Watches And Wonders 2025: Roger Dubuis Ushers A New Era of Watchmaking With The Excalibur Grande Complication

Unveiled at Watches & Wonders 2025, the Excalibur Grande Complication is nothing short of a horological masterpiece, marking Roger Dubuis’ 30th anniversary with a bang. This limited-edition beauty only eight pieces will ever be made brings together three of the most coveted complications in watchmaking: a perpetual calendar, a minute repeater, and a flying tourbillon. It’s a stunning tribute to the innovative spirit of the Maison’s founder, Roger Dubuis, and a bold statement of what happens when mechanical mastery meets artistic genius. This watch isn’t just about telling time; it’s about celebrating time in its most extravagant form.

An Ingenious Symphony of Complications

The Excalibur Grande Complication is an epitome of high horology, meticulously designed to house a range of features that are as intricate as they are beautiful. The piece is powered by the new RD118 movement, which offers 60 hours of power reserve and is finished to the prestigious Poinçon de Genève standard. This movement is a true work of art, with each of its 684 components hand-decorated, demonstrating the care and precision that is a hallmark of Roger Dubuis’ legacy.

At the heart of this horological masterpiece are three legendary complications that have defined high-end watchmaking for centuries. The perpetual calendar is one of Roger Dubuis' favorite complications, both for its complexity and its ability to stand the test of time. The perpetual calendar mechanism in the Excalibur Grande Complication offers complete autonomy from manual adjustments for up to a century. It’s an achievement of exceptional mechanical precision, designed to automatically account for leap years and varying month lengths. The design complexity lies in its ability to account for the intricacies of the Gregorian calendar, a feat that requires remarkable patience and ingenuity.

The Biretrograde display is one of the standout features of the Excalibur Grande Complication, a distinctive system that tracks both the day of the week and the date of the month. The semi-instantaneous return-to-zero mechanism adds a dramatic flair to the visual experience, with the hands gracefully sweeping along semi-circular scales before immediately snapping back to zero. This innovative display harkens back to Roger Dubuis' pioneering work in the 1980s, when he co-patented the retrograde system, laying the foundation for his signature complication in his very first Roger Dubuis watch in 1995.

The minute repeater complication is a testament to Roger Dubuis' philosophy that "listening is as beautiful as looking." This is no ordinary minute repeater; it’s a finely tuned instrument that generates a distinctive tritone chime, an eerie and alluring musical interval often referred to as "the devil’s chord." Activated by a pusher, the tritone sound creates a low pitch for the hours, a high pitch for the minutes, and two tones for the quarter hours. This melodic feature elevates the watch to an auditory experience, not unlike the work of a musician, and showcases Roger’s unique approach to incorporating sound into the mechanics of a timepiece.

Positioned at 5 o’clock, the flying tourbillon offers a breathtaking visual experience as it spins in its mirror-polished cage. Made from lightweight titanium, the tourbillon exemplifies Roger Dubuis’ commitment to creating gravity-defying mechanisms. It serves as both a technical marvel and a striking visual focal point, reflecting the Maison’s commitment to combining aesthetics with exceptional performance.

A Watchmaker’s Dream Come to Life

Roger Dubuis was always deeply fascinated by complications, and this watch encapsulates his passion for blending mechanical complexity with artistic expression. The Excalibur Grande Complication doesn’t just showcase technical skill; it also reflects the dedication and emotion Roger poured into his creations. Each complication tells a story, a story that resonates with Roger's belief that horology is not just about mechanics—it’s about feeling and conveying emotion through every turn of the gears.

The Excalibur Grande Complication will be a rare collector’s piece, Its 45mm pink gold case is paired with a 3D brown calf-skin leather strap, offering a versatile yet luxurious aesthetic. The timepiece is equipped with a transparent sapphire crystal caseback, providing a clear view of the intricate movement inside, a visual reminder of the craftsmanship that has made Roger Dubuis a symbol of excellence in high horology.

As the Maison celebrates 30 years of excellence, the Excalibur Grande Complication stands as a fitting tribute to Roger Dubuis’ legacy, encapsulating the spirit of innovation and passion that continues to drive the Maison forward.