Roger Dubuis

The main theme of the booth was sent out already through the videos that were broadcasted by Roger Dubuis:

But how to communicate this rather technical issue in a more emotional, mystic way?

Please allow Alvaro Maggini, Creative Director at RD and 'father' of the booth's design, explain himself (switch on subtitles if your French is not adéquat enough):

If this has trickled your interest I suggest you follow me through a little walk around the booth. Of course, Moderators of such prestigious web journals like PuristSPro.com do not simply use the shuttle busses of common folks, they are chauffeured with fully specced Mercedes limousines (note the magazine 'Sur La Terre' - Below the Soil - are we PuristS considered part of the underworld?)

So far, so good, but my expedition to the RD booth is still blocked. How cruel! Amazing sirens lure you close and than this: no access!

Would Mr. Rémy Pagani, the major of Geneva, help? But he seems to be more concerned with exchanging the latest football (in North America: 'soccer') news with RD's CEO, Mr. Jean-Marc Pontroué. A sad business as long as Swiss clubs are concerned...

Look, finally they show mercy with us, take one of the many swords around (its Excalibur times nonetheless!) and cut the ribbon:

Guys, that wasn't too difficult, eh?

Well before the crowd is allowed entrance its VIP time and this is reserved for Major and CEO, the latter presenting the novelties to the former... who might have a slightly hedonistic touch?

What follows next could only be secured and revealed using all my spying skills and the latest surveillance technology. Here is the exclusive footage of the secret sign which told the heads of the city and the manufacture to make room for the public:

Welcome Master of Ceremony, bald eagle Sherkan:

Did I say anything?

First view on the (not yet crowded) booth: a mysterious world just ready for knights and kings...

... reigned by a Roger Dubuis’ Eagle with 4.60 meters of wingspan. 

This year RD sends a clear message at SIHH: By seizing the emblem of its city of origin and the Poinçon de Genève - the Crowned Eagle and the Key – RD wants to claim its quest for excellence and allegiance to the most demanding signature in Fine Watchmaking. 

The eagle exerts a strong grip on the five tokens of excellence the brand wants to highlight: design, exclusivity, know-how, performance and durability:

But not only that, the eagle is also the carrier of the most spectacular RD novelty this year, the magic Excalibur Quartuor:

More on the Excalibur Quatour here !

Well, that is how far public space goes. Remember, us moderators, journalists and bloggers are part of a secret society that has access to the innards of the booths, to secret chambers...

... like this Round Table?

Uops! Its not exactly round and we are not really knights. But the gathering of the horological brotherhood here certainly has some happenings of psychological interest:

This looks like a concentrated, attentive audience, But as soon as the watches are laid out on the table the up to now sedate atmosphere changed to the vivid, and adult men and fathers suddenly demonstrated anankastic behaviour: Hastily taking our camera gear... 

... and freeing wrists for some shameless watch flirt:

After that I needed to relax and get my hormone levels back to normal. Luckily RD anticipated this and prepared a lounge - sorry, Salon! - for exactly this purpose:

But poor soul of mine, I did not find the relief I was looking for! The paperhangings were just too much for my plagued, horologically infested brain:

Did I see Geneva stripes?

Or perlage even?

Or was it just the presence of a master of timepieces  that made my head go boing!?

To be honest I do not have an answer to this. But it can't be worse beyond reproach as Mr. Roger Dubuis was gleaming around the booth, obviously proud and satisfied at the same time:

At the end of the show I was very pleased with the performance and impression of two masterpieces:

In due time I will have further in-depth articles of the novelties of the 2013 vintage ready. 

Cheers,

Magnus

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