The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Monobalancier Titanium
Full titanium armour shields the contemporary skeletonisation of the Excalibur and delivers superior lightness.
Roger Dubuis’ Excalibur line takes inspiration from the Arthurian legend and, since 2005, has been a flagship collection for the Geneva-based brand. Appearing with a recreation of King Arthur’s Round Table, complete with miniature sculpted knights, the Excalibur has always felt comfortable about stripping off and showing off its avant-garde skeletonised mechanics. The latest Excalibur Monobalancier, fitted in full titanium armour, delivers a powerful visual punch yet remains physically light on the wrist. The dramatic skeletonisation of the improved in-house automatic movement, with its star-shaped bridge and endless vistas, is signature Roger Dubuis and bears the Poinçon de Genève hallmark.
Full metal
Marking the first all-titanium version of its Excalibur Monobalancier, the 100m water-resistant case has a diameter of 42mm and the bracelet, notched bezel, crown and caseback of the Excalibur MC are crafted in grade 5 titanium with a matte metallic sheen. With its brightly polished bevels and satin-brushed links, the bracelet has been entirely reworked with shortened links and improved articulation. The titanium triple-folding buckle is equipped with a quick-release system. The central lug that appears on other Excalibur MB cases is now echoed on the titanium bracelet links.
Radical skeletonisation
The automatic movement with micro-rotor – calibre RD720SQ – reveals the brand’s approach to skeletonisation, where every single component is finished by hand. As opposed to skeletonising a pre-existing movement, which is pretty standard procedure, Roger Dubuis crafts and carves all the pieces of the calibre before assembling them. The view from the dial reveals the signature five-armed NAC-coated star on the right side of the dial.
The flange, which echoes the notched triangular indentations on the bezel, features polished grey triangular-shaped hour markers with Super-LumiNova in their interiors. Given the monochromatic attire of the watch, the tips of the white gold satin-brushed hour and minute hands and brand name are also treated with Super-LumiNova.
Powered by a skeletonised micro-rotor designed to minimise vibrations, the new gear train and escapement optimisation (diamond-coated silicon escapement wheel and silicon pallet stones) mean an improved power reserve of 72 hours. With shot-blasted, NAC-coated and trued-up finishings, the movement is a contemporary work of horological art.
Availability & Price
The Roger Dubuis Excalibur MB Titanium joins the Excalibur collection and retails for EUR 71,000 (incl. taxes) / USD 66,500 (excl. taxes). For more information, please consult rogerdubuis.com.
2 responses
That’s an impressively illegible watch.
What A beauty