Summer Sixteen: Roger Dubuis Introductions

The avant-garde watchmaker, Roger Dubuis has made waves in the horological world since its inception in 1995. And in 2005, the watchmaker launched one of its most iconic collections, the Excalibur. During this slow summer season, the watchmaker releases an evolution of the Exclaibur and its Coloured Stone trilogy. And to reimagine their Velvet collection, the brand presents the complete Velvet by Massaro trilogy, a runway-ready line-up of three 88-piece limited models.

Velvet by Massaro

At SIHH, Roger Dubuis introduced their “Diva.” The diva as the watchmaker sees her is a woman with a fascinating life and a powerful personality. This collection evokes femininity and is distinguished by split-level dials, finely decorated lugs and unconventional dial shapes.

Velvet by Massaro “Rita”

Velvet by Massaro “Rita”

This watch tips its hat to film legend, Rita Hayworth and exudes a powerful presence. The watch is graced with a pleated leather motif co-designed by Massaro in the same warm gold tones that are features on its shoes. This glowing theme is matched by the yellow gold barrel-shaped Velvet center of the dial, framed by radiatin hour-markers on a satin sunburst exterior. The watch is priced at $48,500.

Velvet by Massaro “Lana”

Velvet by Massaro “Lana”

Inspired by blonde Lana Turner is encircled by a distinctive Massaro silver strap featuring a row of pearls running down the center. The opalescent theme is echoed in the white gold case, appliques and brushed barrel-shaped dial center. Around the dial, there are 86 diamonds (1.64 carats). The watch is priced at $42,000.

Velvet by Massaro “Greta”

Velvet by Massaro “Greta”

To convey the timeless aesthetic of this collection through images every bit as exceptional as the creations themselves and the women who inspire them. Roger Dubuis teamed up with designer, Alexandra Bruel who translated the visual of sculpture into horology. The watch is priced at $41,000.

Excalibur Spider Precious Stones

Excalibur Spider Flying Tourbillon Black Spinel

I was able to see the truly mesmerizing and technologically innovative Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Skeleton Flying Tourbillon. But the watchmaker wasn’t quite done with the timepiece this year and now introduces a new trilogy where vivid gemstones play a starring role.

Excalibur Spider Flying Tourbillon Sapphire

Setting rubber with precious stones is a groundbreaking achievement first presented by the watchmaker in 2015 and protected by a patent. It exemplifies the Manufacture’s penchant for disruptive materials. Adorning such an elastic, technical and sporty material as rubber with gemstones reveals their mastery. The physical difficulties are numerous and involved setting the gemstones into rubber molding over the bezel using a technique based on a plastic deformation. Each version of the 8-piece limited series sparkles with its unique color differentiation on the bezel, crown, small seconds counter and hand-tips.

Excalibur Spider Flying Tourbillon Rubies

This Spider-inspired external skeleton work accentuates the distinctive movement structure epitomizing the status of the Manufacture as the specialist of architectural mechanics. The RD505SQ Caliber powering the Excalibur Spider Skeleton Flying Tourbillon models also features the flying tourbillon with its carriage shaped like a Celtic cross.

Excalibur Spider Flying Tourbillon Sapphire, $166,000
Excalibur Spider Flying Tourbillon Black Spinel, $166,000
Excalibur Spider Flying Tourbillon Rubies, $171,000