Arthurian Legend Reenacted in the Roger Dubuis Knights of the Round Table, the Enchanter Merlin

Imagine getting a design brief for a new watch collection along the lines of, “once upon a time, in the legendary court of Camelot, King Arthur and his knights convened at the round table to discuss their next adventure in search of the Holy Grail”. A tall order, but one that Roger Dubuis’ creative team responded to literally with twelve miniature, micro-sculpted gold knights with drawn swords and a recreation of the Winchester Round Table packed into the confines of the first Excalibur Knights of the Round Table watch (2013). Although many presumed it would be a one-off, métiers d’art piece, the Arthurian-themed watches continue to rivet audiences. Dipping into another fantastical chapter of Arthurian legend, the latest Excalibur model recreates the invisible Crystal Palace that the wizard Merlin built for the Lady of the Lake. Impressively crafted, the twelve knights are depicted with striking realism, arranged around an enigmatic, scintillating structure in the centre of the dial.

King Arthur’s legendary knights have enjoyed a good run over the past 12 years. Following a second version with a realistic representation of the knights against a black jade dial, Roger Dubuis produced a no less stunning, yet more abstract, version in gold and blue enamel with polygonal facets. This was succeeded by a livelier version with lifelike figures in battle-ready poses around a frozen lake made of ice-blue glass and Limoges porcelain. More recently, we’ve seen the knights gathered around a table evoking the dramatic basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland.

The new pink gold reference features combat-ready knights armed with swords, mallets, axes, and other medieval armaments guarding the Lady of the Lake’s Crystal Palace. The level of detail is astonishing, ensuring that each knight is unique. Following sketches, the resin prototypes of the 6mm-tall knights are scanned in 3D and then moulded and cast in 18k pink gold before being handed over to the master engravers who create the details that bring them to life. Placed in front of a white flange made of Murano-style glass with pink gold indices, the knights in shining armour represent the hours and are indicated by the pink gold hands with satin-brushed surfaces and Super-LumiNova inserts.

The invisible Crystal Palace protecting the Lady of the Lake is represented by an incredible structure composed of hexagonal shapes of varying heights and materials. In total, there are 56 columns in the centre of the dial, ranging in height from 0.2mm to 3.7mm and crafted in glass, matte and polished white enamel, white gold and polished pink gold. To top it all off, the nine white gold columns are crowned with invisibly set hexagonal diamonds, and the base of the dial evokes a lake with its glistening ruthenium crystals.

To host such extravagant 3D scenery, Roger Dubuis relies on its imposing 45mm Excalibur case, crafted here in pink gold. With its prominent notched bezel, three arched lugs, and crown protector shaped like the guard of a sword, the powerful personality of the case is a fitting receptacle for the thematic dial. To ensure you get a good view of the action-packed dial, the 16.87mm-thick case features a sapphire crystal ring beneath the bezel. Accentuated with brushed and polished finishes, the case is water-resistant to 30 metres.

No less busy, the bezel on the caseback is engraved with inspirational Arthurian quotes, while the sapphire crystal offers a glimpse of the Poinçon de Genève-certified automatic movement. Powered by in-house calibre RD821, the complex design of the golden and silver skeletonised 360° rotor, inspired by the stained-glass windows of yore, transmits energy to the barrel for a 48-hour power reserve.

The watch is equipped with a Quick-Release strap system and is paired with a white calfskin strap and pink gold triple-folding clasp. It is a boutique-exclusive, limited-edition of 28 pieces. All the craftsmanship, creativity and precious materials packed in the watch will set you back CHF 336,000 (excluding tax). More information at rogerdubuis.com.