Roger Dubuis Excalibur Dr. Woo Monobalancier

In the wake of the phenomenal Monotourbillon debut in 2021, this marks the second bespoke unveiling from these collaborative powerhouses. Renowned tattoo artist Dr. Woo reprises his role in the hallowed halls of Roger Dubuis’ primary creation space, the Manufacture. He infuses his artistic mastery into the Excalibur Monobalancier, a canvas of fine horology. A perfect blend of innovation and creativity, Roger Dubuis and Dr. Woo foster an unparalleled design journey.

The voyage into the depths of this robust Monobalancier timepiece starts with the dial, showcasing three celestial elements. The fiery dance of the sun, situated between 10 and 11 o’clock, is laser-etched on a PVD black brass plate, featuring intricate lines, shapes, and dots. This plate, gracing the calibre’s micro-rotor, spins rapidly and mesmerisingly, influenced by the movement of the wearer’s wrist. The Earth, next in line, circles the barrel, positioned between 4 and 5 o’clock. Decorated with Dr. Woo’s signature art, this rotating energy hub connects ingeniously to the watch’s hands, completing a serene turn every 6 hours and 40 minutes.

Further along the design voyage, we encounter the moon. Elegantly adorned with a slender crescent at 8 o’clock, it showcases an intricate mesh of circles and lines, unveiling the mechanics of the balance wheel beneath. The waxing crescent moon, symbolising intuition and understanding, captures the enchanting inner workings of the watch. Just as if gazing into the night sky, this mesmerising constellation of components has a hypnotic allure that will keep the wearer spellbound. The caseback echoes the theme, featuring an inscription of the sun, Earth, and moon along with Dr. Woo’s signature.

Prominent symbols make their mark too. Dr. Woo’s iconic spider, nestled between 2 and 3 o’clock, is a familiar guest from the inaugural edition of 2021. The arachnid, now engraved in black on a sapphire disc within the watch, infuses each timepiece with a sense of strength and continuity tied to the artist.

Advancing the narrative, the inner sapphire disc is splendidly etched with a gold metallised Roger Dubuis astral star—reimagined through this distinctive collaboration. Symbolising the cosmic journey of the 3D rocket ship, initially unveiled in the first limited edition, it orbits the sun, Earth, and moon, radiating anticipation for future explorations. The points of the star interlink with pink gold-tone hour markers, with the final beam at 9 o’clock pointing to a promising yet unknown future.

The newly minted Excalibur Dr. Woo Monobalancier is encased in a polished black ceramic casing. Unlike most watchmakers who mould their cases to suit the material, Roger Dubuis has achieved the inverse. The Maison manipulates the notoriously challenging ceramic to maintain its distinctive case shape—a testament to the brand’s uncompromising pursuit of perfection.

The crafting process, demanding 15 times longer than creating a similar case from gold, offers the wearer several advantages. With an exceptional resistance to everyday wear and a timeless lustre, Roger Dubuis’ ceramic watches are an exquisite fusion of resilience and elegance.

The 42mm ceramic case is intricately etched with Dr. Woo’s symbolic iconography. His enigmatic symbolism, ranging from piercing triangles to complete circles signifying endless human connection, decorates the bezel and flange. This striking montage of geometric symbols is open to interpretation and captures the curiosity of the observer. It is also imprinted on the calf-skin leather strap which, with a quick release system, allows the wearer to easily swap it out.

At the heart of the Excalibur Dr. Woo Monobalancier is the powerful RD720SQ automatic calibre—an embodiment of high performance. The sun-covered micro-rotor is designed to curb vibrations, while the impressive inertia of the balance wheel boosts stability and reduces shock sensitivity. The advanced mechanics of the diamond-coated silicon escapement wheel, along with the diamond-coated silicon pallet-stones, guarantee an astounding 72-hour power reserve, thus enhancing the practicality and comfort for the wearer.

Endorsed by the prestigious Poinçon de Genève certification, the Excalibur Dr. Woo Monobalancier is crafted like a modern masterpiece. Each component bears the signature of hand finishing, exemplifying unmatched craftsmanship and fervour. A dazzling specimen in the realm of Hyper Horology, the Excalibur Dr. Woo Monobalancier, limited to a run of 28 pieces, is a treasure trove for collectors and a testament to a truly unique collaboration.