Roger Dubuis Excalibur Dragon Monotourbillon
The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Dragon Monotourbillon is the latest expression of ‘Hyper Horology’ to emerge from the esteemed Genevan Manufacture. Created to coincide with the advent of the Lunar New Year, this timepiece upholds the brand’s reputation for crafting skeleton watches endowed with a flying tourbillon and bearing the Geneva seal. In this instance, a golden dragon sits centre stage, presented on numerous levels, bestowing an abundance of three-dimensional charm.
Asian watch market
In recent weeks, several watch brands have released timepieces that celebrate the advent of the Lunar New Year. This is hardly surprising considering the sheer size of the Asian market. If we consider purely the Chinese market, the domestic population is 1.4 billion as well as millions of Chinese expats scattered around the globe. Quite simply, the importance of the Asian market is too great for any watch brand to ignore.
Lunar New Year
Many watch brands choose to celebrate the dawn of the Lunar New Year, typically associated with an animal from the zodiac with the release of new model. Widely adopted in Asia, including Cambodia, China, North Korea, South Korea and Singapore, there are some regional differences between the calendars. For example, in most countries, 2024 is considered the Year of the Dragon; however, in Thailand, a mythical creature, the Naga, is celebrated instead.
Roger Dubuis Lunar New Year 2024
For discerning horophiles, irrespective of their nationality, the start of a Lunar New Year provides an opportunity to acquire a highly original addition to their collection. Roger Dubuis, purveyors of avant-garde Haute Horlogerie, or as the brand prefers to say ‘Hyper Horology’, has just unveiled the Excalibur Dragon Monotourbillon.
Hyper Horology
The prestigious Manufacture, located on the outskirts of Geneva, has become synonymous with making neoteric skeleton watches. Likewise, the firm is known for its expertise in producing one of the most coveted complications, the gravity-defying flying tourbillon (a tourbillon that eschews an upper bridge). And, if that wasn’t already enough, most of its models are independently certifed by the Poinçon de Genève. The new Excalibur Dragon Monotourbillon incorporates all of these attributes.
Roger Dubuis Excalibur Dragon Monotourbillon in detail
Housed in a 42 mm pink gold case, the watch is endowed with a three-dimensional representation of a dragon, presented front of house. Formed of 27 pieces of brass, the exterior of the dragon is dressed in a suit of black lacquer and pink gold treatment. These pieces are mounted on four brass plates and positioned ‘on 25 different levels, flat and tilted’. To the rear, a pane of sapphire crystal is adorned with a second depiction of a dragon, applied to the underside of the glazing.
While the large dragons, both to the front and rear, dominate the verso and recto views, Roger Dubuis has still left sufficient room for them to breathe. Why? Well, hold the model to the light and you will discover fabulous front-to-rear views of the watch. In addition, you will be able to see numerous components decorated to a peerless standard. Indeed, to fulfil the onerous requirements of the Poinçon de Genève, there must be no signs of machining, just a plethora of flawless finishes, masterfully imparted by time-served hands.
Roger Dubuis Excalibur Dragon Monotourbillon – closing remarks
Limited to just 28 pieces, the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Dragon Monotourbillon is destined to be a rare sight on city streets. However, for those individuals who are fortunate enough to secure one of these watches, they promise a wonderful means of celebrating the advent of the Lunar New Year, courtesy of their openworked, dragon-themed display and no-compromise execution.
Further reading
Technical specifications
- Model: Roger Dubuis Excalibur Dragon Monotourbillon
- Reference: RDDBEX1111
- Case: pink gold, diameter 42 mm, height 12.62 mm, water resistance 10 ATM (100 m), sapphire crystal to the front and exhibition case back.
- Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds (on top of tourbillon cage)
- Movement: RD512 calibre, manual-winding movement, frequency 21,600 vph (3Hz), 19 jewels, power reserve 72 hours.
- Strap: calf leather strap interchangeable with Quick Release System – QRS.
- Price upon request
- Limited Edition: 28 pieces – boutique exclusive