As daytime turns to dusk, Roger Dubuis continues its iconic tourbillon journey by reinterpreting horological traditions with expressivity and vibrancy.
Introducing the Excalibur Monotourbillon Blue Hour.
When the sun casts and diffuses a light from below the horizon, Roger Dubuis has found an inspiring gradient of colour that never ceases to amaze. When combined with a palette of advanced materials and signature tourbillon mechanics, it makes for a timepiece of true sophistication – produced by a watchmaker like no other.
It’s time to dim the skies, and raise the spotlight, on our new Monotourbillon that captures the enchanting atmosphere of the elusive blue hour, unveiling at Watches and Wonders Shanghai 2024.
Continuing the Spark
Invented over 200 years ago as a system compensating gravity, the tourbillon is one of watchmaking’s most respected and challenging complications. This year, Roger Dubuis celebrates the mechanism in all its forms, with as much mastery as expressivity.
The Maison’s founder, Mr Roger Dubuis, was a devotee of tourbillon design. As a Master Watchmaker, he not only saw the distinction of the tourbillon, but also the opportunities it created for adding other horological complications and dynamic aesthetics. In his eyes, the compact nature of the mechanism provided a playground for creative freedom and artistry.
Since 2003, the Maison has kept that philosophy in motion, producing in-house a comprehensive tourbillon evolution that continues to surprise.
An Emblematic Calibre
The Calibre RD512SQ, which drives the Excalibur Monotourbillon Blue Hour, is the purest symbol of the tourbillon craftsmanship that sets Roger Dubuis apart. Here, it is clear to see the Maison’s original approach to high watchmaking and design, distinguished by a variety of signature features.
What first strikes the eye is the large tourbillon cage. This feature allows to welcome a high inertia balance wheel that will contribute to the timepiece being more resistant to daily wear.
This same cage houses a Flying tourbillon: inherent within all Roger Dubuis tourbillons, the Flying construction is built from 63 components, with a lower cage in lightweight titanium and an upper cage inspired by the Celtic Cross. Only being mounted on one side, with no supporting bridge on top, gives the wearer an unobstructed view into the captivating aesthetics. It may be a more complex challenge of stability for the watchmakers, but the results are visually striking.
The next essential aspect is purity. Roger Dubuis tourbillons are as much about minimalism as they are about sophistication. By displaying the Monotourbillon within a skeletonized surrounding, complete with an astral signature, the Maison has combined exquisite function with uncluttered aesthetics. An accomplishment that is certainly never easy to realize, but is undoubtedly more striking to look at.
To further emphasize that skeletonized look, and to highlight the artistic skill that Roger Dubuis is renowned for, the watchmakers have used contrasting materials within the Calibre RD512SQ. An unconventional balance of silvery cobalt chrome on the upper cage of the tourbillon against pink gold on the flange and astral star, enables the wearer to fully get a sense of the exquisite framework that runs deep into the timepiece.
Along with 72 hours of power reserve, the Calibre RD512SQ is honoured with the Poinçon de Genève hallmark, which certifies not only the provenance and reliability, but also the quality of craftsmanship, whereby every component of the calibre has been decorated with 16 different types of hand-finishing.
A Journey of Gemstones
Following the launch of the Excalibur Sunrise Double Tourbillon earlier this year, Roger Dubuis now turns its attention to the other side of the day. While that first timepiece echoed the warm and radiant glow of the morning, this new Monotourbillon takes a deeper tone, with a colorful gradient of white diamonds and blue sapphires, on ode to the captivating sky, just after dusk, that reflects the famous “blue hour” of twilight.
To achieve that mesmerizing effect, 60 baguette-cut gemstones have been placed in gradient shades on the bezel, which is mounted on a 42mm 18K pink gold case. Creating an intense gradient of tones ranging from light to dark, the 10 white diamonds and 50 blue sapphires have been patiently and carefully selected to mirror the dazzling starlight and the nuances of the sky that we see above the Earth during the blue hour.
The Excalibur Monotourbillon Blue Hour features a white calf leather strap, equipped with a Quick Release System.
Artistic and Unconventional
Limited to 28 pieces, the Excalibur Monotourbillon Blue Hour makes its world début at Watches and Wonders Shanghai 2024. For those who adore radiant aesthetics inspired by the beauty of nature, as much as sublime engineering, this new timepiece is an unmissable highlight.
It takes pride of place within a collection of four new tourbillons from Roger Dubuis, also including The Orbis In Machina Central Monotourbillon, the Excalibur Double Tourbillon Cobalt Chrome, and the Excalibur Monotourbillon White Gold.
Each new creation stands as an homage to Roger Dubuis’ enduring tourbillon craftsmanship. Fuelled by expressivity and unexpected innovation, the Maison proves yet again how much it enjoys reinterpreting this historic complication in a modern way- in all its forms, and with all its many complexities.
