Roger Dubuis dances to the devil’s tune with 30th anniversary Excalibur Grande Complication

Business reveals its second grand complication movement in watch with a perpetual calendar, tourbillon and minute repeater playing the devil's chord.

Roger Dubuis has always been about balancing the intricacy of its code-breaking designs with the complexity of its movements, and this year’s 30th anniversary for the brand is being marked with the most sophisticated version ever produced of its signature Excalibur watch in the form of a Grand Complication with both a perpetual calendar, tourbillon and a minute repeater.

The company says the watch is dedicated to its eponymous founder and proves that Mr Roger Dubuis lifelong dream of finding new and expressive ways to deliver the most iconic complications is still in “beautiful motion”.

The journey to today’s Excalibur Grande Complication took a great leap forward in 2009 when Roger Dubuis launched its first in house movement with a perpetual calendar, minute repeater, and flying tourbillon double micro-rotor.

Today, the watchmaker is delivering what it calls its second grand complication movement. The Calibre RD118, created from 684 components, combines a perpetual calendar and minute repeater with an automatic tourbillon in a package with 60 hours of power reserve.

Its meticulous hand finishing is of a level to use the respected Poinçon de Genève seal and certification. Unusually, the seal is stamped into the dial side of the watch.

The movement powers displays of day, date and month.

The date and day of the week are displayed on two retrograde axis curving, asymmetrically to the left and right the dial.

Both have hands that snap back faster than the eye can see once the always-correct number of days in a month and week are reached.

The watch’s minute repeater has been designed with the fine-turning of a concert pianist and delivers its musical timekeeping with chimes from tritone gongs.

The tune chosen by Roger Dubuis was given the name of ‘the devil’s chord’ during medieval times.

“Consisting of three tones, or six semitones, the devil’s chord was strictly prohibited in religious compositions. Yet that dissonant interval has still played a crucial role in compositions ever since, typically giving its nuances and colours to the structure of blues music,” the company describes.

Only eight of the 45mm rose gold Excalibur Grande Complication are being made.

Price is on application.

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