SYE WATCHES | Born to race

I confess: “Born to race” is an easy title to introduce a brand whose name “SYE” is the acronym of “Start Your Engine”, the unavoidable order that announces the imminent start of the race at Daytona… or the beginning of a merciless race on your favorite video game console.

Two weeks! I have had two weeks to test and play with two SYE watches that Arnaud Pezeron, founder and CEO of this independant French brand agreed to lend me. I always feel this proof of trust as a privilege. So, first of all, thank you, Arnaud.

These two watches are part of the SYE collection, composed of multiple variations of a chronograph and an automatic watch. On the first hand, a well known meca-quartz Seiko VK64, on the other hand, a reliable Myota 8217. Despite the fact that I usualy like exploring this technical part, I will not focus on the movements in this review. Once you have understood, on the one hand, that they are produced by two famous Japanese manufactures and that millions of watches on the planet are running with these calibers, and on the other hand, that the watches are assembled in the workshops of a French independent and family-run for four generations watchmaking company (Reparalux / Humbert-Droz) you can concentrate your attention on the main assets of these uncommon watches, which are elsewhere.

Dials

Five dial colors are proposed on SYE official website.

Whatever the color, all the dials of the SYE collection are vertically brushed. If you like the changing color and surface aspects of brushed dials, you will not be disappointed. Look at this! Juste an advice before: don’t do this at work. You could be surprised by your boss playing with the light instead of earning honestly your wages… We all are the same. The watch fan looks at his watch, not at the time. For that, he as got a smartphone… which he occasionally (occasionally?) uses to take pictures of his last acquisition…

When came the time to choose which models I would test, I have been seduced by the Estoril blue and the green dials. Here they are.

[Estoril]

The MOT1ON 24 automatic watch which I have in test is the last born of the collection. It offers a blue [Estotril] Dial. But where does this unknown color?

Entering the words “blue estoril” on my favorite web search engine, I displayed a lot of pictures of a famous german automotive brand. All right. Nothing else? Digging a bit more lead me to Estoril track stands and pits, in Portugal. This circuit was a famous Formula 1 competition track in the 80’s and 90’s. Yeeess. That’s it. You never know what a watch review may lead you to learn and discover. I love this. 100% pleasure.

Like on the Estoril tribunes, the blue of the dial is highlighted by the white flange.

The polished applied markers reflect vivid flashes of light with every movement of the wrist. Attention! The boss is crossing the open space…

Looking closer, the vertical brushing of the dial and the circular microgroove of the 24 hours sub-dial offer a very interesting texture contrast. The design is meticulous down to the smallest detail.

[Bullit]

The [Bullit] dial is on par with the hero and the Mustang of the same name movie. Raw. Dark.

Here again we have a vertical brushed dial. The two black sub-dials (minutes on the left, 24 hours on the right) add depth and relief. The blue text and hands that stand out against the dial background provides the touch of color that immediately transports us to the world of motorsport. Are you ready to hit the streets of San Francisco?

Date appertures

On both dials I have appreciated the asymmetrical whistle-shaped aperture. Further proof of attention to every detail by the designer.

Night readability

Nothing to complaint about. The readability in dark environment is excellent.

Middle case

Special attention has been paid to the middle case by Ludovic Blanquer, who pencils the design of SYE watches. Look at this.

Design

The watch’s virile character is fully expressed on the flanks, with straight, taut lines that draw an interlocking between several parts. A bit like an engine cylinder head and its cover. Enhanced by the chronograph pushers on the chronograph, it’s a beautiful effect. This is even more evident on the Bullit chronograph’s titanium case.

Signed caseback

On the caseback is engraved the SYE signature and the watch reference.

Crown and pushers

The crown proudly displays the letter “S”, the signature of Sye watch. On the [Bullit] chronograph as on the [Estoril] Automatic watch, the big crown is very easy to handle and well protected.

The Fastback™ strap system

Now comes what makes SYE watches like no other. The strap. Look at how it appears to be one with the case! Its pre-curved shape leads to a very confortable wearing of the watch despite the large 40,5 mm diameter of the case, even on a small wrist like mine.

The strap adapts extremely quickly to the curve of the wrist. You have to put the watch on your arm to appreciate the comfort of this concept and the quality of the manufacturing.

