Roger Dubuis 2008 SIHH Excalibur & KingSquare

AnthonyTsai's comprehensive report from SIHH 2008 offers a detailed look at Roger Dubuis' expanded Excalibur line and the debut of the KingSquare case. His photo essay captures the brand's bold direction in complications and design, from tourbillons adorned with emeralds to massive double flying tourbillons. This article remains a valuable snapshot of Roger Dubuis' offerings during a pivotal period of design evolution.

This year Roger Dubuis expanded its Excalibur line and debuted a new watch case named KingSquare.  The Excalibur line made its debut in 2005 and is my favorite line from Dubuis, and I'm delighted to see they offer many more designs and complications in this beautiful case.

One of the new ladies' models in the Excalibur line is an emeralds version w/ a green croc strap.  Available in different dials, jewels, and case metals, this 39mm Exaclibur Emeralds features a tourbillon at 6 o'clock.

Excalibur Tourbillon with emeralds

Thanks to our lovely anonymous female wrist model, here's a wrist shot and looks great IMO!  Perfect to wear during an elegant affair or a night out of town.

Looks lovely on a lady's wrist doesn't it?

Here's another version of the Excalibur but this time in rose gold with diamonds and satin textured strap. 

Excalibur Tourbillon with diamonds

Fully paved lugs

Next is a 45mm Excalibur double-pusher column-wheel chronograph with central chronograph seconds hand and split-seconds hand.  The automatic micro-rotor is hidden below at around the 2 o'clock position as pictured in the 2nd picture below.

45 minute split-seconds chronograph

Micro-rotor is hidden at 2 o'clock.  Can you see it?

Massive but elegant deployant buckle

Rose gold with blue dial Double Tourbillon

Power reserve indicator on back

Available in white gold, rose gold, or steel

Retrograde minutes between 9 and 3 o'clock

Detail to finishing is superb on this Havana leaf colored dial

The 45mm Triple Timezone uses the RD 1448 movement

The most beautiful of all Excaliburs IMO are the minute repeater and perpetual calendar models.  Supposedly these perpetual calendars are instantaneous perpetual calendars so it would have been great if we could have had one of these present at one of our PuristSPro Watching Perpetually PuristS (WPP) events this past leap year on February 29, 2008.  Available in either the 45mm or 42mm Excalibur case.  The minute repeater striking mechanism has a sound dissipator device which eliminates friction noise and supposedly gives the sound more purity.

45mm Excalibur Minute Repeater Perpetual Calendar in rose gold

Beautiful mother-of-pearl dial with jumping Roman numerals

Two micro rotors on back with sound dissipator

Roger Dubuis' new case for this year is the KingSquare.  Available in 40mm for mens and 36mm for women, this square shaped case features a 3-level plane include unique triple faceted sapphire crystals on both front and back.

Titanium and rubber KingSquare

To me, the new KingSquare case is too similar to the GoldenSquare case so it's not that much of a new case to me, and I'm still yet undetermined on whether or not I like the 3 faceted aspects of the case and crystal.    If I were to purchase one of these KingSquare watches right now, I have a feeling that I would get tired of the case real quickly. 

Notice the triple faceted sapphire crystal and case

Rose gold and rubber KingSquare version

Another picture of the unique crystal

Profile shot of the KingSquare case w/ allen wrench strap screws

Dubuis also debutted a skeletonized dial featuring the "KS02" code name for the RD02SQ movement.  The black PVD look of the movement is the result of a special rhodium treatment.

The skeletonized movement of the KingSquare 02

The Roger Dubuis MuchMore collection has a couple new Enamel pieces, and below is one example.

Las Vegas inspired enamel dial on the MuchMore

Roger Dubuis also debutted its first steel multi-link bracelet at SIHH 2008.

Sympathie w/ new metal bracelet

Polished steel with inner brushed steel links

Two screws connect inner and outer links

Display back of the Sympathie chronograph

All in all, the Roger Dubuis design is not for everyone, but for those who aren't afraid of strapping on a bold watch with exquisitely finished Geneva seal movements, you might want to take a look at one of Dubuis' new Excalibur models.  I know I'll be placing an order for one of the above Excalibur Minute Repeater Perpetual Calendars when I win the lottery!