Cutting-Edge Rings

Trilobe breaks free from the traditionally central architecture of watchmaking to imagine a new dynamic. Three off-centre rings rotate across the dial counterclockwise, carrying the scales of time with them: the largest for the hours, the middle one for the minutes, and the smallest for the seconds.

This exclusive display mechanism is patented by Trilobe. Five years of research and development, together with the expertise of 55 master artisans, were required to meet this mechanical challenge.

Trilobe’s distinctive display mechanism creates a unique connection between the dial and the movement. At Trilobe, the dial does not merely dress the movement: it is an integral part of it. The dial therefore transcends its traditional decorative function to become a true mechanical component, subject to the same exacting standards of precision as the movement’s components. Each element must meet tolerances of around 3 microns, nearly 25 times finer than a human hair.

At Trilobe, three rotating rings replace traditional hands. Larger. Heavier. Far more demanding. They consume more energy and require a movement with exceptional power to glide smoothly across the dial.

From the development phase onwards, every material was studied to minimize friction and prevent any loss of energy. The movement’s internal architecture was redesigned around this challenge: on the X-Nihilo calibre, the seconds wheel was completely redesigned and positioned between two jewels, drastically reducing friction and ensuring perfectly free rotation.

In our workshops, our watchmakers take this pursuit of fluidity even further. Each disc is inspected for absolute flatness, while the rings and toothed wheel are repolished using micrometric abrasives until a flawless surface is achieved, both visually and to the touch.

To compensate for the inertia of the rings, we rethought the very heart of the mechanism. On our X-Nihilo calibre, the pallet stones of the lever escapement are positioned with extreme precision during fine adjustment, increasing amplitude and delivering the power required to rotate the three rings effortlessly.

The result: absolute fluidity, with power reserve preserved. Every innovation converges towards a single goal: to offer a unique, perfectly fluid display while ensuring a power reserve of 42 or 48 hours, depending on the calibre.