Style / World of Watches (WOW)

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Knights of the Round Table III

The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Knights of the Round Table undergoes a contemporary facelift while keeping its high fantasy appeal

May 31, 2018 | By Jonathan Ho

 

The original Roger Dubuis Excalibur Knights of the Round Table

The original Roger Dubuis Excalibur Knights of the Round Table

When first launched, the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Knights of the Round Table inspired by high Arthurian legends was the stuff of high fantasy and nobility. Like its namesake collection, Excalibur, drawing muse from the fabled island of Avalon, regarded as the place where the mighty sword was forged, the Knights of the Round Table was evocative and emblematic of the maison’s dauntless exerptise, demonstrating a radical combination of disruptive materials, extreme craftsmanship and sophisticated horological complications. The 3rd generation of the brand’s head turning timepiece eschews the old round table and its famed knights for a highly dramatic state-of-the-art pink gold low poly-sculpted knights gather around a dramatic blue enamel table.

Commanding, compelling and cunningly creative, Excalibur is the ultimate symbol of the inherent bold philosophy which is typical for Roger Dubuis. Where the maison expresses high mechanical complication in exemplars like the Excalibur Quatuor and the Lamborghini editions, the new Excalibur Knights of the Round Table III expresses a complication of the different variety – high artistry – this time with a contemporary take on a centuries old legend.

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Knights of the Round Table III – Ancient myth meets 21st century art

Fearlessly combining a mythic tale with a technical feat and a contemporary artistic approach, the Excalibur Knights of the Round Table III puts on a daring (if literal) “game face”. Our valiant Arthurian Knights are no longer carved but instead executed in 3D models like retro video games of our early childhood: Low poly art is a technique in which polygonal facets are used to create sculptures or paintings. It’s popularity surged due to its render speed achieved thanks to low polygonal resolution and in today’s hyper-realistic gaming environment, more indie publishers are using this artistic style to set their intelligent, well scripted games apart from the usual suspects of all flash, no substance video games.

The new Roger Dubuis Excalibur Knights of the Round Table III with low polygon renditions of Arthur and his Knights.

The new Roger Dubuis Excalibur Knights of the Round Table III with low polygon renditions of Arthur and his Knights.

Used in this instance to create 12 new expressive three-dimensional pink gold knights depicting the hours, it showcases the peerless creativity and dynamism of the Roger Dubuis artisan-warriors and their commitment to ‘disruptive materials and progressive complications’.

Each low poly-sculpted, engraved and hand-finished knight has been entirely redesigned; however, the iconic “Sword salute” returns with each valiant swordsman pointing his blade toward the central point of the Avalon-inspired table sculpted from solid blue enamel blocks, a process requiring considerable dexterity and many patient hours of craftsmanship, each dial taking six days to complete.

Precision time-keeping is provided by the manufacture self-winding Calibre RD 821 and like its peerless knights, every detail of the movement is hand-finished according to the traditional criteria governing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva, expressing the regal countenance of both brand and mythos.

The trailblazing Excalibur Knights of the Round Table III is issued as a highly exclusive 28-piece limited edition.

Excalibur Knights of the Round Table III Price and Specs

Movement Automatic Calibre RD 821 with 48 hours power reserve
Case 45mm 18k gold case with 50 metres water resistance
Strap Alligator leather
Price SG$388,000


 
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