He founded his independent watchmaking workshop in 1980. Within only a few decades, the brand has stood shoulder‑to‑shoulder with horological heavyweights such as Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. In August 2008, Roger Dubuis joined the Richemont Group yet continued to operate independently under its own brand name, fully advancing watch manufacturing and distribution. Richemont supports the manufacture by sharing resources, skilled specialists and global marketing networks, helping it grow into a substantial watch‑making facility.
Today we will look at this replica of the Excalibur series, focusing more on appreciation rather than technical commentary. Frankly speaking, very few people worldwide have ever laid eyes on the original timepiece, so I am hardly qualified to pass final judgement on how accurate this replica is.
All watch components are housed within a sandwich‑style construction of 1‑centimetre‑thick sapphire crystal. The movement and gears are secured by horizontally‑arranged mesh‑like metal supports. This design significantly reduces the overall case thickness, bringing the total watch thickness down to approximately 1 cm.
It delivers outstanding transparency under daylight. Combined with the skeletonised design, the crystal and bezel almost fade from view. Whether resting on a table or worn on the wrist, it constantly draws people’s attention.
Movement: A custom‑calibrated Seagull 505SQ movement is embedded inside the ultra‑thin fully transparent case. Extraordinary engineering creates an airy internal layout. The visual effect of the tourbillon in motion far surpasses static photos. Every gear across the watch is fully visible, enclosed between two highly transparent sapphire crystals.
As an aside: Among people who know something about watches, this rare timepiece will definitely draw plenty of admiring glances from normal social distances.
I recall a friend who worked as a salesperson for a luxury car brand. He told me that when he first joined the company, the manager’s first instruction was: “Take off your Casios. You can spend a few hundred to get a replica Swiss watch, any brand will do.”
It was only after gaining some life experience that I understood human interaction often involves catering to others’ preferences. The social circle of associating with refined, accomplished people has existed for centuries. In old times, people bonded through poetry and literature; in modern times, luxury goods fill that role.
Judging whether to buy this watch purely by time‑keeping accuracy would be a huge mistake. If all you care about is precise time, you might as well get an iPhone X instead. What you ought to consider is whether this Roger Dubuis can serve as a solid social calling‑card for yourself. I believe you know exactly what I mean. Let’s move on to the studio shots to wrap up this introduction.
