Roger Dubuis embarks on a journey back to the future with a reinterpretation of two specialities – the Minute Repeater and the Flying Tourbillon: Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Minute Repeater Monotourbillon Ref. RDDBEX1042 – encased in carbon, featuring a carbon bezel and flange. This exceptional timepiece firmly establishes itself in the revered realm of Grandes Complications. Enhanced with a flying tourbillon and powered by two micro rotors, the Excalibur Spider Unique Series presents an impressive 47mm example of contemporary and expressive Haute Horlogerie. Roger Dubuis elevates its legendary creativity and boundless expertise by integrating these two highly sought-after and exclusive complications, reimagined in SMC carbon. Additionally, the aesthetically pleasing balance of the tourbillon showcases its distinctive star-in-a-cage allure, offering numerous advantages in terms of volume, while providing ample space for the expression of other elements.
Invented in the 18th century to facilitate time-telling in the dark, the Minute Repeater stands out as one of the most intricate complications in watchmaking. Its mechanism involves striking the time upon request by pressing a button or pulling up a slide bolt. In its most sophisticated rendition, the Minute Repeater chimes the hours, quarters, and minutes, typically employing two distinct chimes: a deeper tone for the hours and a higher-pitched one for the minutes. The quarters are denoted by the sequence of these two chimes: high-pitched followed by deep. Among the first calibres introduced by the brand in 1997, the Minute Repeater also marked the inaugural launch of the Roger Dubuis Excalibur collection in 2005.
Unconventional materials for a traditional complication
Forget stuffy old-style heavy metal watches! The Roger Dubuis breaks the mould with carbon fibre, a bold move that actually makes the chime sound better. Think of it as a high-tech time machine, where an 18th-century complication meets modern muscle. Free from anything holding it back, the sound is crystal clear – like the ultimate ringtone for your wrist.
Furthermore, the 47mm SMC carbon watch showcases a black DLC titanium case, rendering the Excalibur Spider Minute Repeater Monotourbillon exceptionally lightweight, ensuring comfortable wear throughout the day. Surprisingly, the large size wears well on my 18.5 (7.2 inch) wrist. The titanium crown, moulded with blue rubber, offers ease of use with excellent grip, while also contributing to the watch’s overall low weight.
The watch is equipped with a black rubber base and black RubberTech inlay, complemented by blue stitching and a titanium black DLC adjustable folding buckle. Comfort is guaranteed.
Open dial with a plethora of details
The auditory pleasure it provides is accompanied by a captivating visual experience, which is why Roger Dubuis has incorporated three prominent elements:
- Firstly, a striking indicator allows observation of the watch during operation of this mechanism.
- Secondly, a function indicator reveals whether the crown is in the winding or time-setting position.
- Lastly, the All or Nothing indicator indicates whether the push button has been fully depressed to activate the striking mechanism.
The indicators can be observed in action in the video from the start of the article.
Time is displayed using central skeletonized hands featuring blue lacquered tips and ample SuperLuminova inserts for enhanced visibility in low-light conditions. Bolt time indexes with luminescent inserts encircle the dial, securing the printed minutes’ track in place. The blend of blue, black, and metallic grey hues contributes to the high-tech aesthetic of the timepiece. The blue/black Excalibur Spider star serves as the enclosure for the jewel that secures the 72-hour power reserve barrel.
The monotourbillon, since Roger Dubuis has timepieces with two tourbillons and it is important to make a distinction, bear on its flying cage the running seconds indication. A circular aperture features white and blue indexes and Arabic numerals, ensuring excellent legibility.
Each Grand Complication by Roger Dubuis is a masterpiece, pushing the boundaries of watchmaking artistry
A minute repeater and a flying tourbillon are both considered grand complications in watchmaking, requiring exceptional skill and precision to create. Combining them in a single watch is a truly rare and impressive feat, showcasing the watchmaker’s mastery of the craft. Calibre RD107 combines these two with a modern skeletonised approach making everything more daring and interesting for the high-tech curious collector.
Breaking down the movement’s decorations:
- Circular-grained: This creates a subtle, textured pattern of concentric circles on the metal surface.
- Tued-up: This involves polishing the raised areas of the design, creating a contrast with the textured background.
- Shot-blasted: This creates a matte finish with a very fine, even texture.
- Côtes de Genève: This classic decoration features alternating stripes arranged in a vertical pattern.
- NAC coated: This is a type of physical vapour deposition (PVD) coating that adds a dark, almost black, colour to the metal.
- Polished jewels sink, chamfered edges and head screws – processes involving manual labour using traditional methods
The combination of these decorations creates a visually interesting and complex finish on the Roger Dubuis Calibre RD107. The circular graining and shot-blasting add texture, while the tued-up and Côtes de Genève elements highlight the design and add contrast. The NAC coating completes the look with a modern and sophisticated touch.
The movement bears the Poinçon de Genève hallmark – one of the most respected watch certifications in the world that guarantees the quality and craftsmanship of a watch. It is awarded by the independent Timelab testing facility in Geneva, Switzerland, after a rigorous inspection process.
For daily mavericks
Forget keeping it locked away, this Roger Dubuis tech splendour is meant to be shown off! Unlike most fancy watches, it’s super light, sporty, and automatic. Made from special materials like carbon fibres, it’s both unique and modern. Not afraid to stand out? This watch is for you! Wear it every day and let it be your conversation starter.
Setting aside its modern and playful aspect, the watch showcases a unique set of complications, presented with a combination of high-tech materials and traditional craftsmanship. The term “Hyperhorology,” coined by Roger Dubuis, is truly fitting in this context.
Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Minute Repeater Monotourbillon Technical Specifications
Ref. RDDBEX1042 – Certification: Poinçon de Genève, price upon request.
Movement
- Calibre RD107 – Automatic with 2 micro-rotors
- Features: a rare combination of a minute repeater with a flying tourbillon
- Functions:
- Hours, Minutes,
- Minute repeater,
- Flying tourbillon at 5 o’clock,
- Function selector at 3 o’clock,
- Chiming indicator at 10 o’clock,
- “All or Nothing” indicator at 8 o’clock
- Decorations:
- Main plate and bridge circular-gained, tued-up, shot-blasted,
- Côtes de Genève and NAC coated
- Number of parts: 558 components
- Jewels: 54
- Diameter: 14 3/4
- Thickness: 10 mm
- Frequency: 3 Hz (21’600 vph)
- Power reserve: 72 hours
Case
- Skeletonized spider,
- Ø47 mm,
- SMC carbon bezel and case body, black DLC titanium container, black DLC titanium crown over moulded with blue rubber,
- Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment and blue metallization,
- Titanium black DLC case back with sapphire crystal
- Thickness: 14.5mm
- Dial: SMC carbon lower flange and black upper flange with rhodium plated indexes filled with the white luminous SLN, 18K Gold hands with black PVD coating and blue transfer and white luminous SLN tips
- Water resistance: 5 BAR (50 m)
Strap
- Black rubber base and black RubberTech inlay, blue stitching
- Buckle: Titanium black DLC, adjustable folding buckle
ABOUT ROGER DUBUIS
Roger Dubuis has been at the forefront of contemporary Haute Horlogerie since 1995. Its audacious creations, firmly anchored in the 21st century, embody substantial expertise expressed through the finest watchmaking mechanisms combined with powerful and daring designs. Boldness and extravagance are the brand’s signatures, and determination its driving force.
The Roger Dubuis Excalibur and Velvet collections are distributed worldwide through an exclusive sales network and boutiques. The quest for excellence, the long search for the right gesture, as well as the development of unique skills are all defining characteristics of the Geneva-based Swiss Maison.