bjacknot
125
Three years with the Trilogy
Dec 13, 2015,15:52 PM
Thanks for posting these monumental pieces! I was fortunate enough to find an unworn set offered at auction about four years ago. I have yet to wear any of timepieces and I won't until I can confidently review each dial and have a thorough understanding of what each is indicating. Here is my brief assessment:
Timing:
I check each watch monthly and I verify timing twice yearly. Timing is verified against my cell phone and is not very scientific because I do not count the days within each six month interval. The Tellurium and the Astrolabium run fast. My Tellurium gains about 18 minutes per 6 months which equates to about 6 sec/day. The Astrolabium gains about 14 minutes per 6 months which is about 5 sec/day. My Planetarium ran within 5 minutes fast per 6 months, and I had to verify this on three back-to-back six month intervals because sometimes it was within 1-3 minutes per six months! This equates to less than 2 sec/day!
I had each watch on a timing machine about two years ago and I regret not keeping the printout on each watch. I do remember that the amplitude measurements for the Tellurium and the Astrolabium were very good in the 295 + 15 degree range. The Planetarium ran a lowly 245-ish degrees, and the local UN AD stated this was a concern although the watch's good isynchronization must explain its accuracy. I volunteer that these watches have a lot of internals to move and therefore I am not a stickler for ultimate accuracy. However, I am very pleased with how they have performed so far.... Unfortunately, today (December 13) I checked the Planetarium and its month ring (which is the outermost ring on the dial) indicated December 9. I will have to check this watch again and possibly schedule a visit to the spa.
Astronomic Indications:
These watches are each a joy in themselves to behold because of what each does. after a lunar eclipse (or red moon!), solar eclipse, or checking sunrise and sunset, I will open the watch winder case and look at what each watch indicates. The Planetarium is the easiest to understand but most difficult to verify unless I lookup the positions of the planets online. It is interesting to notice the positions of Venus and Mars on the dial when they are visible in the night sky. The Tellurium provides a good interpretation of the moon phase, eclipses, and the illumination of the earth by the sun. I like seeing the stylized earth at the center with the sun indicated at the 12:00 position. The Astrolabium is the most difficult to understand but it is also the most rewarding to interpret. I love understanding dawn, dusk, sunrise, and sunset. The Astrolabium indicates it well. When I had these timepieces serviced in 2012, I requested the appropriate dial get installed for where I reside to ensure accuracy.
As you all can tell there are a lot of indications I did not describe, and that represents where I am on my learning curve.
Aesthetics:
As I have mentioned earlier, I have not worn any of my Trilogy set, but is not because of the aesthetics! From the fancy (Scatolo) three-watch winding case to the watches themselves, it is truly a feast for the eyes. The movement side is no letdown either. I posted these photos years ago, but here are a few to accompany this post.