Roger Dubuis Excalibur 2026: The Enchanter Merlin Brings the Legend to the Wrist

The Roger Dubuis Excalibur 2026 Knights of the Round Table — The Enchanter Merlin is the second chapter of the Conte de Merlin, initiated in 2024. It introduces, for the first time in the collection, invisible diamond setting at a level of complexity rarely seen in Haute Horlogerie, combined with a dial architecture that required entirely new manufacturing processes across multiple disciplines simultaneously.

The Dial Architecture

The dial rests on an 18-carat rose gold base plate machined to accommodate 56 hexagonal columns of varying heights, ranging from 0.2 to 3.7 millimeters. The precision required to machine a base plate to these tolerances while maintaining structural integrity across columns of such varying heights is considerable. Nine of the 56 columns, in rhodium-plated gold, carry hexagonal diamonds in invisible setting, the stones' girdles locked into gold rails with no visible metalwork between them. The hexagonal cut is a deliberate technical and aesthetic choice: unconventional in diamond setting, it demands a different approach to both the cutting of the stones and the engineering of the setting itself.

At the base of the dial, a layer of pure ruthenium in crystallized form adds a further dimension. Ruthenium belongs to the platinum group metals, with a hardness and reflectivity that differ substantially from more commonly used dial materials. Treating it in crystallized form to evoke a reflective water surface required process development specific to this reference. The composition is completed with Murano-style glass elements, polished and matte white enamels, and polished rose gold surfaces, each with distinct light behavior that contributes to the dial's three-dimensional depth.

The Twelve Knights

The twelve knights of the Round Table, each incarnating one hour position, are sculpted in 18-carat rose gold at 6 millimeters in height. The production process for each figure involves sketches, resin prototypes, 3D scanning, lost-wax casting, and then two to three days of manual engraving per figurine. Every posture across the twelve figures is unique. The dark patina applied to each deepens contrast between raised and recessed surfaces, making detail legible at a scale where conventional finishing techniques would flatten the result. A sapphire crystal positioned beneath the bezel ensures visibility regardless of viewing angle while protecting the figures from contact.

Calibre RD821

The movement is the automatic single-balance calibre RD821, entirely developed and assembled in-house at the Manufacture Roger Dubuis in Geneva. 172 components. Fourteen hand-finished surfaces across the movement, including anglage, Côtes de Genève, and circular graining applied to specifications compliant with the Geneva Seal, the Poinçon de Genève, the most demanding third-party certification in Swiss watchmaking. The Geneva Seal requires not only that finishing standards are met but that every component, including those invisible in normal wear, is finished to the same standard.

The oscillating weight is a 360-degree rotor inspired by medieval stained glass, lighter than conventional rotors while maintaining winding efficiency. The case measures 45 millimeters in 18-carat rose gold, with a crown guard referencing the guard of a sword, consistent with the Excalibur design language across the collection. The caseback carries the collection's founding motto, engraved since 2013.

Production

Strictly limited to 28 examples. White leather strap with Quick Release System. The Geneva Seal is applied to each piece individually following inspection.

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