Four Favorite Watches By Roger Dubuis

With the passing of Roger Dubuis, we lost somebody who has been a big influence on the world of the Haute Horlogerie. While the master himself was not as involved in the company that bears his name as in the past, in part due to the sale to Richemont in 2008, the foundation of complicated avant-garde watches is safely guarded in the DNA of the brand. With a brand like Roger Dubuis, which has so many incredible watches in its collection, it is hard to call favorites, but fun for sure!

Pirelli Excalibur Spider Double Flying Tourbillon
This watch not only shows off what has become a signature complication of Roger Dubuis, the double flying tourbillon, but also how avant-garde a traditionally made watch can be. While it combines high-tech materials, it is crafted mostly by hand, and is awarded the coveted Geneva Seal, proudly displayed between the two flying tourbillons. Roger Dubuis is also a brand that doesn’t align itself with other brands on a whim, but when it does, it makes all the more sense, like joining forces with Pirelli for this special edition.

Blossom Velvet Pink
Also with its ladies watches, Roger Dubuis combines traditional craftmanship with an avant-garde look. The shape of the case alone makes the Velvet Blossom a work of art. It dares to be different, but at the same time looks harmonious. The Blossom is part of the Velvet collection and is not only fitted with an automatic manufacture movement, but also with a stunning dial on which a carved floral motif sits on a mother of pearl background.

Excalibur Quatuor
A watch that has made a profound impact on us was the Excalibur Quatuor. With four escapements, placed at an angle, and connected in pairs by five differentials, they average each other out, creating a very precise watch in the process. This novel approach is only surpassed by the sheer beauty of this complication, not to mention the sound it produces, of all these four escapements running in unison. It also shows that there is a method behind the “madness,” the complications are not nearly visual spectacles, but contribute significantly to the accurate timekeeping performance of the watch.

Excalibur Aventador S
With its recently announced partnership with Lamborghini, Roger Dubuis also launched the Excalibur Aventador S. This watch shares part of the DNA of the Excalibur Quatuor, as it is fitted with two inclined escapements connected through a differential for extra accurate timekeeping. Perhaps this is also why Roger Dubuis fitted this watch with a deadbeat complication, allowing the second’s hand jump from second to second, in the same fashion as a quartz watch does. While the Excalibur Aventador S is just like its automotive counterpart, a sum of many high-tech materials, it is crafted and finished by hand, combining the best of both worlds.