Roger Dubuis doesn’t so much make watches as it does sculpt mechanical theater for the wrist. Timed with the high-octane elegance of Monterey Car Week, the Swiss Maison has launched the Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph, a 45mm, 18K pink gold skeletonized creation that fuses motorsport adrenaline with the traditions of haute horlogerie.
Limited to just 88 pieces and priced at $135,000, the timepiece carries the Geneva Seal and houses the brand’s in-house RD780 calibre—a movement designed from scratch to both tell and measure time, with design flourishes that turn technical function into spectacle.
Racing DNA, High Horology Execution
Roger Dubuis
Chronographs have been part of Roger Dubuis’ story since its founding in 1995. Before starting his eponymous brand, Mr. Roger Dubuis spent nearly a decade working exclusively on chronograph movements, developing a fluency in the complication that still shapes the brand’s output today.
The RD780 calibre integrates a column wheel prominently displayed at 6 o’clock—a hallmark of high-end chronographs—engineered from stainless steel and finished with a demanding poli zinc polish. The vertical clutch system echoes the mechanics of a car’s gear change, connecting the watch’s design to its motorsport inspiration.
Patented Performance
Roger Dubuis
The piece showcases two notable innovations. The 120° Rotating Minute Counter at 3 o’clock, shaped in a dynamic isotoxal form, delivers an animated display when the chronograph is engaged, with oversized red numerals for legibility. The Second Braking System stabilizes the chronograph seconds hand, reducing flicker for pinpoint accuracy.
Expressive Mechanics
Roger Dubuis
At 9 o’clock, the tilted balance wheel sits at a precise 12° angle, fitted with diamond-coated silicon escapement components for anti-magnetic resilience and long-term precision. The skeletonized pushers, supercar-inspired rotor, and Quick Release rubber strap reinforce the watch’s dual personality—pure motorsport energy with fine watchmaking poise.
The symmetrical dial invites prolonged study; every glance reveals another layer of intersecting forms, shifting surfaces, and polished edges. Through the sapphire caseback, the five-armed rotor mimics the rims of a high-performance wheel, underscoring the watch’s automotive lineage.
The Collector’s Touch
Roger Dubuis
Production is capped at 88 pieces—a nod to founder Roger Dubuis’ lucky number—each powered by a movement decorated with 16 different finishing techniques across 333 components. With 72 hours of power reserve and the Geneva Seal certification, the Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph offers an unapologetic mix of sportiness, exclusivity, and horological artistry.
For more information on this extremely limited-edition watch, head over to the brand’s official website.
