The New Roger Dubuis Knights of the Round Table, the Omniscient Merlin Edition

Roger Dubuis, the “Hyper Horology brand” (as it calls itself), has embraced a Middle Ages myth since 2013 with the launch of its Knights of the Round Table series, crafting several métier d’art pieces since. The first edition featured 12 intricately engraved micro-sculptures of the legendary knights, their swords drawn and pointing towards the centre. Cast in gold, the knights served as hour indices on a dial resembling the green and white Winchester Round Table, made of hand-painted enamel for the first edition, while the second (2015) featured a black jade dial with detailed engravings and patination, and the 12 knights cast in bronze. The collection took an interesting turn with the release of the Knights of the Round Table III (2018). Here, while still static, the knights were sculpted with polygonal facets reminiscent of video game heroes and arranged around a table crafted from sculpted gold and translucent blue enamel.

Later editions introduced a dynamic twist – the knights were no longer static but presented as action figures, each in a unique, tense, battle-ready pose. In the 2023 edition, the central dial depicted a frozen lake, with ice cracking into blocks, enhancing the dramatic scene. The latest addition to the collection retains the knights in combat stance but adds a bit of sorcery; it’s a timepiece that might inspire you to revisit the tales of Camelot – or plan a trip to Northern Ireland.

This year, Roger Dubuis draws inspiration from the legendary Giant’s Causeway and the myth that Merlin the Magician once walked its 40,000 interlocking basalt columns in Northern Ireland – now one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. Formed over 50 million years ago by a volcanic eruption, the hexagonal columns are believed to have been created as molten lava crystallized upon meeting the sea. However, folklore offers another explanation: the Irish giant Finn McCool is believed to have built the causeway to reach Scotland and confront his rival, Benandonner. Roger Dubuis has masterfully reimagined and transformed this “mystical terrain” onto the captivating dial where the pink-gold, hand-engraved, and patinated Knights of the Round Table stand poised, tense with anticipation, waiting for the next chapter of the legend to unfold, looking at the centre.

To recreate the Giant’s Causeway on the dial, a pink gold base plate is machined to form a pattern of holes and hexagonal sections, then coated with black PVD for contrast. Specific sections of the pink gold are then revealed through precision laser etching, enhanced with a sunray pattern or a matte finish. Then, 56 hexagonal blocks – crafted from authentic basalt, pink gold, black Murano-style glass, and transparent glass – are hand-mounted at various angles and arranged at heights ranging from 0.2mm to 3.7mm to create a dynamic representation of the famous landscape.

When on the wrist, this latest Roger Dubuis Knights of the Round Table edition will turn heads with its imposing 45mm diameter and 16.87mm thick pink gold Excalibur case, featuring a distinctive bezel, crown guard, and signature three-lug design. However, its true allure lies in the intricate details that emerge when examined up close and in hand. A front sapphire crystal and sapphire crystal ring beneath the bezel offer a good view of the dial’s scene also from the side, while the themed-engraved caseback reveals the Poinçon de Genève-certified Monobalancier RD821 calibre. With its skeletonized 360° oscillating weight inspired by the stained-glass windows of medieval castles, this automatic movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a 48-hour power reserve. 

The 2024 Roger Dubuis Knights of the Round Table Omniscient Merlin Edition is offered on an interchangeable calf leather strap, closed with a pink gold triple folding buckle with a Quick Release System. It is a limited edition of 28 and sold exclusively by the brand´s boutiques. The price is EUR 376,000 (incl. taxes). For more, visit rogerdubuis.com.