As the 2017 Formula One Season is about to kick-off on March 26th, today we bring you one of the finest racing inspired timepieces just released less than two months ago at the SIHH 2017 in Geneva. The new Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Pirelli Double Flying Tourbillon is the result of a partnership between tire maker Pirelli and Roger Dubuis. Present in sporting competitions since 1907, Pirelli is the exclusive supplier for the World Superbike championship and many prestigious single marque championships, but above all of the Formula One Championship for which it has been the sole supplier since 2011.
This new watch available in a limited edition of 8 pieces, clearly epitomizes the world of motor sports flawlessly. Equipped with a very generous partially skeletonized 47 mm case in black DLC titanium, the watch is delivered on a strap created from Pirelli tire rubber from winning race cars. With blue accents on its flange, hands, star and the crown, all matching the same hue of blue utilized on Pirelli racing tires, the new Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Pirelli Double Flying Tourbillon transports the wearer to the racing circuits and the starting grid.
The Dial
The skeletonized dial with its signature blue Astral Skeleton design, allows for full view of the manual wound calibre powering this masterpiece of horology. Equipped with a double flying tourbillon at the bottom of the dial and a skeletonized mainspring barrel with the iconic Excalibur star on top, the new Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Pirelli Double Flying Tourbillon is extremely rugged looking and very manly at the same time.
The flying tourbillons at 5 and 7 o’clock are rimmed by speedometer-like seconds counters complete with automobile-inspired pointers, while the multicolored power reserve indicator at 9 o'clock represents a cool nod to racing car cockpit fuel gauges with green and yellow. A blue flange in the same hue as all other accents and skeletonized PVD gold hands with blue tips and supeluminova round out the racing inspired look of this new timepiece. The blue on this watch matches the blue utilized on Intermediate Pirelli tires during Formula One races.
The Case
The case design stays true to the cues of the Excalibur line with its round shape, triple lugs and fluted bezel.The tripartite 47 mm case features a black DLC titanium graduated bezel and case back and a partially skeletonized titanium middle case that has been vulcanized with a blue rubber. The crown just like the rest of the case is made of black DLC titanium and also vulcanized with blue rubber. The case is quite thick measuring 14.95 mm in thickness —0.05 less thick than an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore. Water resistant to 50 meters, the watch is delivered on a black rubber strap with an inlay combining RubberTech material mixed with rubber from a set of Pirelli tires that have participated in a race and have claimed a victory in 2016. The inside of the rubber strap reproduces the pattern on the Intermediate Pirelli tires used on wet tracks. The strap is secured by a titanium folding clasp.
The Movement
The beating heart inside this impressive Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Pirelli Double Flying Tourbillon is the manual wound calibre RD105SQ certified Poinçon de Genève. This in-house movement composed of 365 parts and 49 jewels beats at a frequency of 21,600 vph to provide a power reserve of 50 hours. The movement is fully skeletonized with the signature touches of Roger Dubuis with rhodium plating, inner Astral-decor, NAC plated bridges and mainplate and with the tourbillon carriages in the shape of Celtic crosses.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Pirelli Double Flying Tourbillon wears slightly bigger than its actual size and with impressive wrist presence. Quite light on the wrist thanks to its titanium case, this new watch is a real stunner from every angle you look at it.
Sticker Price CHF 280,000 Swiss Francs —approximately $276,500 USD. For more info on Roger Dubuis click here.
