The knights stand firm, focused on their quest, undeterred by the cracks that form menacingly in the ice before them. “Around this table, the bravest knights will gather as equals. They will set forth in search of adventure, righting wrongs, protecting the weak and humbling the proud.” The oath of Merlin the Enchanter, the legendary knights’ guide, is engraved under the sapphire crystal back of each masterfully executed Excalibur Knights Of The Round Table. This winter, Roger Dubuis adds another chapter to its wrist-borne epic - inspired by the legend of King Arthur and ongoing since 2012 - and brings its remarkable expertise to bear on an exclusive series of 28 watches.
Break the ice
Excalibur’s dial breaks up into plates of ice, revealing the blue-tinted surface of a lake. This compelling three-dimensional construction calls on rare craftsmanship. First there is the Limoges porcelain that surrounds the blocks to create the effect of virgin snow, matte in contrast with the shimmering surface beneath. Then there is the transparent blue Murano glass to suggest the expanse of water; its exact shade the result of six months of experimentation and research. The same glass reappears for the translucent flange, visible through the case sides, to which each of the 12 knights is ingeniously secured by gold hook-indices which mark the 12 hours.
Forge the metal
Each tiny, perfectly proportioned figure is cast in 18k gold from original drawings. Meticulously engraved, the fine detail of their individual features and posture come to life, forming an animated scene around the dial. Furthermore, this mastery of metal extends beyond the crafting of the twelve knights – to an ever-increasing degree of realism and detail with each new edition of the Excalibur Knights Of The Round Table – as Roger Dubuis has drawn on the ancient art of metallurgy for the 45mm case.
For this exceptional timepiece, the hyper-horologist has forged titanium according to the complex Damascus technique. First, the master metalsmith assembles blades of Grade 2 and Grade 5 titanium, one on the other, to then fire them at extremely high temperature. The still hot metal is incessantly hammered to solidify the layers of titanium into a whole: a process that must be repeated multiple times to achieve perfect fusion. Made from this block, the case undergoes a final and decisive treatment when it is plunged into an acid bath, revealing the fascinating lines that form a unique pattern on the Damascus metal’s surface.
Visible through the back, the automatic Monobalancier RD821 calibre is manufactured entirely in-house by Roger Dubuis. Its skeletonised oscillating weight, rhodium-plated or coloured blue, provides a clear view of the movement’s components, which are hand-finished to the exacting standards required by the Poinçon de Genève – a very real Grail and synonymous with the finest watchmaking.
