ReviewTrilobe Une Folle Journée: A Watch As ‘Crazy’ As Its Name
Young independent French watchmaking brand Trilobe continue their quest to deconstruct time with their futuristic wristwatch—the Une Folle Journée, which loosely translates to ‘a crazy day’ in French. Here’s a closer look at the watch that lives up to its name
May We Recommend
‘Three rings, three indicators, a new frame of reference… No more hands and preconceived notions,’ is how the brand have described the gorgeous Une Folle Journée watch. After their first watch launch in 2018 (Les Matinaux) and then the Nuit Fantastique, the brand have doubled down on their unconventional, three-ring approach to telling time. A futuristic appearance, a captivating domed glass, the absence of conventional hands, and three rings to display the time—all add up to make a watch that seems more like a concept than something mass-produced. Let’s spin Trilobe’s wheel of time together.
The Symphony Of Time: Trilobe’s Une Folle Journée
Within the 40.5mm grade-5 titanium case of this watch lies the incredible mechanism that sets the watch apart: the innovative way of telling the time. Very visibly, the idea behind this watch is clear: it’s to continue the brand’s intrinsic artistic DNA, which stays true to the first few watches they ever put out.
How it tells the time is like this: the three rings on the dial—which rotate at different levels of the sapphire crystal—each marking the hours, minutes, and seconds. The hours are marked by the largest ring on the perimeter of the dial; the minutes are displayed on the median ring; and the smallest one displays the seconds.
A mark at the conventional 6 tells you the current hour and minutes, which, once you think about it, might actually be a faster way of reading time as compared to conventional three-hand timekeeping. The glass has a height of 17.8mm, with the case itself being 10mm thick.
The three-dimensional layout of the watch, the clear view of the spectacular movement within the watch, and the large domed glass all give the watch a more artistic feel than something that was intended to be practical. Fitting the large domed form under one’s sleeve may be a problem, but you can always just say that it was always meant to be a timekeeper orb for the wizard you are.
Launched in 2022, the Une Folle Journée watch is available in various colours, including a diamond-set ‘diamant’ edition. In special focus is the Une Folle Journée Blue, which features three blue rings within the dial, while a blue leather strap wraps the watch around your wrist.
A Symphony of Independence: Trilobe’s Signature Move
Une Folle Journée Blue stands as a testament to Trilobe’s commitment to rewriting the language of time. The three concentric rings, standing tall on pillars, create a whimsical ballet in the heart of the watch. Soaring to a height of 10.2mm, these rings become the storytellers of time, each contributing to the enchanting narrative. The grade-5 titanium case, with its brushed mid-case and polished surface, cradles this celestial performance. The domed glass encapsulates the rings at different levels, making this timepiece not just a watch but a captivating work of art.
The Conductor Behind The Une Folle Journée Orchestra: The X-Centric³ Calibre
When you take away the hands from a watch, it opens up the doors of innovation and, with it, the onus of mechanical engineering. Not only do the three rings weigh more than your conventional hands, but they’re also suspended within the case at different angles and continually rotate counter-clockwise.
Orchestrating this symphony is the X-Centric³ calibre, a movement that was the result of Trilobe’s partnership with Le Cercle des Horlogers—a well-known watchmaker based in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Conceived in France and built in Switzerland, the patented movement is the result of five years of research and development. The movement is powered by a heavy micro-rotor (to power the heavier rings) and gives the watch a power reserve of 48 hours while vibrating at 28,800vph.
All in all, the watch personifies Swiss know-how with a poetic French touch. With the Une Folle Journee, Trilobe allow for a spectacular view of the movement for the first time, while the suspended, yet continually rotating rings, do give you a beautiful sight. It’s the kind of watch that’s more concept than reality. It’s the kind of wrist-wear that’s more artistic than just a mere time-telling instrument. It’s the kind of watch that unabashedly challenges the notion of traditional timekeeping.
Shop The Story
-
Trilobe Une Folle Journée
UFJ01BA
