The Roger Dubuis brand is undergoing a transformation, with its strategy honing in on rare, high-end watches in small quantities, building the brand around the Excalibur line. Just earlier this year, as CEO Nicola Andreatta revealed to us over lunch, “[We] are in the process of reinterpreting and reworking some of the most important complications in the world of watchmaking – and our plan is to set a new milestone every year starting this year.” Whether he was referring to the unveiling of the now-unveiled Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph with two patent-pending horological innovations, however, remains unclear.
In any case, the chronograph complication is deeply rooted in Roger Dubuis’ watchmaking history, dating back to the brand’s very first watch. It wasn’t until Watches and Wonders earlier this year that the future of the chronograph was heralded with the double chronograph Monovortex – a complication long missed at Roger Dubuis. The latest addition to the Excalibur line, the Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph, now completes the comeback of the chronograph at the horology house.
Considered the Lamborghini of watches, the design of Excalibur watches elicits both controversial and enthusiastic reactions from collectors – mainly because of their almost aggressive design. The 45mm carbon case of the Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph is no exception. The sharp lines and red accents form the signature Excalibur Spider design. In addition to the scaled pushers, a scratch-resistant bezel, made of ceramic, also encircles the dial. Roger Dubuis thus borrows from the construction of supercars not only in design, but also in material composition. The same materials are generally used in the field for sensitive components such as the brakes. Roger Dubuis round off the the connection to racing with a five-armed rotor, which is reminiscent of the rims on a sports car.
For the dial, Roger Dubuis created a design with different surface levels that allow the wearer to see the complicated mechanics of the movement. All the elements, such as the floating tachymeter scale, the lower date display and the raised seconds hand, create a visual depth. The construction at 6 o’clock reveals the column wheel. It has not only an aesthetic aspect, however, but also a technical advantage that facilitates the operation of the pushers. At 9 o’clock, the tilted balance wheel can be admired.
Powering the Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph is the calibre RD780, which features two horological innovations. The calibre’s clutch unit is equipped with the Second Braking System (SBS), a component that adds stability to the chronograph’s second hand – a patent-pending version of the chronograph braking concept that promises better performance for the wearer of the watch. In addition, the movement has a solid power reserve of 72 hours.
The Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph is presented on a black rubber strap. On the inner lining, the strap showcases a pattern reminiscent of tyre tracks, while a Quick Release System ensures that the wearer can change the strap in a few simple steps. Last but not least, the price of the timepiece is 108,500 euros.
