Cyrus Genève Unveils the Dominion Lapis Blue GMT
- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
Cyrus Genève expands its contemporary and avant-garde vision of Haute Horlogerie with the DOMINION LAPIS BLUE GMT, a creation that blends technical expertise and emotional intensity in one of its most captivating expressions to date.
While preserving the distinctive 42 mm round case in polished and brushed grade 5 titanium and the Maison’s in-house automatic movement, this new proposal marks a significant stylistic evolution: the traditional openworked architecture gives way to a solid dial crafted from genuine lapis lazuli, introducing a more intimate and contemplative dimension to the reading of time.
Prized since antiquity for its intense ultramarine hue and golden pyrite inclusions, lapis lazuli endows each timepiece with its own distinct character, metamorphosing every horological creation into a truly unique artistic masterpiece.
The Case: Exceptional Comfort and Harmonious Proportions
The 42 mm round case in grade 5 titanium preserves the harmonious proportions and unmistakable identity of the Dominion collection. Alternating polished and satin-brushed finishes enhance its sculptural presence, while the elongated lugs elegantly frame the Maison’s emblematic twin crowns.
Positioned at 3 o’clock, the primary crown winds the movement and allows adjustment of both the local time and the second time zone (GMT). At 9 o’clock, a dedicated crown with an integrated push-button enables quick correction of the local hour, ensuring intuitive and precise setting.
With a water resistance up to 10 ATM, this watch is protected by sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment on both the dial and the case back porthole. The ergonomic design and lightweight material of the case ensure maximum comfort on the wrist. The slim bezel maximises the dial opening, allowing the extraordinary mineral surface to fully command attention. A black alligator leather strap with a polished titanium pin buckle bearing the Maison’s logo completes the Dominion Lapis Blue GMT.
The Dial: A New Style Elevating the Poetry of Lapis Lazuli
With the new Dominion Lapis Blue GMT, Cyrus embraces an evolved stylistic language defined by sobriety. The design marks a transition from the traditional openworked display, intended to reveal the watch’s beating heart, to a solid dial crafted from precious stone. This choice prioritises the visibility of the functions while showcasing the natural beauty and uniqueness of the lapis lazuli stone. Lapis lazuli, with its deep ultramarine blue illuminated by natural golden pyrite inclusions, has symbolized mystery, royalty, and infinity for millennia. Each stone dial is inherently unique, shaped by nature’s artistry, with veins and reflections that ensure no two pieces are ever identical. Each watch tells a unique story written by nature itself. The display facilitates the simultaneous reading of two distinct times whilst journeying across the globe: the local time and the time in one’s place of origin, the latter presented in a 24-hour format.
For the first time in the Cyrus collections, the traditional Arabic numerals indicating the local time have been replaced by elongated, rhodium-plated hour markers in a brand-new style, lending the design an understated elegance, keeping it in line with contemporary trends. Home time is displayed by a small hand with a luminescent triangular tip that moves around a matt white arc. This arc is interrupted at 6 o’clock to make room for the small seconds counter. Outlined by a rhodium-plated edge, it features blue decal Arabic numerals that ensure the second time zone is immediately readable while maintaining a pleasing chromatic harmony with the dial. The small seconds counter, positioned at 6 o’clock on the lapis lazuli surface, mirrors the white and blue accents of the GMT display and features a newly designed hand. No longer shaped like a propeller, it is now slender and more sophisticate, with a counterweight inspired by the brand’s logo: a subtle but distinctive detail that reinforces character through minimalism. The white Super-LumiNova® treatment on the hands emits a blue glow in low-light conditions, ensuring optimal legibility while maintaining the watch’s refined aesthetic balance.
A Fine Mechanical Heart
Powering the Dominion Lapis Blue GMT is the self-winding CYR708 calibre, developed by master watchmaker Jean-François Mojon and manufactured in-house in Le Locle, Switzerland.Comprising 278 components, the movement operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and provides a power reserve of 55 hours. It features the Maison’s signature retrograde 24-hour GMT function, which allows for an intuitive reading of the second time zone — making it an ideal timepiece for global travellers and discerning collectors alike. Visible through the sapphire crystal case back, the movement reveals meticulous finishing, with NAC-treated bridges adorned with embossed rays alternating brushed and microbeaded surfaces, complemented by polished bevels that catch the light from every angle.
The openworked oscillating weight features a refined aesthetic detail: a deep blue finish obtained through ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition), a vacuum deposition technique that generates a perfectly uniform coating. This precise process creates a homogeneous, long-lasting coating that gives the rotor its distinctive blue colour and enhances its resistance to corrosion, adding visual depth. The result echoes the intense shades of the lapis lazuli dial, establishing a chromatic continuity that creates a visual dialogue between front and back, as though the energy of the movement itself were immersed in the same deep blue universe. The engraved motto, “The Conquest of Innovation,” reaffirms the Maison’s unwavering commitment to technical excellence and creative evolution.
A New Expression of Timeless Mastery
With the Dominion Lapis Blue GMT, Cyrus Genève is exploring a new dimension of its identity — one where bold architecture meets the organic beauty of nature. The name “Dominion” evokes a sense of mastery and control over time. In this new interpretation, this mastery is conveyed through restraint and purity, as seen in features such as the solid dial made of noble stone and the distinctive graphic language that emphasises clarity and elegance. Limited to just 28 pieces, this new horological masterpiece is more than just a watch; it is a statement of individuality and refined taste, designed for collectors who seek authenticity, rarity and emotional resonance in a watch. It is a dominion over time, carved in stone and driven by precision.
