W&W 2020: Roger Dubuis Excalibur Diabolus in Machina
At this year’s Watches & Wonders 2020, Swiss watchmaker Roger Dubuis introduces a brand new Excalibur watch – the Excalibur Diabolus in Machina. Unusually, the 45 mm watch’s case and caseback are made with the alloy CarTech Micro-Melt BioDur CCMTM. Meanwhile, the skeletonised timepiece’s functions include a minute repeater and a single flying tourbillon.
The Excalibur Diabolus in Machina‘s dial has a double-surface flange, which is engraved with a minute track. Meanwhile, the watch’s polished hour markers are filled with luminous SLN. What’s more, the brand has created the case, bezel and crown using CarTech Micro-Melt BioDur CCMTM. This non-magnetic alloy is popular in the automotive, aeronautical and aerospace industries due to its strength and resistance to corrosion, not least in comparison to stainless steel. Furthermore, it is very bright and shiny – another reason to use it for a watch.
Powering the Excalibur Diabolus in Machina is the horology house’s mechanical automatic movement, the RD0107 Calibre. Notably, it integrates a minute repeater, meaning the watch can tell the time through sound. Uniquely, the watch is tuned to the sound of the tritone – the famous ‘devil’s chord’ that was forbidden in medieval religious music.
A pushpiece activates a tone with a low pitch for the hours, a high pitch for the minutes, and two tones for the quarter hours. What’s more, a rotating disc with the words ‘Hours’, ‘Quarters’ and ‘Minutes’ lies at 11 o’clock. The disc visually indicates what part is being chimed.
The RD0107 Calibre
Usefully, the minute repeater’s pushpiece means that the function can only be triggered if the pusher has been fully pressed. This stops the mechanism from being used accidentally, as this could cause potential damage to the movement.
The movement’s second complication is the mechanical single flying tourbillon, offering a frequency of 3 Hz. Meanwhile, the mainspring barrel provides the watch with a 60-hour power reserve. The movement has several decorations, including an NAC-coated plate and matching bridges, as well as Cotes de Genève patterning.
The Roger DubuisExcalibur Diabolus in Machina is certified with the Poinçon de Genève. It is presented on an interchangeable 3D calf leather strap with a titanium triple-folding buckle. Lastly, the timepiece is water-resistant to 30 m and costs 575,500 euros.
Jaeger-LeCoultre's 'Master Control' collection has been updated to include new 40 mm watches featuring open sapphire crystal casebacks and sunray brushed silver-white dials. The watches are now driven by updated calibres that integrate a new silicon escapement, a redesigned barrel, and various energy-saving enhancements. One of the new iterations is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Date…
The new Audemars Piguet luxury watch model belongs to the technological highlights of the brand founded in 1875 in the Swiss Jura. With a movement of only 2.89 mm and a case 6.3 mm high the new Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultrathin (Ref. 26586IP.OO.1240IP.01) is one of the thinnest models with a perpetual calendar worldwide.…
The DiaStar is rather a historic model for watch manufacture Rado, with the timepiece appearing only five years after the brand's founding back in 1957. The first 1962 DiaStar quickly gained a following for its distinctive shape and extremely resistant tungsten-carbide case – a highly unusual material for a watch both then and now. Following…
The story of the True Thinline x Great Gardens of the World collection by Rado and the organization Great Gardens of the World is continuing with three new chapters. For the first time in the history of the collaboration, which dates back to 2017, three models with an automatic movement are released as Chapter 8, Chapter 9, and Chapter 10.…
The Zenith Chronomaster Sport Ref. 22.3100.3600/69.M3100 is the first addition to the young collection with a precious metal case set with gemstones. The diamonds, spinels and sapphires on the bezel echo the iconic three-colour chronograph counters. A meteorite dial is also on show, displaying its characteristic pattern in a golden colour. Inside is Zenith's latest-generation…
The Code 11.59 line from Audemars Piguet is only getting better – and two of its latest novelties are definitive proof. Growing into its own and developing its DNA ever further, the collection is evidently here to impress with the new Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon and Minute Repeater Supersonnerie. As always, Swisswatches is here…
The Fifty Fathoms collection embodies Blancpain's passion for the underwater world, which began in 1953 with the creation of the first modern divers' watch. With its 70-year history of Fifty Fathoms, the brand is closely aligned with the world's explorers, photographers, oceanographers and conservationists who appreciate and protect precious underwater life. Now, the model line…
“We’ll see you on the other side” 50 years after the Apollo 8 mission, the first to orbit around the moon, OMEGA is releasing its newest "Dark Side of the Moon" timepiece. Unlike previous "Dark Side" models, this release houses a specially decorated version of OMEGA's "Moonwatch" movement. To display the workings inside, the dial…
At LVMH Watch Week 2021, Hublot presented not only the Big Bang Automatic Tourbillon, but also three new models from the Integral range. When the first generation of the model was launched in 2020, Hublot offered a variant with a ceramic case. Now the Swiss manufacturer is expanding the color palette: the Hublot Big Bang…
Glashütte Original expands its Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phase collection with two new models. These timepieces feature a 40 mm stainless steel case and a choice of a Frosted Silver or Frosted Copper dial with Roman numerals. The watches are powered by the Calibre 36-24 movement, offering a Panorama date and moon phases. With…
A long power reserve of eight days, with an indicator of power remaining on the dial or back, enhances three new creations of the Panerai manufacture in Neuchâtel, available in titanium or steel, and also as the “historic“ left-handed version. The Luminor 8 Days Power Reserve Acciaio (PAM00795) uses the new P.5002 hand-wound calibre with a power reserve…
TAG Heuer and Porsche unveil the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon x Porsche Panamericana. Limited to 255 pieces, this watch honours Porsche’s 1954 victories in the Carrera Panamericana. It also celebrates the enduring partnership between TAG Heuer and Porsche, inspired by the legendary race. The watch features a tourbillon movement and a design reminiscent of…
At the LVMH Watch Week 2025, Zenith unveiled a new version of its Defy Skyline Chronograph. The Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton features a skeleton dial that offers a view of the inner workings of the El Primero movement. This watch is available in two versions: one with a black dial and one with a blue…