Trilobe is a creative and independent watchmaking House established in France by Gautier Massonneau in 2018. Trilobe was born from the desire to shake up the codes of traditional watchmaking with a singular time display and a new way to tell the time. With the hands and preconceived ideas, with the Trilobe watch, time is put in motion while its indicators remain fixed. 3 eccentric rings rush forward on the dial and rotate in a counterclockwise direction, carrying with them the scales of time: The most largest ring for hours, the medium for minutes and the smallest for seconds.
Driving this unique dial is the X-Centric calibre, a testament to Trilobe's commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. Crafted by hand in Switzerland's storied La Chaux-de-Fonds by Le Cercle des Horlogers, this calibre is a marvel of engineering. The relatively massive weight of the rings (when compared to tiny watch hands) requires excellent torque, which is delivered at a rate of 28,800VPH from an uncommonly powerful main spring. A thick, heavy micro-rotor powers that mainspring, offering yet another eccentricity when looking back at the movement through the sapphire case.
Trilobe's X-Centric calibre features micro-blasted, wedged bridges and plates, which are hand-engraved to achieve a pleasing gain effect in the brass and then electroplated for a striking black gold surface. The exquisitely finished exposed gear train components contrast against the dark bridges for a stunning visual effect. The black balance bridge suggests the modern deconstructive architecture that Trilobe took as inspiration when conceiving this fascinating movement.
The Nuit Fantastique Grained Dune, in steel, is a unique masterpiece. Its copper-toned/sand dial, softened by the grain pattern, creates a subtle shimmer, making it a perfect fit for this understated timepiece. Despite its understated appearance, this watch is a bold statement of innovative materials and unique design concepts. The time-telling configuration is entirely novel, and the movement is one of the most interesting in recent history. The Nuit Fantastique presents time in a completely unique manner. The hours, minutes, and seconds are expressed on geared time-telling rings, each rotating counterclockwise and always read from the top of the timing rings. Despite the novelty of this eccentric configuration, time-telling is entirely intuitive, ensuring that you can read the time at a glance without any confusion. Hours are read from the top of the outer ring, where the trefoil logo points to the time. One can glance at this ring to get an immediate general reading of the time. Minutes and seconds are read from the two smaller discs below.
The Nuit Fantastique watch is a perfect blend of tradition and innovation. The only truly traditional shape here is the understated round case and knurled crown, but closer inspection reveals innovation as well. Formed from titanium for lightweight and subdued metal hues, the polishing is exquisite and made all the more striking by the finely brushed, recessed mid-case. A closer look at the lugs reveals torqued shapes and traditional joinery, with the case reminiscent of dress watches from the 1930s.
Stunning, compellingly unique, yet traditional, the Nuit Fantastique is an instant classic that we are thrilled to offer exclusively at Swiss Gallery London.
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