Roger Dubuis Excalibur Grande Complication

Celebrating three decades of horological exploration, Roger Dubuis unveils a creation born from the ambitious dream of its founder: the Excalibur Grande Complication. This timepiece serves as a direct tribute to Mr. Roger Dubuis himself, a man driven by the desire to craft watches utterly unique in the world. It embodies his vision by combining formidable technical complexity with a distinct aesthetic presence, all validated by the demanding standards of the Poinçon de Genève.



Mr. Roger Dubuis wasn't just a watchmaker; he was an architect of time, dedicating his life to exploring and reimagining the most revered complications in watchmaking. His journey began steeped in traditional knowledge, but his true passion lay in pushing boundaries, infusing mechanisms with an expressive quality that went beyond mere function. He famously stated, "I was lucky enough to learn the complications. I think it's the most important part of my life." This deep-seated fascination became the cornerstone of the Maison he co-founded.



The Maison Roger Dubuis, established 30 years ago, quickly distinguished itself through a bold approach that merged intricate mechanics with avant-garde design. The founder's philosophy wasn't just about mastering complexity; it was about giving it a soul, an emotive quality that resonated with the wearer. His extensive experience allowed him to engineer movements of exceptional skill while simultaneously developing a unique visual language for the brand, often characterized by skeletonization and architectural forms.



This new Excalibur Grande Complication arrives as a testament to that enduring spirit. It materializes the founder's dream, demonstrating that the innovative and expressive approach to high watchmaking he championed continues to thrive within the manufacture. It’s a mechanical ode to a legacy built on challenging norms and celebrating the intricate beauty of horological complications.



In the realm of high watchmaking, the term "Grande Complication" signifies a timepiece equipped with at least three major complications beyond basic time-telling. Roger Dubuis first showcased its prowess in this demanding category in 2009 with an in-house calibre. The newly released Excalibur Grande Complication builds upon this heritage, reaffirming the Maison's commitment to complex watchmaking, expressive design, and unwavering quality.



This 2025 release houses the Calibre RD118, the second Grande Complication movement developed entirely by the Maison. It masterfully integrates three of the most prestigious and challenging complications known to watchmaking: a perpetual calendar, a minute repeater, and a tourbillon. This intricate fusion within a single movement speaks volumes about the technical skill and integrated design philosophy nurtured within the Roger Dubuis workshops.



The Perpetual Calendar complication addresses the quirks of the Gregorian calendar, a mechanism requiring a sophisticated mechanical memory. Mr. Roger Dubuis held a particular fondness for this complication, recognizing its inherent difficulty but reveling in the patience and precision required for its construction. He understood that mastering it was a formidable challenge, one that "definitely scared everyone," yet he approached it with a focus on feeling and intuition, translating those sensitivities into the meticulous regulation process.



This dedication results in a mechanism capable of automatically accounting for months with varying lengths (28, 30, or 31 days) and correctly adjusting for leap years every four years. The Excalibur Grande Complication, therefore, requires no manual date correction until the year 2100, showcasing a mechanical intelligence designed for long-term accuracy and user convenience. It’s a testament to foresight in engineering, designed to function flawlessly across decades.



Adding another layer of sophistication, the perpetual calendar information is presented via a Biretrograde display. This means the hands indicating the day of the week and the date of the month sweep across semi-circular scales before instantaneously jumping back to their starting points at the end of their respective cycles. This dynamic visual flourish adds a distinct character to the dial’s layout and operation.



The development of the Biretrograde display holds historical significance for the brand. In the 1980s, Mr. Roger Dubuis, in collaboration with Jean-Marc Wiederrect, co-patented an innovative retrograde display system. This early innovation laid the groundwork for the very first watch bearing the Roger Dubuis name in 1995, establishing a signature element that continues to define the Maison's identity.



