The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph stands as the pure embodiment of the Maison’s unbridled inventiveness and its drive to reimagine high complications with theatrical flair. Rooted in the fierce energy of motor racing and the advanced craft of Geneva’s ateliers, this is not just a timepiece but an orchestrated spectacle, masterfully engineered for aficionados who demand both sportiness and elevated artistry in their wristwear.
Expressivity in Layers
Immediately, the dial declares itself as a visual feast. Inspired by Roger Dubuis’ mastery in skeletonisation, it is a dynamic stage set in multiple layers and heights, revealing the coordinated choreography of its underlying mechanics. The geometry is anything but reserved: complex, symmetrical, and drawing the eye into its depths. At 3 o’clock, the Rotating Minute Counter bursts to life with a tripartite hand and oversized red numerals, moving gracefully past the digits in a rotation that offers both drama and functional clarity.
The lower black flange, with transferred text and minute tracks, plays in harmonious contrast with the upper flange in pink gold, its screw-like hour markers rhodium-plated and filled with luminescent material to ensure legibility in any scenario. The hour and minute hands in white gold, coated with black PVD and filled with SLN, encapsulate Roger Dubuis’ approach to combining technical necessity with sculptural allure.
Calibre RD780SQ – A Tradition Reborn
Turning to the technical heart, the RD780SQ is an integrated chronograph calibre conceived entirely in-house. The movement is equipped with the vertical clutch and column wheel, both true to the finest Swiss traditions yet transfigured by the unique touch of Roger Dubuis. The column wheel, positioned gracefully at 6 o’clock, is precisely machined from stainless steel and finished with the ambitious poli zinc technique, a demanding process designed to impart a brilliant shine often reserved for components of unusual shape.
One of the movement’s crowning innovations is the patent-pending Second Braking System (SBS), an addition to the vertical clutch mechanism. This feature delivers exceptional stability to the chronograph seconds hand, eliminating flicker and ensuring an unwavering precision during timekeeping. The RD780SQ also boasts a tilted balance wheel at a 12° angle, ideally positioned for visibility while delivering the inertia of a tourbillon. Its performance is heightened by diamond-coated silicon escapement components, making it both anti-magnetic and stunningly precise.
Carrying the prestigious Poinçon de Genève (Geneva Seal), each of the 310 components in the calibre is adorned with sixteen distinct finishing techniques, creating a dazzling interplay between matte and polished surfaces that heightens the movement’s luminous dance with the light. With a frequency of 4Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and a substantial 72-hour power reserve, the movement encapsulates the vigour and vision of Hyper Horology.
Sculptural Design Meets Endurance
The case of the Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph is a striking amalgamation of pink gold and black DLC-coated titanium, skilfully skeletonised to accentuate the spirit of speed and performance. At 45mm in diameter and 17.13mm thick, its open back with sapphire crystal reveals the five-armed rotor, referencing supercar rims and sharply accentuating the motorsport connection.
Water resistance is assured up to 10 bar (100m), maintaining practicality for active wearers. The watch is paired with a black rubber strap, which features a Quick Release System for effortless interchangeability. The triple-folding buckle, combining pink gold and titanium, furthers the integration of robust materials with signature luxury.
Roger Dubuis’ Manifesto of Dynamic Elegance
Limited to just 88 pieces, the Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph encapsulates Roger Dubuis’ radical vision: where the world of high horology and motorsport collide in expressive harmony. Every detail, from the bold dial to the sculpted case and innovative calibre, has been shaped with the kind of fervour and technical daring that define the Geneva manufacturer’s approach. This is not simply a chronograph for those on the move; it is a declaration of a lifestyle driven by adrenaline, elegance, and the relentless pursuit of new rules in contemporary watchmaking.
Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph Technical Specifications
Ref. RDDBEX1138 – Limited edition of 88 pieces , Poinçon de Genève
Specific Highlights
- Pink gold and titanium case
- SBS–Second Brake System
- Column wheel
- Vertical coupling clutch
- 120° RDMC – Rotating discminute counter
Movement
- Calibre RD780SQ
- Complication: Flyback chronograph, date
- Movement energy: Automatic, Self-winding
- Finishes: The Manufacture skillfully crafts 16 distinct finishes in-house on this RD780SQ, 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: 4 Hz / 28’800 Vibrations per Hour
- Power reserve: 72 Hours
- Diameter lines: 16”
- Thickness: 10.7 Millimeters
- Number of pieces: 310
- Number of rubies: 39
Case
- Pink gold and black DLC Titanium case with open case back with sapphire crystal
- Diameter: 45 Millimeters
- Thickness: 17.13 Millimeters
- Water resistance: 10 BAR (100m)
Dial
- Black lower flange with transferred texts and minute tracks. Pink gold coated upper Flangewith screw-like hour markers rhodium plated and filled with SLN.
Hands
- White gold 750/1000 hour and minute hands coated with black PVD. Outlined tips filledwith SLN.
Strap
- Black rubber strap with black rubber inlay
- Interchangeable with Quick Release System – QRS
Buckle
- Pink gold cover with titanium blades, triple folding
- Interchangeable with Quick Release System – QRS
