Giuseppe Marasco A fifth-generation chronograph
When Monsieur Roger Dubuis founded his company in 1995, setting the standards of excellence, he included the prestigious chronograph calibre among the very first watches he created. In 1998, the second chronograph generation arrived, with the fully integrated RD28 calibre developed by the Maison. In 2012, the chronograph was associated with a tourbillon to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Poinçon de Genève, while, in 2014, a fourth generation chronograph was born, testifying to the Maison’s commitment to this iconic aspect of haute horlogerie.
Thanks to the experience and expertise that have led to levels of excellence, Roger Dubuis is now in its fifth generation of chronographs.
So far, in 2023, two incredible watches have marked the return of this famous complication to the Maison’s collection. First, a revolutionary concept watch known as the Monovortex™ Split-Seconds Chronograph, presented at the Watches and Wonders show in Geneva, followed by the Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph, presented at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Crafted with the Maison’s most advanced savoir-faire, the collection launched a few months ago now welcomes the latest variant, the Excalibur Spider Revuelto Flyback Chronograph, which will be presented for the first time at the Watches & Wonders 2023 show in Shanghai.
The new chronograph engine
The new watch is powered by the RD780 calibre which, with its 72-hour power reserve, is unrivalled among chronograph movements. The result of Roger Dubuis’ insatiable curiosity, every detail takes the form of a high-tech surprise. To begin with, the Flyback function places the calibre at a remarkable level of savoir-faire and enables the timer function to be restarted instantaneously while the chronograph is running.
The most extraordinary aspect, however, is that Roger Dubuis has left his watchmakers total creative freedom, giving them the option of starting from scratch in the construction of the calibre and integrating the chronograph complication into the movement.
A bold move, this, which departs from the modular and rational approach and requires much longer lead times. Every minute invested in its realisation proves worthwhile, as the entire calibre is designed to indicate and measure time while expressing its own aesthetic identity.
The famous column wheel located at 6 o’clock is an example of this: a complex component that manages the start, stop and return to 0 of the chronograph and that offers the added advantage of making operation of the pushpieces more fluid. This element is entirely visible when observing the watch from the front, a detail that makes all the difference to the attentive eye of experts and connoisseurs.
And now we come to precision. The case back shows the vertical clutch of the calibre, a symbol of excellence in the watch industry. The shape of the clutch is reminiscent of a supercar gearbox design and is made even more fascinating by the inclusion of an innovative SBS (Second Braking System). This element, which is directly connected to one of the clamps and is currently patent-pending, gives greater stability to the seconds hand of the Roger Dubuis chronograph, drastically reducing its flickering. To the attentive eye, the greater stability of the hand at the moment of stopping will not escape notice.
Infinally, 3 o’clock marks the moment of play with the unexpected RMC 120° rotating minute hand, a true revelation of this year’s Roger Dubuis chronograph. In a radical isotopic form, it includes a patent-pending tripartite hand that shows the 0, 1 and 2 rotating precisely beyond the 0-9 digits on the right. As soon as the chronograph is activated, the RMC starts to make a joyful display.
Performance Matters
The excellence of a calibre is determined by certain characteristics. In the case of the RD780, one of these is the inclined balance at 9 o’clock, which has raised its level of inertia to that of a tourbillon, guaranteeing high shock resistance in everyday life. Moreover, the 12° inclination compensates for the negative effects of gravity, which Roger Dubuis has long been committed to counteracting.
The diamond-coated silicon escapement wheel in combination with the pallets, also diamond-coated in silicon, guarantees exceptional antimagnetic qualities.
In support of its undisputed performance, this calibre is certified by the Poinçon de Genève. This is undoubtedly one of the most demanding attestations in haute horlogerie, requiring each of the 333 components of the calibre to be hand-decorated, while all functions must be tested before and after insertion in the case, definitive proof of the level of quality that only a few are able to offer.
The presentation in Shanghai
This sensational timepiece is limited to just 88 pieces, a number found on the watch’s fluctuating tachymeter scale, a tribute to Roger Dubuis’s lucky number.
To experience the thrill of seeing this watch up close, there is only one place to go. The Excalibur Spider Revuelto Flyback Chronograph will make its electrifying debut at the Watches and Wonders show in Shanghai from 13 to 17 September.
The Maison will display the timepiece prominently in its Hyper Life Factory showroom, where Hyper Horology™ can be experienced in its most immersive form. Get on board and hold on tight.
