Ulysse Nardin
The Trilogy of Time | A set of three limited edition platinum celestial wristwatches | Circa 2009
Auction Closed
May 10, 02:36 PM GMT
Estimate
55,000 - 110,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Planetarium Copernicus, Reference 839-70
A limited edition platinum celestial wristwatch with revolving dial discs representing six planets, months, signs of the zodiac, sun and moon indication, and domed sapphire crystal representing 12 planetary sectors from earth's perspective
Tellerium Johannes Kepler, Reference 889-70
A limited edition platinum celestial dual time wristwatch with month, signs of the Zodiac, moon phases and day/night indication
Astrolabium Galileo Galilei, Reference 999-70
A limited edition platinum celestial wristwatch with equinoctial time, local time, months, signs of the Zodiac, elevation and azimuth of the sun & moon on planisphere, diurnal and nocturnal hours, and moon phases
Dial: black dial composed of revolving rings, sapphire crystal subdivided in 12 sectors | blue enamel dial | tri-color dial below a rotating sapphire disc
Calibre: automatic, jewelled
Movement number: 80.7.236 | 89.0.033 | 91.7.357
Case: platinum, sapphire crystal display case back secured by 4 screws | platinum, snap-on sapphire crystal display case back | platinum, sapphire crystal display case back secured by 4 screws
Case number: 59/100 | 59/100 | 59/100
Closure: platinum Ulysse Nardin buckle
Size: 41.5 mm | 43 mm | 41.5 mm
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: yes
Papers: yes
Accessories: Ulysse Nardin guarantees, service booklets, instruction manuals, collection booklets and books, four leather bifolds, two books Making of a Masterpiece, two books The Trilogy of Time by Marcus Hanke, 2009 Baselworld Press brief, polishing cloth, gloves, three screwdrivers, bracelet tool and winding presentation box
First launched in the mid 1980s, the “Trilogy of Time” was conceived as a tribute to three of the most influential figures in astronomy: Galileo Galilei, Nicolaus Copernicus, and Johannes Kepler.
Developed by the visionary watchmaker Ludwig Oechslin, the trilogy comprises three extraordinary astronomical wristwatches, each interpreting a different dimension of celestial mechanics. The first, the Astrolabium Galileo Galilei, introduced in 1985, remains one of the most complex wristwatches ever created, displaying the positions of the Sun, Moon, and stars, alongside indications for sunrise and sunset, moon phases, eclipses, and a wealth of astronomical data.
The second piece, the Planetarium Copernicus, launched in 1988, illustrates the motion of the five visible planets in relation to the Sun and Earth, embodying the revolutionary heliocentric model. The trilogy was completed in 1992 with the Tellurium Johannes Kepler, which visualises the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, the changing seasons, and the variation in day and night, translating Kepler’s laws of planetary motion into mechanical form.
Together, these three watches form a coherent and intellectually ambitious ensemble, condensing centuries of astronomical discovery into wearable instruments. The present set, cased in platinum and designed with harmonious dials, was offered exclusively as a complete trilogy, making it an exceptionally rare and important example of late 20th century horology at its most inventive.