Roger Dubuis Excalibur Double Tourbillon Cobalt Chrome

At Watches and Wonders Shanghai 2024, Roger Dubuis once again captures the spotlight with a creation that is as daring as it is mesmerizing—the Excalibur Double Tourbillon Cobalt Chrome. With a tourbillon design that challenges the norms and a striking cobalt chrome case that gleams with innovation, this timepiece is set to redefine what it means to wear art on your wrist. The Excalibur Double Tourbillon Cobalt Chrome is constructed using a highly resistant alloy, typically used in advanced industries, and is driven by the complex Double Tourbillon mechanism, showcasing Roger Dubuis’ signature Hyper Horology at its peak.

The tourbillon has been central to Roger Dubuis’ identity for over two decades, and the Double Tourbillon mechanism, first introduced in 2005, has become a hallmark of the brand’s innovative approach. The Calibre RD01, which debuted with the first Double Tourbillon, linked two tourbillons with a regulating differential—a complex gear system designed to counteract the effects of gravity by balancing the two tourbillons.

The new Excalibur timepiece continues this tradition, linking the two flying tourbillons with a differential and placing them within a skeletonized framework. This design allows for an unobstructed view of the manual-winding RD108SQ calibre, which boasts a 72-hour power reserve and features 319 components, each finished with 17 different types of hand-finishing techniques. These intricate details reflect the brand’s dedication to traditional fine watchmaking, adhering to the Poinçon de Genève criteria.

To protect the powerful calibre, Roger Dubuis chose Cobalt Chrome, a material originally developed for the automotive, aeronautic, and aerospace industries, known for its strength, resistance, and reliability. Cobalt Chrome is more scratch-resistant than gold, highly corrosion-resistant, non-magnetic, and robust enough for daily wear. Since 2017, Roger Dubuis has incorporated this alloy into its timepieces, particularly for the upper bridge of its tourbillon cages, where its brilliant lustre and anti-magnetic properties are highly valued. The entire 45mm case of this new watch is crafted from Cobalt Chrome, specifically the Cobalt Chrome Cartech Micro-Melt Biodur CCM.

A distinctive feature of Cobalt Chrome is its natural blue hue, an energizing color that has been admired for centuries and used in various applications, from jewellery to paints and glass. Roger Dubuis honours this legacy by enveloping the skeletonized architecture of the Excalibur Double Tourbillon in a striking blue, including the astral signature that is a hallmark of the brand’s identity. This bold blue extends to the watch’s calf-skin leather strap, which features a versatile Quick Release System. The case itself is a silvery-grey, a result of the powder metallurgy process used to form the alloy. This process, which heats compacted metal powders just below their melting points, ensures complete material homogeneity, resulting in a metal that is noticeably brighter than stainless steel and titanium, with its own unique sheen.

Limited to just 28 pieces, the Excalibur Double Tourbillon Cobalt Chrome is a modern masterpiece of fine watchmaking, offering both technical excellence and refined style. It is the ultimate choice for those who appreciate flawless and captivating design. This timepiece makes its global debut alongside three other new tourbillons from Roger Dubuis: The Orbis In Machina Central Monotourbillon, the Excalibur Monotourbillon Blue Hour, and the Excalibur Monotourbillon White Gold.