The Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph blends racing precision with haute horlogerie, marking three decades of Roger Dubuis chronograph mastery.
When Roger Dubuis decides to create a chronograph, the result is never going to be ordinary. The Maison’s latest piece, the Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph, takes the high-octane world of motor racing and filters it through the rarefied lens of Geneva’s finest watchmaking. The outcome is bold, intricate, and unmistakably Roger Dubuis.
This is not a casual addition to the catalogue. It is the culmination of thirty years of work with chronograph movements, brought together in the fifth-generation calibre RD780. The watch sits at the point where technical mastery and expressive design meet, with enough flair to satisfy collectors and enough engineering to impress the most exacting connoisseur.
Roots in the Chronograph
Roger Dubuis himself spent nine years of his early career developing chronograph movements at another storied Swiss Maison.
When he established his own brand in 1995, the complication naturally took pride of place among his first creations.
That early connection has endured, shaping the identity of the house and making this new chronograph a particularly meaningful release.
The Movement
At its core is the RD780, a fully integrated chronograph designed and built entirely in-house. The column wheel is placed proudly at 6 o’clock, its mirror-polished finish ensuring that the mechanism is not just functional but a visual delight.
Its job is to govern the chronograph’s start, stop, and reset functions with precision and a pleasingly crisp feel on the pushers.
The vertical clutch, drawing inspiration from the mechanics of racing gear shifts, ensures that timing engages smoothly, with none of the jolts or jumps that can plague lesser designs.
Innovations
The watch also introduces two new ideas. The 120° Rotating Minute Counter at 3 o’clock ensures that elapsed minutes are easy to read, its unusual layout adding movement and theatre to the dial.
Alongside it, the Second Braking System keeps the chronograph hand steady, eliminating distracting flicker and making readings precise.
Design and Details
The maison has given the Excalibur Spider Flyback a balance wheel at 9 o’clock, tilted at a 12° angle for both visibility and performance. Diamond-coated silicon components protect the escapement from magnetic interference, a practical advantage in the modern world.
The 45mm skeletonised case in 18K pink gold makes a confident statement, while the Quick Release system on the strap ensures that wearers can change the look in moments. The overall architecture of the dial reveals the mechanics beneath in layers, rewarding those who take the time to study its depths.
Motorsport Connection
The back of the watch carries a rotor shaped like a supercar wheel rim, a clear nod to the inspiration behind the piece.
It is not decoration for decoration’s sake, but a subtle reminder that split-second timing has always been part of racing’s DNA.
Geneva Seal
The Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph also carries the Geneva Seal, the hallmark that certifies not only precision but finishing of the highest order.
All 333 components of the movement have been decorated with meticulous care, using sixteen different techniques. It is as beautiful inside as it is bold on the wrist.
The 72-hour power reserve makes it practical for wear, not just a watch for display.
Exclusivity
Only 88 will be made, a nod to Mr Dubuis’ own lucky number. It appears highlighted on the tachymeter scale, a discreet detail that links founder and creation.
Each piece will be finished to the same demanding standard, ensuring that exclusivity is more than just a number.
A Statement Piece
The Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph is not a watch for the timid. It is large, expressive, and filled with character.
It bridges racing’s demand for accuracy with Geneva’s centuries-old commitment to craft, and in doing so, it becomes something more than a chronograph.
It is Roger Dubuis’ vision of haute horlogerie in motion – precise, daring, and unapologetically distinctive.
