It’s not often a watchmaker makes their name in the industry by offering a watch with less than a collector might expect, but that is exactly what French watchmaker Trilobe have done. How are they offering less than a collector might expect, you ask? They create timepieces without hands. Indeed, their signature has been to create timepieces that use various other methods to display the time, just like with the Nuit Fantastique that we have here. Founded in 2016 and launching their first watch in 2018, Trilobe’s mission has been to revitalise watchmaking by offering interesting and unique watches that break from the norm, which is exactly what they have managed to do so far. Offered with a dark blue “secret” as Trilobe calls it, the Nuit Fantastique that we have here is a 40.5mm titanium timepiece that features an asymmetrical trefoil-shaped display that uses three concentric geared discs to display the seconds, hours and minutes. The seconds are in the fully-exposed aperture at 8 o’clock, the minutes within the semi-exposed aperture at 11 o’clock and the hours along the ring that traces along the dial’s edge and rotates, rather interestingly, counter-clockwise. Additionally, the dial is decorated by the arrangement of stars that the original owner requested for a specific location and time and date. With a gorgeously finished case to match its interesting display, the Nuit Fantastique emphasises the amount of effort Trilobe have put into their watches; something that makes them one to watch for the future for sure.

An intriguing timepiece from a brand that has not even begun to gain the kudos they deserve, it is only a matter of time before the watch-collecting community discovers Trilobe for what they are: finely-finished unique timepieces that explore new design languages and break from traditional norms.