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The Roger Dubuis Excalibur | family history

Roger Dubuis built the Excalibur as a deliberately theatrical watch: the 20-piece screw-ring bezel, skeleton chapter ring, and openworked dial architecture are the brand's trademark vocabulary. The Double Flying Tourbillon is the family's horological apex, but the automatic entry reference communicates the same aesthetic at a more accessible price.

Year introduced: 20063 references

Roger Dubuis's flagship collection: twelve-pointed case inspired by the Knights of the Round Table, home to the Maison's most spectacular skeletonized movements and double flying tourbillons.

1995-2005 · Roger Dubuis the watchmaker and the brand's founding period

Roger Dubuis founded his eponymous brand in Geneva in 1995 after decades at Patek Philippe and Gerald Genta's studio. The brand positioned itself as ultra-luxe from the start, applying Geneva Seal standards to small-batch production. Early references established the brand's fondness for skeleton dials and architectural bezels.

No references from this era in the catalog yet.

2006-present · The Excalibur as brand cornerstone

The Excalibur launched in 2006 as a round-case alternative to the Hommage and Sympathie lines. The 20-part knurled screw-ring bezel and the transparent chapter ring became the family's identifying marks. The Calibre RD821 automatic carries the basic Excalibur reference; the Double Flying Tourbillon (two flying tourbillons rotating around a central axis at 30 RPM) is the family's most technically ambitious variant. Roger Dubuis was acquired by the Richemont group in 2008 and production has scaled accordingly.

How to read this family

Two questions for Excalibur buyers:

Related families: Urwerk UR-105

References in this family

Which ref to buy

The Excalibur is Roger Dubuis's flagship case: an octagonal bezel with micro-rotor in-house movements, skeleton dials, and a design language that is maximalist about mechanical display. The Geneva Seal is applied to nearly every caliber they produce, which is a serious technical commitment. Roger Dubuis is the loud end of Geneva watchmaking.

  1. 1

    Excalibur 42 Automatic: octagonal case, RD821 micro-rotor skeleton, Geneva Seal, the entry Excalibur for skeleton enthusiasts.

    The case for it:
    The RD821 is a legitimately well-made movement. The Geneva Seal is earned rather than claimed. For buyers who want a skeleton sport watch with real movement credentials and a distinctive design, the Excalibur 42 is the case to make.
    Consider instead if:
    The Excalibur design reads as maximalist. Buyers who want Geneva-Seal skeleton watchmaking in a more restrained case should consider the Parmigiani Fleurier or the Vacheron Overseas skeleton. Roger Dubuis is the statement, not the understatement.
    Open
  2. 2

    Excalibur Double Flying Tourbillon: twin flying tourbillons at 10 and 2 o'clock, Geneva Seal, the most technically ambitious Excalibur.

    The case for it:
    Two flying tourbillons with the Geneva Seal is a technical statement that cannot be ignored. This is Roger Dubuis at full ambition.
    Consider instead if:
    The DFT is visually overwhelming. Whether two tourbillons improve timekeeping is contested; they certainly improve the spectacle. For collectors who want the fullest expression of the Excalibur concept, this is it.
    Open
  3. 3

    Excalibur 36mm: the same octagonal design at a scale appropriate for smaller wrists, full RD movement credentials.

    The case for it:
    The 36mm Excalibur gives buyers who find 42mm too large access to the same movement and Geneva Seal credentials. Correctly sized for many wrists the 42mm cannot serve.
    Consider instead if:
    At 36mm, the visual impact of the skeleton mechanism is reduced. The 42mm makes a stronger statement.
    Open

Rankings last reviewed 2026-06-18. Editorial perspective only. Not financial advice.

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The Roger Dubuis Excalibur | family history | Grail Atlas