Roger Dubuis CEO Nicola Andreatta on the concept of Hyper Horology and expecting the unexpected

Borna Bošnjak

The next stop in our Watches & Wonders CEO interview journey is Roger Dubuis, a brand notable for their big switch from super-classical to Hyper Horology, and the ethos defined by the Excalibur. Their show booth blasts your senses with lights and music, in a set-up reminiscent of a bourse gone ballistic. To get the most of his booth experience, Andrew sought the help of an experienced shepherd in Nicola Andreatta, Roger Dubuis CEO, who explained everything from the Hyper Horology concept to the brand’s future intentions.

The brand places a huge focus on the performance of their pieces, whether that be via the inclusion of tourbillon-based escapements or the high-tech materials that the cases are made of.

Probably the most hyper piece on offer from Roger Dubuis is the Excalibur Spider Countach, cased in white mineral composite and equipped with dual inclined tourbillons. The rest of the look subtly, if that’s possible in a piece like this (also conveniently priced at A$1,295,000), integrates design cues from the recently re-vamped Lamborghini Countach, which inspired its name.

Where Roger Dubuis often doesn’t get much credit is in their gem-setting expertise. Note the curved precious stones gracing the dial of the Knights of The Round Table, or the spinels on the bezel of the Excalibur Blacklight Spin-Stone. Roger Dubuis had to grow them synthetically, as there is no natural gemstone that can be cut in those shapes while producing the necessary quality, according to Mr Andreatta.

Finally, the watch that encapsulates what Roger Dubuis does best is the Monovortex Split-Seconds Chronograph. It combines a complication fighting gravity and one working in tandem with it, while a rotating minute counter at 3 o’clock accompanies the split-seconds chronograph. It’s cased in Roger Dubuis’ mineral composite fibre, and in red for the first time. This in-house developed material boasts some impressive specs, being 13% lighter than carbon fibre and 60% lighter than ceramic. It is currently just a concept, but provides an insight into what the brand aims to be doing as early as 2024.