In the Excalibur Grande Complication, this legacy is clearly visible. Two distinct scales arc across the dial: one for the day of the week and another for the date. Skeletonized hands with semi-instantaneous jumps track the progression along these arcs. Complementing these displays are a month indication via a disc positioned between 11 and 12 o'clock, and a discreet leap year indicator nearby. The design echoes the past, utilizing heritage fonts and the characteristic shape of the scales – wide at the outer edge, narrowing towards the center – directly referencing the style of the original 1995 timepiece.



The arrangement of the complications on the dial, though subtly adjusted, maintains a graphic balance reminiscent of historical Roger Dubuis pieces, like the 2015 Millésime pocket watch. This symmetrical alignment, particularly between the perpetual calendar elements and the tourbillon, creates a visual coherence that links this modern creation to the brand's established design principles.



Beyond the visual intricacies, the Excalibur Grande Complication engages the sense of hearing through its Minute Repeater function. Originally conceived to tell time in darkness, the minute repeater is notoriously complex to create, demanding the skills of both a watchmaker and a musician. The mechanism must be finely tuned to produce clear, harmonious chimes on demand.



Activated by a pusher on the left flank of the case, the repeater mechanism employs a feeler-spindle system to read the time information encoded on cams. This information is then translated into strikes by hammers against precisely tuned gongs. A low pitch signifies the hours, a high pitch marks the minutes, and a distinct two-tone chime indicates the quarter hours.



Roger Dubuis adds a unique auditory signature to this complication, reprising the "devil's chord" or "diabolus in musica" tritone chime previously featured in the 2020 Excalibur Diabolus in Machina. This interval, consisting of three whole tones (or six semitones), was historically dissonant and even banned in early religious music. Its use here lends an unexpected, slightly unsettling musicality, reflecting the brand's penchant for challenging conventions. This specific chime adds a layer of narrative and distinctiveness to the auditory experience.



Furthermore, Roger Dubuis incorporates a practical safety feature: the "all or nothing" mechanism. This ensures the chime sequence can only be activated if the pusher is fully depressed. This prevents accidental partial activation, which could potentially damage the intricate repeater mechanism, safeguarding the complex movement.



Completing the trio of major complications is the flying tourbillon, prominently positioned between 5 and 6 o'clock. For Mr. Roger Dubuis, the tourbillon wasn't just about counteracting gravity's effects on precision; it was a means to liberate space within the calibre, allowing for greater mechanical and aesthetic expression. The Excalibur Grande Complication perfectly embodies this philosophy.



Consistent with the Maison's standard practice, it's a flying tourbillon, meaning it's supported only from below, offering an unobstructed view of its rotation. The cage design, inspired by the Celtic Cross and rendered in mirror-polished titanium, is a signature Roger Dubuis element. The use of lightweight, non-magnetic titanium enhances the efficiency and reliability of this gravity-defying mechanism, which has become an iconic feature across the brand's collections.



The engine driving these complexities is the Calibre RD118, an automatic, self-winding movement meticulously developed and manufactured in-house. Beating at a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour), it provides a substantial power reserve of 60 hours. The movement comprises an astonishing 684 individual components, including 65 jewels, each playing a crucial role in the intricate dance of timekeeping and complications.



Achieving the Poinçon de Genève certification is a significant aspect of the RD118. This prestigious hallmark is not merely a stamp of origin but a guarantee of exceptional craftsmanship, durability, and chronometric performance. It dictates that every single one of the 684 components must be finished by hand according to strict criteria. Roger Dubuis employs 21 different types of hand-finishing techniques on this calibre alone, creating a visually stunning interplay of matte and polished surfaces that enhances how light interacts with the movement – a characteristic trait of Geneva Haute Horlogerie. This painstaking decoration is visible through the watch's open case back.



