Epitomizing a spirit of daring right from its launch in 1995, Roger Dubuis referred to the legend of the great King Arthur in creating its emblematic Excalibur collection in 2005. With its round case, fluted bezel and triple lugs designed in an avant-garde spirit, it embodies the brand’s inherently technical nature. Designed to house complicated movements produced by the integrated Manufacture, it has successively welcomed the proprietary double flying tourbillon in 2005; the latter’s famous Astral Skeleton version – the world’s first ever skeleton double flying tourbillon movement – in 2009; as well as its Spider iteration in 2015. Skeleton work is an instantly recognisable specialty at Roger Dubuis. Movements based on the Astral Skeleton concept are designed to achieve maximum transparency and feature a signature star shape. Although variously positioned, the branches of the star systematically point to hour-markers in order to preserve the watch’s legibility. With the Spider concept, the art of skeleton work has been driven to extremes and extended to the hands, inner bezel ring, bezel and even the caseband and lugs. This skilfully elaborate, “total-skeleton” look bears a distinct resemblance to the complex webs, patiently and meticulously woven by spiders. The line’s flagship model, the Excalibur Spider Skeleton Double Flying Tourbillon, made its entrance by adopting a resolutely sporting style inspired by motorsports. Titanium, aluminium, and rubber compose a large-diameter, sturdy yet light creation. With its grey bezel bearing graduated minutes numerals contrasting with the bright red inner bezel ring bearing the hour-markers, it directly evokes car speedometers. The same inspiration appears in the seconds rings surrounding the two flying tourbillons, typical of the brand with their Celtic cross-shaped carriages – a feature particularly in tune with the legend of King Arthur. In 2017 Roger Dubuis chose the Excalibur Spider to celebrate its partnership with Formula 1 tyre manufacturer Pirelli. The Skeleton Double Flying Tourbillon also appears in the more modestly sized Excalibur 45 models, comprising urban or more jewellery versions, along with innovative materials such as the Excalibur Twofold in luminescent Mineral Composite Fiber. Bearing vibrant testimony to the Manufacture’s pursuit of excellence, the Astral Skeleton movements are interpreted in a wide range of styles, including ultra-feminine iterations.

• Astral Skeleton concept: skeleton movement characterised by a star shape • Excalibur Spider concept: global skeleton work encompassing the watch movement and exterior