It’s really worth having a closer look on this small design masterpiece. What is usually an accessory of the watch is, here, its main asset which makes its unique look.

A very innovative attaching system

There is no spring bar to attach the SYE strap to the case. Every thing is played on the caseback with a screwed plate which holds in place the two strands of the strap.

SYE delivers the watch with a special tool which makes changing of strap funny and as easy as child’s play. SYE Watches know what “Customer experience” means.

The three-pointed star screw head is reminiscent of a fuel tank cap on a sports car. In blue, it’s pretty. I saw it as a nod to the blued screws heads which hold the bridges on watch movements.

The Fastback™system

Arnaud Pezeron knew what kind of strap he wanted. But from the idea to the product, there is a long journey. Finally a steel insert that allows to clip the strap on the case was designed.

Strap with a specific steel insert, adapted middle case, holding plate, central screw… The Fastback™system is born.

To answer its clients wishes, SYE also developed a steel strap. Perhaps less interesting in terms of design, but very useful to understand how the strap is secured with the middle case. The strap endlink (or steel insert in case of the leather strap) fits perfectly with the middle case, with just the right amount of space to allow for installation. The retaining plate and central screw then secure the assembly.

Top-of-the-range craftmanship

The Fastback™system is, in itself very innovative. But it would not be what it is without the extraordinary and talented work of “Maison Jean-Rousseau“, on the handmade straps. More than 30 steps and 3 days are necessary to build the SYE strap! I have read on SYE website that it is the more complex that Maison Jean Rousseau has ever produced. And I want to believe it.

In addition to the traditional construction element of a leather strap, including the core part, it is necessary to stretch the calfskin over the steel insert that will join the strap to the case. The craftsman/woman has also to integrate a 3D printed polymer part, backbone of the strap, which gives it its particular shape and ensures that its appearance is uniform along its entire length, without any disgraceful break or fold.

High quality manufacturing

The leather is “rembordé” (i.e. folded over the edges) all around the steel insert. The pictures bellow allow to distinguish the inside part of the insert, that clips onto the middle case.

The final assembly is sumptuous. Nothing less.

A large range of luxury straps

To satisfy each one tastes, SYE offers a large range of straps (I counted twelve different colors, and texture a currently for sale on the website). Each of them is made of high quality leather especially, the French NovoNappa leather sourced from the tannery Haas, part of Chanel group (source: SYE Watch website).

Each strap has a blue lining leather on its hidden face, with the embossed SYE signature

Oh. One last thing: even if SYE watches company was to cease its activity (I wish this will never happen), Maison Jean Rousseau commits to produce on demand straps for any SYE owner who needs a new one. That’s true luxury and illustrates the great mindset that drives both SYE and Atelier Rousseau companies!

Even if it is not my favorite because we loose the pleasure of the amazing leather strap shape, this review would not be completed without a view of the stainless steel strap. It is less refined but however fits perfectly the titane case of the [Bullet] chronograph for an even more virile style.

And SYE thinks out of the box… again

I don’t know of any luxury brand that has chosen (has taken the risk to chose?) comics as a means of communication. Again, SYE thinks out of the box.

Arnaud Pezeron went to get the very talented Giovanni Valletta to create his brand’s graphic universe. If you don’t like line drawings, you may want to pass. But if you’re like me, addict of drawing and comics, you won’t be able to resist. And in case you are just in the middle, meaning not reluctant nor interested, you will probably be won over by the pleasure of this playful universe which proves that it’s possible to make beautiful objects without taking yourself too seriously.

These drawings make you want to put a nice watch on your wrist and go all the way, don’t they?

Oh, by he way. Giovanni Valletta is not a anonymous artist, a kind of John Doe coming from nowhere. He is “just a guy” who adapts John Wick movies into comics for a great American publisher. His website is worth a visit : https://www.giovannivalletta.com/. Go!

Before leaving…

• Visit SYE website to discover the whole collection and more
• Follow SYE Watches on its Instagram profile : SYE Watches
• And moreover, do not forget to share this review with friends, mistress, wife, lover… With your bike or Mustang too if you wish!
• Follow me on Instagram thread Clock Me Tender in order to be informed of the next article.

Stay safe on the road and see you soon again on Clock Me Tender!

Jerry