Credits: Article and images by Lee Sheng @ Revolution Watch Magazine. See the original article here - https://revolutionwatch.com/trilobe-watches-wonders-2024-les-matinaux-lheure-exquise/
At Watches & Wonders 2024, independent watchmaker Trilobe revisits its very first watch, the Les Matinaux, and gives it a romantic makeover. This includes tweaking the fonts of the hour and minute markers and, most notably, adding a moonphase – a first for the brand. The result is the Les Matinaux L’Heure Exquise, available in three different dials, two sizes, and two materials, ensuring there’s something for everyone.
The Les Matinaux is inherently romantic, with its unique time display relying on planetary rings rotating against fixed markers, a departure from conventional hands. Its minimalist dial design further enhances its taste and style.
Now, the watch has been further enhanced with a new font design for the Arabic numeral hour and minute markers. The italicized Breguet numerals, located on rotational discs, create the illusion of spiraling outwards. This font feels so intuitive on the discs that it seamlessly integrates into the watch’s design.
However, the true highlight of the L’Heure Exquise is the moonphase, marking the first time Trilobe has incorporated such a complication. While the brand’s previous watches focused on creative hour, minute, and second displays, the moonphase sits in the innermost ring of the time display, co-axial with the seconds disc. It features a silver-colored base laser-engraved with textures resembling the moon’s surface, topped with a blue cover adorned with azurage or circular guilloche finish.
Notably, the moonphase doesn’t simply replace the seconds. The seconds display remains, but instead of the usual seconds ring with printed numerals, it now serves as an indicative seconds display. The second ring eliminates all markers, featuring a transparent sapphire disc adorned with stars, indicating the movement’s operation rather than functioning as a technical seconds display. This subtle but significant update adds to the overall charm and functionality of the watch.
The L’Heure Exquise comes in three different dial options. The basic option features a finely textured finish in either dark blue or “salmon” color, with the latter aptly named Dune. However, the most intriguing option is undoubtedly the Secret edition, boasting a starry sky printed on a blue dial.
Each of the three dials is paired with either a titanium case or a rose gold case. The titanium case is available in 38.5 mm or 40.5 mm sizes, while the gold case is only available in the larger size.
Inside all of these models lies the same X-Centric movement developed by specialist Le Cercle des Horlogers. It boasts an appealing layout reminiscent of a hand-wound movement, but it is actually automatic, featuring a micro-rotor at 12 o’clock. The base plate of the movement is finished with fine grain and a dark coating that echoes the overall clean aesthetic of the watch.
Trilobe Les Matinaux L’Heure Exquise
Movement: X-Centric; automatic; 48 hours power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, and moonphase
Case: 38.5 mm x 9.2 mm or 40.5 mm x 9.2 mm; titanium or 18k rose gold; water resistant to 50 m
Strap: Leather strap
Limited edition: 100 pieces for the series
Price:
€14,500 for titanium with Dune or Blue dial
€26,500 for gold with Dune or Blue dial
€18,200 for titanium with Secret dial
€29,200 for gold with Secret dial
Credits: Article and images by Lee Sheng @ Revolution Watch Magazine. See the original article here - https://revolutionwatch.com/trilobe-watches-wonders-2024-les-matinaux-lheure-exquise/