Roger Dubuis
Driving Ambition
Roger Dubuis shifts into horological overdrive with the Excalibur Huracán, the newest creation from the Swiss manufacture’s partnership with Lamborghini Squadra Corse.
It’s usually a short drive from car enthusiast to watch collector. For many people, these mechanical passions often fuel one another. Roger Dubuis understands the power of that connection and has harnessed it to create a new generation of cutting-edge watches inspired by the world of high-octane supercars.
From its Geneva-based manufacture, Roger Dubuis appears determined to use visionary R&D as a way to aggressively push the boundaries of mechanical watchmaking. The latest step in that ongoing quest, the new Excalibur Huracán, was introduced earlier this year.
SETTING THE PACE
Expected to arrive at Cellini this summer, anticipation for the Excalibur Huracán has been building among collectors drawn to its mix of advanced engineering and streamlined aesthetics.
Under the hood, the watch is powered by the brand’s new RD630 caliber. Made in-house, this skeletonized automatic movement is the second caliber that Roger Dubuis has developed in conjunction with its partnership with Lamborghini Squadra Corse. The balance wheel, typically relegated to the back side on most watches, is featured here on the dial side. Set at a 12-degree angle, the inclined balance’s constant motion gives the design a kinetic jump start.
The Excalibur Huracán’s inclined balance wheel and date display are positioned on opposite sides of the skeletonized dial.
The Italian supercar’s influence even extends to the back of the watch. Here, the clear caseback provides an unobstructed view of the winding rotor, which is shaped like the Huracán’s rims. To complete the look, the area behind the spinning weight has been made to look like the car’s brakes.
For the Excalibur Huracán’s debut, Roger Dubuis will release three versions of the watch. They all share the same automatic-winding movement, which has a 60-hour power reserve, and a date display. The watch is presented in the brand’s signature Excalibur case, which measures 45mm in diameter and is topped with a fluted bezel. The case is available in titanium; black-DLC coated titanium; or titanium and rose gold.
The 45mm rose gold case is topped with a fluted titanium bezel that has black lacquered markings.
ANGLE OF ATTACK
The new Excalibur Huracán follows the path blazed by the acclaimed Excalibur Aventador S that was introduced last year. It was the first watch that Roger Dubuis developed specifically for its partnership with Lamborghini Squadra Corse.
The high level of ingenuity displayed by the Excalibur Aventador S and its complex caliber elevates this audacious example of automotive-inspired horology over all its rivals.
Unlike most other mechanical watches, the Excalibur Aventador S is powered by a skeletonized hand-wound “Duotor” movement that features two balance wheels instead of one. Both wheels are set at opposing angles and each one operates independently as they oscillate at 28,800 vibrations per hour. A differential gear averages the timing rates together, resulting in a more accurate rate.
Excalibur Aventador S uses a complex differential to average the timing rates from its dual balance wheels.
The intricate caliber also powers a dead-beat seconds hand. In mechanical watchmaking, the seconds hand rotates smoothly around the dial, making it difficult to read the exact second. In contrast, a dead-beat seconds hand is easier to read because it pauses for every increment.
The same attention to detail that Roger Dubuis engineers invested into the Aventador S movement is matched by the designers responsible for the aesthetics. Like its cousin, the Excalibur Aventador S features visual references to its automotive inspiration. One prominent example is the grooved section near 1 o’clock, which recalls the supercar’s air intake assembly. Roger Dubuis also adds a “gas gauge” to keep track of the watch’s 40-hour power reserve.
The Aventador S is presented in Roger Dubuis’ classic 45mm Excalibur case and is made from carbon and titanium. It frames the watch’s hand-wound movement, which is made in-house and has earned the Poinçon de Genève, often called the Geneva Seal. For more than a century, the prestigious Geneva Seal certification has been given to watches — made exclusively in Geneva — that meet strict requirements for the movement’s aesthetics, construction and performance.
Whether you’re seeking precision engineering or dynamic design, both watches put automotive magic at your fingertips.
Click here to view the Roger Dubuis collection online at Cellini Jewelers.
Roger Dubuis’ hand-wound movement includes a rare dead-beat seconds hand.