Following an astonishing Monotourbillon release in 2021, this is the second dedicated launch between these two partners as Roger Dubuis and Dr Woo continue their cosmic journey in design. This time, the iconic tattoo artist Dr Woo steps back into Roger Dubuis’ most important room, the Manufacture itself, to lend his skilful touch to the Excalibur Monobalancier
In 2022, the Excalibur Monobalancier was recrafted and reshaped with clean-cut lines along the case and movement, and a palette of modern materials, turning it into the perfect playground for the Maison’s collaboration with its Urban Culture Tribe. Through exceptional skill and watchmaking ingenuity, the Excalibur Monobalancier is now the ultimate canvas for creativity.
The voyage into this powerful Monobalancier watch begins on the dial, where three celestial bodies take centre stage. Between 10 and 11 o’clock, you’ll find the fiery rotation of the sun, laser-engraved with meticulous lines, shapes, and dots on a PVD black brass plate. Covering the calibre’s micro-rotor, the plate is in constant motion, churning quickly and hypnotically as the wearer moves their wrist.
Next is the Earth. Covering the barrel, between 4 and 5 o’clock, this revolving energy source is once again embellished with Dr Woo’s delicate art and is ingeniously linked to the turning of the watch’s hands. This allows the disc to complete one peaceful turn every 6 hours and 40 minutes (or 3.6 rotations per day).
Finally, the design journey passes via the moon. A slender crescent at 8 o’clock, adorned in fine circles and lines, and beautifully revealing the inner workings of the balance wheel beneath. The wondrous sliver of light represents a waning crescent moon, a meaningful time associated with intuition and understanding.
As if staring into the night sky, this fantastic vision of spiralling components has a transfixing quality that will captivate the wearer for hours. The theme is further replicated on the caseback, where the sun, Earth, and moon have been inscribed alongside Dr Woo’s own name.
Other symbols play a prominent role too. One that needs no introduction is the signature spider of Dr Woo, positioned between 2 and 3 o’clock. This secret passenger was already on board in the first Edition released in 2021. Now, the spider returns, this time engraved in black on a sapphire disc inside the watch, positioned on the flange.
Continuing further, the inside sapphire disc is also radiantly engraved with a gold metallised Roger Dubuis astral star – reinterpreted through this unique collaboration. It symbolises the cosmic journey of the 3D carved rocket ship, which began in the first Limited Edition timepiece, and now explores a new galaxy around the sun, Earth, and moon. Not only do the points of the star connect with pink gold-tone hour markers, but the final beam at 9 o’clock completes its trajectory, which hurtles towards an unknown but promising future.
The new Excalibur Dr. Woo Monobalancier is housed within a sleek black ceramic case. While most watchmakers will adapt their ceramic cases to suit the material, Roger Dubuis has achieved the opposite. In a display of true prowess, the Maison has refused to compromise on its sharp case shape and has manipulated the difficult material so that it conforms to the exact structure desired.
While this process takes 15 times longer than crafting the same case from gold, it’s a painstaking task that has multiple benefits for the wearer. Hyper-resistant to daily scratches and refusing to tarnish over time, Roger Dubuis’ ceramic timepieces are a sublime combination of durability and style.
This 42mm ceramic case is engraved with Dr Woo’s symbolic language. From sharp triangles that bounce forth from the ground to full circles that represent infinite human connection, his enigmatic iconography surrounds the bezel and flange. Open to its own interpretation, the distinctive array of geometric symbols is curious and compelling and is also stamped on the calf-skin leather strap. To enable personal creativity to shine, the strap features a versatile quick release system, enabling the wearer to switch it in seconds.
The Excalibur Dr. Woo Monobalancier is powered by the automatic RD720SQ – a calibre already well-known for its performance. The micro-rotor, covered by the sun, is designed to minimise vibrations, while the remarkable inertia of its balance wheel maximises stability and reduces its sensitivity to shocks. The advanced mechanics of the diamond-coated silicon escapement wheel, paired with diamond-coated silicon pallet-stones, ensure an impressive 72 hours of power reserve, bringing even more practicality and comfort to the wearer.
Complying with the ultra-respected Poinçon de Genève certification, the Excalibur Dr. Woo Monobalancier is designed like a contemporary work of art. Every single component is finished by hand, highlighting an exceptional standard of skill and passion. Limited to just 28 pieces, it is instantly collectible and provides the opportunity to share in a truly unique collaboration.
