A World First With The Excalibur Spider Carbon From Roger Dubuis
Haute Time recently presented four eye-catching watches that feature carbon fibre in their cases, and you can read more about those by clicking here. Not only is the look modern and cool, carbon also makes for an extremely resistant and comfortable timepiece that is light and easy to wear.
One of those timepieces was made by Roger Dubuis – a brand that pushed the concept even further when it presented at SIHH 2017 the Excalibur Spider Carbon — the first-ever timepiece with movement plate, bridges and tourbillon upper-cage manufactured entirely in carbon. The result is a mainplate and case forming a ‘chassis’ that is made even lighter by this choice of material.
This world premiere is the result of Roger Dubuis Manufacture’s ongoing investments in Research & Development to develop and show off a bold approach to watchmaking with ‘progressive complications and disruptive materials’ inspired by performance-oriented industries.
The bold approach is shown with colours too — this striking black and red model will not go unnoticed on your wrist. It features a Spider-type skeletonised case with a DLC-treated crown, case-back and ‘container’ all made from titanium, teamed here with multi-layered carbon for the case, as well as vulcanized rubber on the container and red lacquer to light up the bezel.
The high-tech look is further enhanced with the honeycomb dial decor inspired by automobile radiator grilles, highlighting the Calibre RD509SQ — the superb ‘Astral Skeleton’ flying tourbillon movement that beats at a rate of 21,600 vibrations per hour and has a power reserve of 70 hours. Thanks to the particularly rigid nature of the T700 carbon that is used, there are fewer vibrations and precision is enhanced. Its ultra-thin layering also results in a uniform structure enabling 8% lower porosity compared with most other types of carbon. And the substantial 30% reduction in weight facilitates the rotation of the tourbillon upper-cage.
The 10° angled layers applied to the calibre plate and bridges show off technical expertise in addition to exceptional aesthetics, reproducing the same motifs on the movement as those on the case middle. This timepiece is handsomely complemented with a strap that features a rubber base and red RubberTech fabric-like inlay, secured by a DLC-coated titanium folding clasp.
The Excalibur Spider Carbon is issued in a 28-piece limited edition for enthusiasts who live the challenge set by Roger Dubuis and “Dare to be Rare”.
Priced at EUR216,000, the Excalibur Spider Carbon will be in stores from September 2017.
