Excalibur 36

The year of the Excalibur: Enter the legend

Very few watch Manufactures are blessed with the intense creativity of Roger Dubuis: ever since it was founded in 1995 it has been totally focused on innovation. Now its prestigious new creations for 2013 are dazzling the world of Fine Watchmaking with their mastery of centuries-old arts, their expertise in complications, their virtuosity in design and the magic of their jewellery. They all draw their inspiration from the Warrior, the legendary figure in a daring world of adventure that, just like the Roger Dubuis Excalibur collection, is driven by passion.

His lineage, chivalry and bravery make the Warrior the perfect image for the noblest and most powerful Roger Dubuis creations. Four exceptional models in the Excalibur collection reflect his masterful, choreographed power in a perfect balance of technical expertise and artistic expression. Constantly introducing innovations to reinforce its dynamic design style is a perpetual objective at Roger Dubuis. The Manufacture has developed a watchmaking culture devoted to taking on the most extravagant challenges, a mission shared by the hero of the Warrior world where there is no place for half-measures. The legend has inspired four Excalibur models that excite the senses and remind us that boldness is an eternal virtue.

First is the Excalibur Table Ronde. 12 knights and their swords carved in gold form the hour markers around the enamelled dial, making the watch an evocation of the Round Table at the heart of the King Arthur legend. And who better to express the spirit of this legend than the finest craftsmen at Roger Dubuis who keep priceless traditional skills alive and demonstrate them in this outstanding example of noble refinement. In a limited series of 28 watches, the RD821 mechanical movement is fitted with hour and minute indicators that awaken a timeless imagination.

The second original creation exemplifies the superb expertise of Roger Dubuis by showing that weightlessness is as much a feeling as a physical state. The Excalibur 42 Tourbillon Squelette is a model of elegance and lightness that reveals extraordinary mechanical complexity. Based on the Excalibur 45 Double Tourbillon Squelette, it is a masterpiece of watchmaking that is also a genuine work of art. The 165 parts that make up the RD505SQ mechanical movement transform technical intricacy into a form of artistic expression that is perfectly framed in the 42 mm case. It introduces a new interpretation of the skeleton movement at Roger Dubuis.

The third essential element in the 2013 collection, the Excalibur 42 Chronograph, combines two themes: elegance and technique. Its strongly chromatic design is emphasised in a blue dial with white Roman numerals. But the two symmetrical chronograph counters in the middle of the dial are a reminder that design is not the only daring feature of this watch. Its heart is the new RD681 movement that brings a dynamic dimension to elegant sports timing.

The brilliance of the Excalibur 36 makes it the most elegant of the four models. Starting with a 36 mm case, the craftsmen of Roger Dubuis were charged with turning the piece into a perfect symbol of High Jewellery. 672 diamonds totalling approximately 4.78 carats decorate the watch from the crown to the folding clasp, creating a stunning effect on the bracelet. Powered by the RD821 mechanical movement it makes each second, each minute, each hour more dazzling than the one before.

Excalibur 36
Time to please

One model in the Excalibur collection adds a precious touch to its daring designs. The Excalibur 36 in pink gold and set with a halo of 672 diamonds (approx 4.78 carats) sparkles with the light of a thousand fires. Its identifying codes – dynamic shapes, sharp angles, powerful design – give it an allure that links refinement and beautiful watchmaking, without affecting the Roger Dubuis signature in any way.

In the Geneva Manufacture women are seen as heroines: it has created an exceptional timepiece that is a true hymn to femininity. The Excalibur 36 in pink gold offers a remarkable mechanism in a powerful design. The brand’s craftsmen have been very ambitious in creating an ultra-precise piece with a charm that is only matched by its performance.

The watch represents the avant-garde spirit that characterises Roger Dubuis and is the essence of its excellence in jewellery. It embraces preciousness and beauty with its bracelet set with 624 diamonds totalling approximately 3.79 carats. Precious stones surround the centre of the polished bracelet with its two rows of symmetrical brilliant-cut diamonds.
The magic continues on the bezel set with 48 diamonds totalling around 0.99 carats. Echoing this flamboyance, its pink gold extends all the way to the Roman numerals applied delicately on the dial and around the small seconds counter at 6 o’clock.
And because excellence is the benchmark of this creation, it is fitted with the latest generation of a Roger Dubuis mechanical movement with automatic winding: the calibre RD821. Composed of 172 parts, it indicates the hours, minutes and seconds and can draw on a power reserve of 48 hours. Lastly, the Excalibur 36 has received the highest recognition in the world of Fine Jewellery: it is certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, (COSC) and is stamped with the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva.

An object of indisputable technical excellence that is also an exceptional piece of jewellery, the Excalibur 36 is facing a stellar future. Its boldness glows like the fire of the diamonds that form a disc of light on its bezel and bracelet. The sparkle of time touches us here as if to remind us that each moment is unique.