The Excalibur Grande Complication is presented in a substantial 45mm case crafted from 750/1000 pink gold. The warm hue of the gold provides a rich frame for the complex mechanics within. The case features the collection's signature notched bezel and a matching pink gold crown. Its construction ensures water resistance up to 5 bar, equivalent to 50 meters. A sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating protects the dial, while a second sapphire crystal on the open case back allows an unfettered view of the RD118 movement. The overall case thickness is 17.45mm, accommodating the depth of the multi-layered movement.



The dial itself is a complex landscape. It features a double surface flange with a ridged black top section and a polished white slope below, marked with a transferred minute track. The hour markers are polished and gold-plated, inset with white Super-LumiNova (SLN) for visibility in low light. The retrograde calendar displays and the month disc feature a satin-brushed black finish with polished rhodium-plated outlines. Gold-plated indications and subtle red dots provide clarity for the calendar readings. The hour and minute hands are fashioned from pink gold with satin-brushed surfaces and black SLN centers, while the retrograde hands are crafted from brass coated with pink gold for optimal lightweight performance.



In line with the Maison's policy against using exotic leathers, the watch is fitted with a premium brown calf leather strap. This strap is specifically constructed with volume to integrate seamlessly with the lines of the 45mm case and movement architecture. It features the convenient Quick Release System (QRS), allowing the owner to easily swap straps without tools. The strap is secured by an 18K pink gold triple-folding buckle, which is also equipped with the QRS for interchangeability.



Visually, the watch presents a compelling fusion of traditional high watchmaking elements and Roger Dubuis's characteristic modern edge. The pink gold case provides a warm, substantial presence on the wrist. The dial is deeply layered and architectural, drawing the eye into the intricate displays of the perpetual calendar and the mesmerizing rotation of the flying tourbillon cage. The contrast between the black elements, the gold accents, the rhodium outlines, and the occasional red dot creates a dynamic and legible, albeit complex, interface. The signature notched bezel adds a robust, recognizable frame to this mechanical artistry.



Making its debut at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2025, the Excalibur Grande Complication is positioned as an extremely exclusive offering. Production is strictly limited to only 8 pieces worldwide, making it a true rarity sought after by dedicated collectors and enthusiasts of high complication watchmaking. This scarcity underscores the immense craftsmanship and time invested in creating each piece.



This timepiece is available exclusively through Roger Dubuis boutiques. The combination of its technical achievements, the Poinçon de Genève certification, its connection to the founder's legacy, and its severely limited production run places the Excalibur Grande Complication at the pinnacle of the Maison's offerings. It stands as a powerful statement piece, celebrating 30 years of a unique vision in watchmaking that continues to push boundaries and captivate the imagination. Pricing information is typically available upon request through the boutiques, reflecting the bespoke nature of such highly complicated and limited timepieces.



Case: Pink Gold 750/1000; Diameter 45mm; Thickness 17.45mm; Pink gold bezel and crown; Sapphire crystal front (anti-reflective) and open case back; Water resistance 5 bar (50m).

Movement: Calibre RD118; Automatic self-winding; Perpetual Calendar, Minute Repeater, Flying Monotourbillon; 60-hour power reserve; Frequency 3 Hz (21,600 VpH); 684 components, 65 jewels; 14''' 3/4 diameter, 11.8mm thickness; Poinçon de Genève certified; 21 hand-finishes.

Dial: Double surface flange (ridged black top, white polished slope); Transferred minute track; Polished gold-plated hour markers with white SLN; Biretrograde (day, date) and disc (month, leap year) calendar display; Pink gold hour/minute hands (black SLN); Pink gold coated brass retrograde hands.

Strap: Brown premium calf leather; Interchangeable Quick Release System (QRS); Pink Gold 750/1000 triple folding buckle with QRS.

Price: Upon Request

Reference Number: DBEX1174

Notes: Limited edition of 8 pieces; Boutique Exclusive. Commemorates the Maison's 30th anniversary. Features a Minute Repeater chiming the 'devil's chord' (tritone) and a Biretrograde perpetual calendar display.