Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Unique Series (Specs & Price)
In the latest 2019 iteration of this feat, Roger Dubuis goes back to the future by revisiting two specialities – the Minute Repeater and the Flying Tourbillon – housed in a carbon case with carbon bezel and flange – and firmly positioned in the hallowed universe of Grandes Complications. Coupled with a flying tourbillon and wound by two micro rotors, the Excalibur Spider Unique Series now offers an outstanding 47 mm example of contemporary and expressive Haute Horlogerie.
In it, Roger Dubuis takes its legendary creativity and unbridled expertise to new heights by combining these two much-admired and highly exclusive complications and reinterpreting them in SMC carbon. In parallel, the beautiful aesthetic balance of the tourbillon features its trademark star-in-a-cage allure, offering a number of advantages with regard to volume, while leaving more space for expressing other elements.
Contemporary chime
Invented in the 18th century to enable people to tell the time in the dark, the Minute Repeater is one of the most sophisticated watchmaking complications. Its mechanism consists in striking the time on demand when pushing a button or pulling up a slide bolt. In its most sophisticated form, the Minute Repeater strikes the hours, quarters and minutes and is generally composed of two chimes, one deep for the hours, one high-pitched for the minutes. Quarters are indicated by the succession of the two chimes: high-pitched and deep. One of the first calibres launched by the brand back in 1997, the Minute Repeater was also the first to be used to launch the Excalibur collection in 2005.
As it happens, the admittedly unconventional use of carbon in such a model is an extremely relevant choice for a minute repeater. It demonstrates Roger Dubuis’ ability to provide a contemporary take on classics, by staging an encounter between an 18th century function and modern technology. Carbon is also one of the lightest materials to provide such excellent mechanical resistance, making it an extremely useful choice in ensuring optimal wearer comfort. Undisturbed by anything surrounding it, the result is the purest of all possible chimes.
The auditory pleasure it procures is also mingled with a sense of visual interest, which is why Roger Dubuis has provided three highly conspicuous elements. The first is the striking indicator serving to observe the watch while this mechanism is in operation. The second is a function indicator revealing whether the crown is in winding or time-setting position. Last but not least, the All or Nothing indicator shows whether the push button is pressed in far enough to release the striking mechanism. In addition, this happy marriage of a minute repeater and a flying tourbillon represents a massive technical advance enabled by Roger Dubuis’ immeasurable mastery of Grand Complication watchmaking.
In keeping with Roger Dubuis’ penchant for voracious hedonism, the new Excalibur Spider Unique Series is designed to be enjoyed rather than consigned to the nearest safe. In line with this philosophy, it is one of a very few Minute Repeaters to be found on the market in a sporty yet high-tech case. An already far cry from classic minute repeaters or tourbillons due to its carbon content, the newest timepiece joins the ranks of the truly unique series. Sporty, incredibly lightweight, automatic and extremely personalised, the latest Excalibur to join a prestigious stable is an accessory expressly designed for members of a highly exclusive tribe unafraid to flaunt their prize.
Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Unique Series
Technical specifications:
· Ref. RDDBEX0862
· Case: Skeletonized spider, Ø47 mm, SMC carbon bezel and case body, black DLC titanium container, black DLC titanium crown over molded with green rubber, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment and green 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 green transfer and white luminous SLN tips
· Water resistance: 5 BAR (50 m)
· Strap: Black rubber base and black RubberTech inlay, green stitching
· Buckle: Titanium black DLC, adjustable folding buckle
· Calibre: RD107, Automatic
· Production: Unique Series
· Certification: Poinçon de Genève
· RD107 Calibre: 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
The price for the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Unique Series is CHF 568,000.
