SIHH 2015: New Roger Dubuis Excalibur Skeleton Watches (Updated with Live Photos and Prices)


Roger Dubuis Automatic SkeletonRoger Dubuis has declared 2015 to be “The Year of the Skeleton,” unveiling a slew of new skeletonized watches from its flagship Excalibur collection at SIHH 2015. Here’s more on two of them, the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Automatic Skeleton and Excalibur Spider Flying Tourbillon.

While Roger Dubuis has become well-regarded in recent years as a pioneer in skeletonized watch movements — its approach is to design them in an openworked style from the ground up, rather than the typical method of skeletonizing an existing movement — the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Automatic Skeleton represents a first for the brand in this area, as its first automatic skeleton movement with a micro-rotor. From a technical standpoint, skeletonizing a micro-rotor would seem counter-intuitive, since the use of such a rotor serves the same purpose as skeletonized movement parts, i.e., weight reduction. However, Roger Dubuis embraced the paradox, going so far as to use skeletonization on the micro-rotor itself.

The new movement in the Excalibur Automatic Skeleton, in-house Caliber RD820SQ, is composed of 167 parts, all individually finished, with a charcoal gray, rhodium-plated and circular grained mainplate and other lavish finished that helped earn the watch, like all modern Roger Dubuis watches, the prestigious Poinçon de Genève (Hallmark of Geneva). The movement also incorporated the off-centered “star” motif of other Roger Dubuis skeleton movements and carries a power reserve of 60 hours. The 42-mm rose gold case is water-resistant to 30 meters and is secured (via the triple lugs  typical of the Excalibur collection) to a brown alligator strap with rose-gold folding clasp.

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Automatic Skeleton

The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Skeleton Flying Tourbillon takes the openwork motif even farther, using skeletonization techniques not only for the movement — manual-wind Caliber RD505SQ — but also for the case, flange and hands. The “Spider” reference is to the complex, sculptural, spiderweb-like look of the movement, which also incorporates the familiar star shape. Another design motif of the Roger Dubuis Excalibur line is also present, namely the tourbillon carriage in the shape of a Celtic cross. The movement, made up of 165 parts and holding a power reserve of 60 hours, also boasts high-end finishes including a circular-grained plate and côtes de Genève decoration; it has also earned the Geneva Hallmark.The flying tourbillon, placed near the 7 o’clock position, makes one rotation per minute.

The titanium case is 45 mm in diameter and water-resistant to 50 meters. The black flange features a white transfer minute scale and Roger Dubuis logo; the gold hands are treated with black DLC. The watch comes on a black rubber strap with titanium folding clasp.

Prices start at 54,000 Swiss francs for the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Automatic Skeleton and 135,000 Swiss francs for the Excalibur Spider Flying Tourbillon.

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Skeleton Flying TourbillonAt the SIHH in Geneva this week, I had a chance to try on the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Automatic Skeleton in the rose-gold case. Here’s what it looks like on the wrist.

Roger Dubuis Automatic Skeleton - wrist

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  1. Manuel Cruz

    Soy de Puerto Rico y me encanta el nuevo Roger Dubuis Excalibur Skeleton en Titanium. Quiero saber el precio de este reloj para ponerlo en mi lista de metas a lograr en el 2015. Me encantan los relojes y este no es la excepción. Favor de enviarme la información lo antes posible; o sea, cuando la tengan disponible. GRACIAS.

    Reply
  2. Percy Mfuloane

    Good day
    I am a 35 years old male from South Africa. I live in a country with all kinds of minerals and precious stones,but there are no watchmakers.

    I have a passion for watches and I would like to be a watchmaker. Would U pls point me to the right direction.

    Your feedback will be highly appreciated

    Kind regards

    Reply
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