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The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Dragon Monotourbillon is a tribute to the Lunar New Year and encompasses the renowned dragon traits of intelligence, charisma, and confidence.
Roger Dubuis has crafted the dragon using 27 individual pieces of brass – each embellished with lacquer and pink gold.
In typically inventive style, the brand has set the pieces on 25 different levels, producing a 3D vision full of volume.
Turn the watch over and the same flowing dragon appears – this time metallised on the inside of the caseback’s sapphire crystal.
Roger Dubuis has coupled the design with the authority of its Monotourbillon Calibre RD512SQ. The tourbillon was invented in 1801 to compensate for the effects of gravity, yet remains one of the most complex challenges in watchmaking.
It is still a true expression of horological art, with only a few skilled craftsmen able to build its intricate cage, containing the balance, spring, and escapement within.
Roger Dubuis has approached this famous mechanism in its own unique way – by displaying its signature monotourbillon within a skeletonised movement, making the craftsmanship even more challenging.
Since 2008, the Maison has been reinventing the craft by using skeletonisation as a starting point of each design – rather than a consequence of it. This means even when carrying high complications, the calibres are noticeable for their lightness and purity.
Skeletonisation also requires more time. To reduce the material inside the calibre, more hours of milling are needed, and more facetted surfaces are produced, leading to even more hours for decoration.
Finally, it is important to note that Roger Dubuis only makes flying tourbillons. Unlike traditional versions, the flying tourbillon is only mounted on one side, with no supporting bridge on top making it more beautiful to look at, yet more difficult to create, because stability must be guaranteed. A challenge that it has achieved through a high-performing flying tourbillon built from 63 components.
The ultimate reward for this dynamic skeletonised approach is the Poinçon de Genève certification, one of the most demanding signatures of fine watchmaking. Along with provenance and reliability, it sets the benchmark for quality craftsmanship, whereby every component of the watch must be hand-decorated to the highest standard.
The calibre includes a lower tourbillon cage in non-magnetic titanium – two times lighter than stainless steel. Going even further, the upper tourbillon cage is produced in mirror-polished cobalt chrome – also non-magnetic – which enables the weight of the tourbillon itself to be reduced by 16%.
Sitting on the wrist, the 42 mm case of the watch is built from pink gold and is mounted with a robust brass flange, which itself has been given a pink gold galvanic treatment, along with indexes filled with black Super-LumiNova™.
You can swap to the black calf-skin leather strap in seconds thanks to the versatile quick release system.
See more at rogerdubuis.com
