The world of luxurious is commonly full of superlatives, as a result of it’s not sufficient for one thing to be well-made, stunning to take a look at, delectably uncommon and priced into the stratosphere — it additionally must have story to inform. However what occurs when the identical outdated story has been repeated by quite a few manufacturers for years innumerable? When high-end watchmakers are all pedalling historical past, craftsmanship and a seamless mixture of custom and innovation, what else is there left to say?
For Roger Dubuis, the reply was easy: flip every little thing individuals suppose they find out about haute horlogerie on its head and create a brazen new philosophy by which to create essentially the most outrageous of tickers. That doctrine is what the model now calls “Hyper Horology”, and it’s as over-the-top and entertaining because it sounds.
Hyper horology is based on the model’s values of “pleasure, freedom and insanity”. An apparent parallel could be to check a supercar with a hypercar. The latter represents the haut de gamme of motoring, boasting cutting-edge know-how, sensational design and efficiency that far exceeds the wants of the extraordinary driver. Hyper Horology, as Roger Dubuis practises it, is way the identical with horological improvements that push the boundaries of conventional watchmaking, devilishly daring aesthetics, unquestionable high quality and chronometric efficiency.
In actual fact, the 2 worlds are so intently aligned of their values that Roger Dubuis’ partnerships with Lamborghini Squadra Corse and tyre producer Pirelli have resulted in a whole assortment of motorsport watches. Fashions just like the Excalibur Spider Huracan and Excalibur Spider Aventador are examples that have been impressed by Lamborghini’s iconic vehicles. Pirelli’s affect is commonly seen within the watch straps, the place the rubber inlays are taken from licensed Pirelli successful tyres, although the Excalibur Spider Pirelli Monotourbillon (created for the tyre firm’s 150th anniversary) featured an simply swappable bezel, crown and strap impressed by the fast race pit stops of motor racing.
One other realm Roger Dubuis allies itself with in its expression of Hyper Horology is that of city tradition. Its “City Tradition Tribe” consists of disruptive artistic minds like tattoo artist Dr. Woo, graffiti artist Gully, Chinese language artist Liu Wei and Japanese illustrator Hajime Sorayama — all of whom have lent their radical types to restricted version watches pulsating with angle.
Even with out enter from its many collaborators, Roger Dubuis’ personal design group is educated within the artwork of spectacle. From the rotating minute counter of the RD780 calibre to the “floating” energy reserve indicator of the brand new Monovortex Break up-Seconds Chronograph, conventional watchmaking components regularly tackle thrilling new types.
These science fiction-worthy designs are often paired with high-tech supplies. Not solely was Roger Dubuis one of many pioneers in the usage of composite supplies in watchmaking, it has experimented with atypical case supplies comparable to cobalt-chrome (a extremely corrosion-resistant industrial alloy used to make every little thing from generators to medical implants) and Mineral Composite Fibre (MCF) which is reported to be 13 per cent lighter than typical carbon composites and a couple of.5 instances lighter than ceramic.
Nonetheless, not all of its watches seem like wearable Autobots. Roger Dubuis nonetheless treasures the great thing about metiers d’artwork, most not too long ago demonstrated within the extravagant Knights of the Spherical Desk Monotourbiillon in 2022. The gathering’s first tourbillon, the centrally mounted complication is surrounded by 12 knights serving as hour markers — every one hand-sculpted in pink gold and holding a special pose. The 2 gold markers that time to the rotating hours and minutes are mounted on a double-disc system adorned with pink and purple Murano glass blocks, making a mesmerising interaction of color and motion.
Roger Dubuis watches seem like nothing else available on the market, however even throughout the wildest collections, some really radical concepts nonetheless handle to shock. That very same yr, the watchmaker launched the Excalibur Single Flying Tourbillon Glow Me Up which featured baguette diamonds set in grooves full of multicoloured Tremendous-Luminova such that the gems placed on a light-weight present at the hours of darkness — for sure, that was a world first.
A part of the Hyper Horology circuit consists of the relentless pursuit of such firsts. In 2020, it set three of them in a single watch, the Excalibur Twofold Double Flying Tourbillon. The primary being the usage of the aforementioned MFC for the case, adopted by the event of a brand new option to apply Tremendous-Luminova to the plates and bridges and lastly, a strap manufactured from a rubber materials known as FKM that was infused with Tremendous-Luminova and dubbed “LumiSuperBiwiNova” know-how.
Naturally, the precise watchmaking follows the identical manic ideology. Tourbillons – arguably essentially the most animated of issues – and particular escapement architectures dominate these collections. In 2013, Roger Dubuis launched the Excalibur Quatuor that includes 4 sprung balances paired up and positioned at 90-degree angles to at least one one other, linked by differentials to cancel out price errors in essentially the most spectacular model since Abraham-Louis Breguet invented the tourbillon. This tour de power was most decidedly not a tourbillon, nonetheless. The watch was cased in gold, however there was additionally a really particular version cased in silicon. As you might have guessed by now, this technical feat and its silicon case have been each world premieres. To today, we all know of no different watchmaking model that has tried to equal both feat.
Roger Dubuis additionally overachieves within the high quality management division. The Poincon de Geneve, or Geneva Seal, is a legendary business stamp of approval awarded solely to watches that have been solely manufactured in Geneva and meet a number of stringent standards associated to the standard of ending and supplies. Of the 20 million watches produced in Switzerland yearly, solely about 24,000 of them bear the Seal. At Roger Dubuis, just about all timepieces do.
It’s arduous to consider that the model has achieved all this in beneath 30 years, but it surely appears geared to do rather more. Lately, the corporate has arrange an incubator division known as the “Q Lab” named after the fictional innovation laboratory in James Bond. There, all staff are free to dream and inspired to pitch new case supplies, issues, consumer experiences and extra.
For shoppers, embracing Hyper Horology means embracing the essence of the “Hyper Life”. Those that possess the means to personal a Roger Dubuis timepiece possible already get pleasure from entry to a mess of experiences. Nonetheless, what the model uniquely accomplishes is immersing its prospects even additional in its charming realms.
Unique VIP escapades at F1 races, the celebrated Geneva Motor Present and the illustrious Goodwood Pageant of Pace (the place Roger Dubuis proudly serves because the Official Timing Accomplice) merely scratch the floor of the extraordinary life-style the model embodies. Furthermore, the supply of bespoke customisation providers exemplifies Roger Dubuis’ tackle savouring life within the quick lane.
Probably the most excessive instance of “hyper dwelling” was when the proprietor of the Excalibur One-Off idea watch was handled to a special shock each month for a yr earlier than the watch was delivered. These included a house go to by Product Technique Director Gregory Bruttin, an unique go to to the manufacture and an individualised programme by Lamborghini.
Primarily based on every little thing now we have seen up to now and may anticipate to see in future, Roger Dubuis and its spirit of Hyper Horology has taught the watchmaking world that something value doing is value overdoing.
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