Roger Dubuis has been strengthening collaboration with urban artists since 2021, and collaboration models have been announced in other countries. After a long concept period in Japan, a collaboration with world-famous illustrator Motoi Sorayama has finally been realized. “Excalibur Monovalancie Sorayama”, which makes full use of transcendental technique, was released today.
This timepiece, which is a homage to the late Roger Dubuis by Mr. Sorayama, will appear in the new Monovalancie series equipped with a caliber called RD720SQ announced in April 2022.
Motoi Sorayama, a world-famous Japanese artist, is the creator of the masterpiece “Sexy Robot” that has shaken the tradition beyond the genre of illustration, and is also known for working on the concept design of Sony’s entertainment robot “AIBO”. Has been done. Beautiful pin-ups with rounded lines and polished chrome-plated skin seem to be the opposite of Roger Dubuis’ signature design, but they’re not bound by existing frameworks, breaking the rules and breaking new art. They share the values they are trying to create.
“Moire’s Aesthetics” by Transcendental Techniques What is Mr. Motoi Sorayama’s strange gimmick?
Innovative technology, traditional craftsmanship, and avant-garde and elaborate design make this astonishing timepiece an art. In this “Excalibur Monovalancie His Sorayama”, it is said that the next possibility of the watch is expressed. The protagonist of this new timepiece is the micro-rotor located in the upper left corner of the dial. Mr. Sorayama worked on a mechanism to create a “moire” effect
. Sorayama says that the source of inspiration is stockings.
* The moire effect is a pattern caused by line-to-line interference, and refers to the optical effect that occurs when two lines or grids overlap.
“There is a double part in the garter belt, and every time a woman moves, moire occurs. That is very erotic. No one should have been particular about this expression on a wristwatch. Structurally, first of all. I thought it would be impossible (laughs), but Roger Dubuis’s excellent craftsman made it possible. Without compromising on performance, I realized a masterpiece with such high expressiveness and pushed the limits further. I’m even impressed by the fact that I created Moire. Nobody gets excited about the fact that the landing point is visible from the beginning, let alone reprinting my past work. The craftsmen should be the same. Creative. It’s amazing. “
Specifically, the parts directly attached to the tungsten part (moving part) of the rotor are decorated with guilloche and create a regular pattern of “pyramid type” that reflects light, which makes this effect possible. do. The guilloche decoration is traditionally made using a manual machine, and it takes three hours to make this part. Also, a fixed sapphire glass is placed on it, on which regular black lines are engraved. Countless attempts have been made to find the perfect space between each line and get the best optical effect. The moire effect, which took more than a year to develop, is a masterpiece that combines Roger Dubuis’s watch technology with Sorayama’s aesthetics, which creates the effect of hypnotizing according to the movement of the wrist. right.
Respect and reinterpretation of the Maison’s DNA
Roger Dubuis’s iconic Star Signature design also shows Mr. Sorayama’s stance of boldly breaking the rules but having respect and reinterpretation of the Maison’s DNA.
As a homage to the late Roger Dubuis, Mr. Sorayama was particular about keeping the original shape, but kept the star shape as it was, and made it the exact opposite of the original star shape. So while Roger Dubuis’s traditional stars have sharp, clean lines and angles, and a variety of finishes to accentuate the contrast, Sorayama’s design is like a sexy robot. In addition, it is curvilinear, rounded, and polished to give it maximum brilliance.
Also pay attention to the shape of the center of the star. In the past, the center of the star was circular, but Mr. Sorayama designed the center of the star as a pentagon. In addition, the case and bracelet have been given a full-polished finish for the first time in the history of the brand, giving a smooth and organic feel, and succeeding in expressing overwhelming presence and luxury. Carefully hand-finished, Excalibur Monovalancie Sorayama is certified by the Geneva Seal, which is considered to be the toughest in luxury watchmaking.
Also pay attention to the logo drawn on the box. Unlike the usual Roger Dubuis logo, it is a special “Sorayama logo” using Mr. Sorayama’s font.
“Excalibur Monovalancie Sorayama”
Product number: RDDBEX1013
Japan limited model, limited to 28
Release Date: July 19, 2022
Price: 8.03 million yen (tax included)
Case
Polished titanium case
Polished titanium bezel
Polished titanium crown
SORAYAMA logo transferred to anti-reflective coating sapphire glass, polished titanium open case back, sapphire glass used
Diameter: 42 mm
Water resistance: 10 bar (100 m)
Dial
Rhodium-plated double-surface flange with engraved minute track and transfer-printed logo design.
Polished gray hour marker with SLN (Super Luminova) in the center.
needle
18K white gold triple surface hands with satin finish on the sloping surface, shotblasted on the flat gray surface, SLN (Superluminova) on the tip.
strap
Fully polished titanium bracelet
Replaceable with quick release system
Titanium blade triple folding buckle
Movement
RD720SQ
Caliber: Performance-enhanced caliber.
Finishing: NAC-processed shotblast finish and true-up finish on the main plate and bridge.
Time display: hours, minutes
Frequency: 4Hz / 28,800 times per hour
Power reserve: 72 hours
Diameter line: 16 3/4
Thickness: 5.95 mm
Number of parts: 178