In a limited series of 28 timepieces, the new Hommage La Placide takes the wearer on a 30-year journey, with authentic components and inspiration from the past, brought to life today through a modern Roger Dubuis lens. An important 30th anniversary creation that celebrates the legacy of this Geneva Maison and its revered founder.
Inside each model, the Calibre 1472 is a testament to Roger Dubuis both then and now. Combining original and remanufactured components in the same movement, it celebrates history and the present day through technical savoir-faire and layered aesthetics.
This dedicated series echoes the Excalibur Monobalancier Biretrograde Calendar recently launched at Watches and Wonders Geneva, giving watch aficionados and collectors two biretrograde creations that have a rich connection to the Maison’s heritage.
Hommage Inspiration
Launched in 1996, the original Hommage was Mr. Roger Dubuis’ tribute to the talented watchmakers, teachers, and friends who had influenced his career — those who had guided him throughout his life and provided the inspiration to create his own path.
When conceptualizing this new series, the manufacture returned to that story, borrowing the idea for a new tribute to Mr. Roger Dubuis himself. It combines his favourite Perpetual Calendar complication with Biretrograde display, while honouring his passion for restoration and expressive aesthetics.
The name “La Placide” includes a reference to Mr. Roger Dubuis’ “Placide” nickname, which he received during his childhood days as a scout, and which he carried throughout his life and career, a perfect reflection of his calm and gentle spirit, and the quiet wisdom he brought to the industry.
RD14: The Base Calibre
Roger Dubuis began this new watchmaking journey by reintroducing the original RD14 calibres – the Maison’s very first in-house automatic movement, which debuted in 2004. One by one, the calibres were given an extensive check-up, undergoing quality control tests and full diagnostics to make each one like new.
Notably in design, these RD14 calibres include the swan neck regulator – a respected feature due to its traditional nature and more decorated finish. It’s a component that offers better shock resistance and a more precise setting.
The calibres also use original Roger Dubuis balance springs. These have a special place within the Maison’s heritage, as their in-house production in the early 2000s enabled Roger Dubuis to receive the title of an official manufacture.
One significant improvement to the calibre for greater performance is the repositioning of all the axes of the wheels, following a complete recalculation of the gear train.
RD72: Adding the Perpetual Calendar
The restored RD14 base calibres were then coupled with the RD72 module – first introduced in 1999 and distinguished by its Perpetual Calendar complication, a favorite of Mr. Roger Dubuis that combines day, date, month, leap year, and moonphase displays.
For this project, the Maison remanufactured the main plate, large bridge, and 50% of the components, including levers, springs, wheels, and pinions. All of this work was completed entirely in-house, showcasing the exceptional expertise of Roger Dubuis’ integrated manufacture today.
The mechanism also features a smooth month and leap year design, achieved by combining two star-shaped wheels, one with 12 teeth and the other with 48 teeth. This ingenious construction allows the month and leap year to be displayed on the same counter, using two co-axial hands.
RD1472: A Modern Revival
This is only the second time that the RD14 and RD72 have been combined. Their reunion gives rise to the Hommage 1472 calibre, which beats at the heart of the new series.
With a newly crafted rotor in 18K pink gold, the entire movement is composed of 291 components and distinguished by 15 decoration techniques, including wheel bevelling, tool bevelling, rounding, circular graining, snailing, Geneva stripes, mirror polishing, teeth polishing, tip polishing, perlage, truing, internal drawing, external drawing, frosting, and burnishing.
The Poinçon de Genève certification was a mark of excellence for Mr. Roger Dubuis when creating his timepieces, and it has remained a defining hallmark of the Maison’s watchmaking to this day.
However, the criteria for the certification have evolved over the years and now differ from those required for the original RD14 and RD72. The latest standards, introduced in 2012, focus more heavily on chronometry, with tests now performed on the entire timepiece rather than solely on the calibre.
For this reason, when crafting the RD1472, the artisans paid particular attention to the movement setting, ensuring it met the modern Poinçon de Genève requirements. Movement setting has long held great importance in horological workshops, and this meticulous detail underscores the virtuosity and precision of Roger Dubuis craftsmen today.
The Layered Dial
The dial of the Hommage La Placide tells its own story of complexity and craftsmanship. It first highlights Mr. Roger Dubuis’ beloved Biretrograde display, in which the calendar hands move gracefully along semi-circular scales, returning instantly to zero at the end of each cycle to begin their journey anew. Just like their original Roger Dubuis appearance in 1995, the scales are wider on the outside and narrower towards the centre, creating a distinctive sense of ellipsis.
Layered dials are a signature of Roger Dubuis’ singularity, and this timepiece exemplifies that approach through five distinct layers, each revealing its own expressive decoration:
Flange: Circular-brushed with a rhodium coating, featuring transferred numerals and a minute track, along with polished angles that enhance its radiance.
Calendar Segments: Crafted from mother-of-pearl, with transferred texts and hand-bevelled sides.
Main Plate: Presented in a colour known as “Leman Blue” – a tribute to Lake Geneva, which Mr. Roger Dubuis admired daily as a young watchmaking student during his train journeys between Geneva and Vevey. The plate is lacquered for a deeper hue and features applied hour markers, transferred text, and lunar month information.
Counters: Also made of mother-of-pearl, with a broader circular-brushed finish and transferred texts.
Moonphase Layer: Composed of a blue aventurine base adorned with curved 18K yellow gold moons.
Each layer contributes to a multidimensional visual experience — a perfect reflection of the Maison’s dedication to depth, artistry, and mechanical poetry.
A Tribute in Gold
This 38 mm timepiece is crafted with an 18K pink gold case and paired with a blue interchangeable leather strap, featuring an original Roger Dubuis emblem on the buckle.
Both the Hommage La Placide and the Excalibur Biretrograde Calendar, launched to mark the 30th Anniversary, celebrate Mr. Roger Dubuis’ vision and mastery as a watchmaker. Inspired by the past, they honour the biretrograde display, a hallmark of the Maison, while expressing the bold creativity and craftsmanship of today.
Honouring Original Owners
As a sign of gratitude to coincide with this launch, all existing Hommage owners will be welcomed to visit any Roger Dubuis monobrand boutique around the world to receive a complimentary Hommage strap to fit their original timepiece.
