"Grande Complication" - only now have I realized how long it's been since I've encountered these words.
Thanks to the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Grande Complication - yes, that's the official name, concise as it is - they have returned to my life. Previously, we saw the basic Excalibur Bi-Retrograde model, then its strikingly beautiful version with a blue perpetual calendar, and now it's quite logical to move on to the true "grand" - (voiceover) "Grand Complication".
By the way, if you've ever been puzzled by the difference between Grand Complication and Grande Complication, let me clarify: the latter is a French expression (hence in italics), where Grande is pronounced with the shade of an annoyed Parisian waiter, and in the word "complication," the "t" sounds like "s," not "sh." There are other differences, naturally, since it's French. The main thing is that when encountering "Grande," the word "complication" is pronounced in French. A small digression: it irritates me when people use the expression "haute horology," since "haute" is French and "horology" is English. It's correct to say either "high horology" or "haute horlogerie." Thank you for your attention to my mini-lecture.
Design Features and Mechanical Complexity
The Roger Dubuis manufacture is renowned for creating unique, mind-boggling models that go directly from Geneva to their owners (possibly by schooner). It can be confidently said that the Excalibur Grande Complication is no less complex than these exclusive specimens. The madness begins on the front side, and the "party" is on the back. Those familiar with previous Bi-Retrograde reviews will recognize the arcs of the date and day of the week, located between the 2-4 and 8-10 o'clock marks, respectively.
What's new is that these scales are slightly shifted from the perfectly symmetrical positions of 2-4 and 8-10 o'clock - both indications are turned slightly counterclockwise. Next are the expanded perpetual calendar indicators. For its operation, month and leap year indicators are required. In the blue version, they were combined in one sub-dial at the 12 o'clock mark, but in this model, they are separated: a month disc with an unusual slanted font and a leap year disc. These elements are necessary for the accurate setting of the perpetual calendar, so it correctly transitions to the first day of the next month after the 31st, 30th, 29th, or 28th.
Tourbillon and Design Details
The tourbillon, located at 05:30, is so massive that it clearly isn't about to give way to other calendar indications. It's a "flying" tourbillon, where the carriage is not secured from above by a plate, bridge, or support, allowing the fully polished carriage, its rotation, and the balance to be fully revealed. The balance is equipped with variable inertia screws around the perimeter, and the carriage, large and small screws, and all other elements have mirror polishing and beveled edges.
If you were wondering why there's a small reminder on the dial at 04:30 - it's the Poinçon de Genève stamp, or Geneva Seal. Almost ten years ago, Ariel and I visited the Roger Dubuis manufacture and detailed how this quality mark works and how it has surpassed its original function of certifying the beauty of movements. Now it includes requirements for accuracy, power reserve, and even case inspection. Note to self: it's time to revisit the topic of the Geneva Seal.
The Reverse Side: Caliber RD118 and Unique Features
Turning over the massive rose gold case, you'll see the RD118 caliber - a rare sight with two micro-rotor winders. From my recollection - as there's little official information about this - both rotors perform one function: they replenish the 60-hour power reserve. Roger Dubuis uses two rotors for roughly double the winding efficiency and (this is a guess) for visual novelty and impact. As Jeremy Clarkson would say: "More is better."
The 684 components of the RD118 caliber reveal another important complication - the minute repeater. Two steel hammers are located on either side of the regulator under the embossed ROGER DUBUIS inscription. It's worth noting how symmetrical the back of the watch looks: with a vertical or horizontal cut, it seems like it could be drawn, but making it work is a completely different task. With 684 components, a bi-retrograde perpetual calendar, a minute repeater, two micro-rotor winders, and a flying tourbillon, neither the grandeur nor the complexity of the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Grande Complication is in doubt. Nevertheless, by the classic rule, for a watch to be considered a grand complication model, it must include one function from three categories: calendar (present), sound signal (present), and chronometer (e.g., chronograph - absent).
Wearing and Wrist Dimensions
On the wrist, the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Grande Complication looks impressive and massive. The case diameter is 45 mm, thickness is 17.45 mm, and the solid rose gold case gives it a weight that matches its appearance. Ariel loves large watches and knows how to wear them, but on you, they look too bulky. Sorry, but that's a fact. Nevertheless, I'm sure there will be eight lucky owners whose wrist or character will allow them to wear this uncompromising model, truly grand and complex. The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Grande Complication RDDBEX1174 is priced at $691,000.
Conclusion
The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Grande Complication Bi-Retrograde is an example of the highest horological craftsmanship, combining the most complex perpetual calendar, minute repeater, double micro-rotor, and flying tourbillon in one case. This watch is not only a technical achievement but also a work of art worthy of the attention of collectors and watchmaking experts.