Planet Trilobe’s Ring of Diamonds

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Planet Trilobe’s Ring of Diamonds - Trilobe
2 minutes read
Dunes as far as the eye can see and rings of precious stones levitating in the sky: the day rises on Trilobe

Introducing Une Folle Journée Diamants and Une Folle Journée Dune, the latest timepieces from the brand.

For Trilobe founder Gautier Massonneau, every one of the brand’s watches is “a work in itself, forging new links between different arts.” Such is the through line of the narrative he has patiently crafted since 2018. The Trilobe name is an architectural reference: trilobe is French for trefoil which, Massonneau insists, “is a symbol that goes beyond any one period of history.” Les Matinaux, Trilobe’s first collection, found inspiration in the Sainte Chapelle in Paris as well as in the poetry of René Char. Nuit Fantastique alludes to deconstructivism and also to Stefan Zweig. The Folle Journée collection, which followed in 2022, betrays its theatrical origins; it is named after Beaumarchais’ The Marriage of Figaro, originally performed as La Folle Journée ou le mariage de Figaro. The brand’s first high jewellery watch, Folle Journée Diamants looks to the ceiling of the Palais Garnier opera house, painted by Marc Chagall with a circular fresco and lit by a sumptuous chandelier (rendered in diamonds on the watch). As for Folle Journée Dune, it exudes the sandy ochre hues of Frank Herbert’s novel.

Planet Trilobe’s Ring of Diamonds

Stone circles

At Trilobe, three circles or rings (“tri-lobe”) display the time, a geometry materialised by the X-Centric calibre, which can be made in different dimensions. On the Folle Journée model, nine pillars support these three rings which sit 10mm above the dial.

For the Folle Journée Diamants, they are resplendent with diamonds which are set using a specially developed technique. The precious stones are inserted through an invisible opening in the ring then slid so that they sit tightly side by side, with the result that the 150 RJC-certified baguette diamonds beautifully follow the curvature of the rings. As a further demonstration of skill, the numerals are hand-painted on the diamonds.

Planet Trilobe’s Ring of Diamonds

For the rotating rings to perform their dance of hours, minutes and seconds, rather than titanium, they are made from an aluminium-silicon-magnesium alloy, thus counterbalancing the weight of the stones. This sum of technical subtleties and expertise only became possible after two years of research and development.

A summer breeze

Equally spectacular, with its air-borne display and contrasting finishes, Folle Journée Dune drapes its dial in a warm and sophisticated hue. Similarly, the bridges are treated to create the illusion of sand. This captivating finish goes particularly well with the charmingly retro 18K pink gold case. Paired with a grade 5 titanium case, the contrast is more marked. The movement’s polished chamfers bring energy and rhythm to the composition. No doubt Trilobe has many more treasures in store, each as desirable as the Melange on Arrakis…

Planet Trilobe’s Ring of Diamonds

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