand’s identity, which places great emphasis on attention to detail. Available in titanium and black /red gold DLC titanium, it is recognizable as a Cyrus from first glance : it has a sleek design, where each element has been carefully weighed up and designed by their own team. A patented design, which perfectly molds the shape of the wrist. The selection of functions, the design features and the unusual bracelet were all created and developed within the family, with the utmost respect for the Cyrus philosophy. The 100% in-house Manufacture movement with a seven-day power reserve was created under the aegis of renowned, award-winning Swiss watchmaker Jean-François Mojon. Highlighting the classic character of this timepiece, Cyrus offers a unique secret animation brought to life by a spectacular movement which is fully visible through the transparent sapphire crystal case. The three barrels sliding progressively along a vertical axis (patented function) as the seven days unfold makes the power reserve indication (between 2 and 4 o’clock) extremely captivating. The two smaller cylinders represent two days of power reserve each, the third one three days. The seconds function is truly original and technically advanced, with its three angled hands, each of which counts 20 seconds before passing the baton to the next hand. Finally there is the secret animation (between 9 and 12 o’clock), which is activated by simply pressing the crown at 3 o’clock. The text ‘limited edition’ then appears. After pressing it again, the Cyrus coin (the first coin in the history of humanity, produced under the reign of Cyrus the great) appears to replace the previous inscription. One last press makes the Cyrus logo visible, unless the owner prefers to personalize this animation according to his wishes.
Klepcys 539.003.B
Case : 5N red gold and black DLC titanium, back engraved with a stater in red gold Size : 48mm Movement : mechanical self-winding (CYR598 with 366 parts, 40-hour power reserve), ceramic ball-bearing mechanism without lubrification Functions : linear (patented) display of retrograde hour along a mobile axis, day/night indication, retrograde large date with three-dimensional rotating tens (patented), spherical moon with moon-phase indication by the gradual rising of a dedicated cover (major innovation) Strap : crocodile leather with 5N red gold folding clasp or 5N red gold ardillon buckle Water resistance : 30m Limited series : 33 pieces
Klepcys Mars Collection Ref 539.101.B
Case : satin-brushed and mirror-polished titanium, 18mm medallion in 18K red gold on the back engraved by hand depicting Cyrus on a winged horse setting off to conquer the planet Mars Size : 48mm (with crowns) Movement : self-winding mechanical movement (CYR599 caliber developed by Jean-François Mojon, 40h power reserve), 366 components, rotor with ceramic non-lubricated ball bearings, high inertia balance for greater adjustment stability, gears and wheels with optimized teeth Functions : patented three-dimensional retrograde display mechanism of hours, minutes and seconds on a movable axis, with a day/night indication, patented large date, three-dimensional retrograde and pivoting tens, three-dimensional sphere of Mars (hand painted) rotating at the same speed as in the universe (24h, 37mn, 22s), a major innovation Dial : reproducing the landscape of Mars with the original replica of the Face of Mars Water-resistance : 30m Strap : crocodile, hand-sewn, black, tone on tone stitching with triple folding clasp Limited edition : 33 pieces
Kambys ref 529.001.C
Case : brushed titanium, polished and sandblasted, sapphire case-back (available in black DLC titanium and red gold) Diameter : 50 mm Movement : CYRUS hand-wound mechanical Manufacture movement, (caliber 7778 in collaboration with Jean-François Mojon, 7 day power reserve), 290 components, double barrel Functions : hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve indication with 3 barrels sliding along a vertical axis, secret animation activated by crown at 9, stop seconds with crown at 3 Strap : anti-allergic rubber, adjustable size, openwork design with moving barrels echoing the power reserve indicator, triple folding clasp in titanium Limited edition : 188 pieces
Kuros 598.201.A
Case : titanium and 5N red gold, back engraved with red gold stater, with opening revealing the movement escapement, left-hand red gold crown with a secret drawer indicating the series number.Patented design perfectly suited to the wrist Size : 44mm Movement : mechanical self-winding (ETA base caliber 2094 with 316 parts, 37-hour power reserve), black DLC-treated personalized oscillating weight Functions : hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph, date at 12 o’clock Dial : black or silver. Hours shown by raised 3D numerals with superluminova interior, toric sapphire crystal Water-resistance : 50m Strap :crocodile leather or rubber with titanium folding clasp Limited serie:188
