The Excalibur Monotourbillon Dr. Woo Episode III is the latest chapter in the ongoing collaboration between Roger Dubuis and renowned tattoo artist Dr. Woo. This limited edition of 28 pieces marks a significant milestone for the brand, coinciding with its 30th anniversary. The watch is a convergence of high horology and artistic vision, encapsulating both technical prowess and a narrative-driven design rooted in cosmic exploration.
Roger Dubuis: Thirty Years of Expressive Watchmaking
Founded in 1995, Roger Dubuis has established itself as a leader in expressive, avant-garde watchmaking. The brand is recognized for its Hyper Horology™ philosophy, blending distinctive design with horological expertise. Over three decades, Roger Dubuis has consistently pushed boundaries, integrating contemporary aesthetics with traditional Swiss craftsmanship. Every Roger Dubuis caliber is produced in-house at its Geneva manufacture, and the brand’s commitment to excellence is underscored by the prestigious Poinçon de Genève certification, which attests to both the provenance and the quality of each timepiece1. As Roger Dubuis celebrates its 30th anniversary, it continues to reinterpret classic codes with innovative materials and radical design, attracting an exclusive circle of collectors and enthusiasts.
Dr. Woo and His Collaborations with Roger Dubuis
Dr. Woo, a pioneer of the single needle tattoo style, is known for elevating tattooing into a sophisticated art form. His approach is characterized by minimalism, monochrome palettes, and geometric precision, a stark contrast to traditional tattoo techniques. Dr. Woo’s collaborations with Roger Dubuis began in 2021, each project exploring philosophical and cosmic themes through the lens of horology. The partnership is built on shared values of individuality and expressivity, with Dr. Woo infusing the Excalibur collection with his signature motifs: spiders, cryptic symbols, and a recurring spaceship, each symbolising a journey through time and space.
Celestial Storytelling in Detail
The dial of the Excalibur Monotourbillon Dr. Woo Episode III is a canvas for cosmic narrative and creative craftsmanship. The sapphire crystal features a 3D galvanic-grown spaceship, highlighted with pink gold metallization, its astral trails spelling out “We Come in Peace.” At 10 o’clock, Dr. Woo’s signature spider is laser-engraved and filled with black ink, a subtle nod to his tattoo artistry. Three pink gold metallised nebulas appear at 9 o’clock, inviting the wearer into the “black hole” motif that dominates the dial’s visual storytelling.
Between 10 and 11 o’clock, a spiral-shaped stainless steel component, treated with pink gold and laser-engraved, represents the entrance to a black hole. This hypnotic effect is mirrored on the caseback, where the spiral is filled with black colouring and surrounded by a chequerboard spiral pattern, evoking the immensity of space and time distortion. The barrel cover at 1 o’clock features a matte-black background with pink gold transfers depicting planets, rings, and nebulae, and rotates with the movement, providing a dynamic view of a distant galaxy.
Technical and Artistic Mastery
The Excalibur Monotourbillon Dr. Woo Episode III is powered by the manually wound RD515 calibre. This skeletonised movement showcases a flying tourbillon at 7 o’clock, with a reimagined cage inspired by the Whirlpool Galaxy (Messier 51a). The upper bridge is reduced to three arms to accommodate a spiral motif, crafted in stainless steel and finished with Roger Dubuis’ signature mirror polish. The movement offers a 72-hour power reserve and is composed of 194 components, each hand-finished with 16 different techniques to meet the standards of the Poinçon de Genève.
The case measures 42mm in diameter and 12.62mm in thickness, manufactured from a bi-colour combination of titanium and 18K pink gold. The open caseback and sapphire crystal provide a glimpse into the movement and its decorative elements. The watch is water resistant to 10 bar (100 meters). The bracelet, also in titanium and pink gold, features a Quick Release System for versatility and comfort. Dr. Woo’s enigmatic symbols are laser-engraved around the bezel and bracelet links, deepening the connection between wearer and artist.
Expressive Watchmaking
The Excalibur Monotourbillon Dr. Woo Episode III is another evocative example of Roger Dubuis’ commitment to expressive watchmaking and technical excellence. By integrating Dr. Woo’s artistic vision, the watch transcends traditional horology, offering a unique narrative experience rooted in cosmic exploration. Limited to 28 pieces, this timepiece stands as both a collector’s item and a celebration of Roger Dubuis’ 30 years of innovation and creativity.
Roger Dubuis Excalibur Monotourbillon Dr. Woo Episode III Technical Specifications
Ref. RDDBEX1125 – € 183.000, Limited edition of 28 pieces, Boutique exclusive, Poinçon de Genève
Highlights
- The epitome chapter of our collaboration with the great graphic artist, Dr Woo, exploring new horizons around a black hole that sucks us into the unknown.
- A new two-tone housing with a titanium and pink gold case and bracelet
Movement
- RD515
- Complication: Skeleton, Flying Monotourbillon with a specific vortex like cage
- Movement energy: Manual-winding
- Finishes:The Manufacture skillfully crafts 16 distinct finishes in-house on this RD512, including those tailored for the Poinçon de Genève certification. These finishes are meticulously applied to every surface of every single component of every calibre, creating a captivating interplay of matte and polished surfaces. This meticulous process enhances the play of light, that has become the hallmark of Geneva Haute Horlogerie.
- Frequency: 3 Hz / 21’600 Vibrations per Hour
- Power reserve: 72 Hours
- Diameter lines: 16
- Thickness: 6.9 Millimeters
- Number of pieces: 194
- Number of rubis: 19
Case
- Titanium case with open case back Sapphire crystal
- Pink Gold 750/1000 bezel and case back
- Diameter: 42 Millimeters
- Thcikness: 12.62 Millimeters
- Water Resistance: 10 BAR (100m)
Dial
- Rhodium plated double surface flange, satin-brushed, with transferred texts, polished and
Pink gold-plated hour markers with black SLN in the center - Metallized sapphire glass in pink gold
- Decorative 3D black hole and specific solar system like barrel cover
- Triple surface hands in White gold 750/1000 with satin brushed finish on the tilted surfaces and shotblasted finish on the flat surface, Black SLN tips.
Strap & Buckle
- Interchangeable, Titanium and Pink Gold 750/1000 bracelet with a triple folding buckle
ABOUT ROGER DUBUIS
Representing an unexpected blend of distinctive character and horological expertise, Roger Dubuis has been at the forefront of expressive watchmaking since 1995. With the bold invention of Hyper Horology, the Maison has become renowned for its limitless obsession with conceiving, designing and shaping the future of Haute Horlogerie – the values of pleasure, freedom, and madness fuelling its disruptive attitude. Sustained by its fully-integrated manufacture, where every caliber is made in- house, Roger Dubuis commits to performance and strives for excellence.
Rewarded by the Poinçon de Genève certification, their traditional yet contemporary masterpieces are a demonstration of radical skill and ancestral craftmanship, which the Maison reinterprets year after year with fervid creativity and innovative materials. With this avant-garde and daring energy, Roger Dubuis is bringing its collections to an exclusive circle of clients and friends.