Roger Dubuis
Roger Dubuis' design challenge: expressing the exhilaration of motorsport
Many watch brands have collaborated with car manufacturers in the past, but not many have been able to achieve significant results. However, this does not seem to be the case for Roger Dubuis, which has been actively releasing limited edition models with Lamborghini and tire supplier Pirelli. What is the difference? The clue lies in the clear symbolism.
The first Pirelli model with a double flying tourbillon. Traditionally, the color of each model in this series is chosen to represent the compound of a Formula 1 tire. For this model, the red of the intermediate tire was chosen. Manual-winding (Cal. RD105SQ). 50 jewels. 21,600 vph. Power reserve of approximately 52 hours. Ti (diameter 47mm). Water resistant to 5 bar. Limited to eight pieces worldwide. 3635 million yen.
(Right) Cal. RD105SQ is designed to average precision by connecting two flying tourbillons with a differential gear. The star at 12 o'clock is painted red to match the color of intermediate tires. In addition, the multi-colored power reserve indicator is visually appealing, reminiscent of the fuel gauge of a racing car, according to Roger Dubuis.
Many mechanical watch enthusiasts are also car enthusiasts, and I hear that quite a few of them devote a great deal of passion, time, and money to watches and cars.
Given this, many watch brands and car manufacturers, past and present, have teamed up to create collaborative models. However, it was difficult to give a watch the signature of being "automotive," and most of these models simply featured two brand logos on the dial.
The engine-shaped movement was newly developed for this series, utilizing the technology cultivated in the Quatuor. The C-SMC carbon used for the case is the same material used in Lamborghini vehicles. Manual winding (Cal. RD103SQ). 48 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 40 hours. C-SMC carbon (diameter 45mm). Water resistant to 5 bar. Limited to 88 pieces worldwide. 23.1 million yen.
Amid this, Roger Dubuis is boldly incorporating automotive elements into its watchmaking. In 2017, the company formed a partnership with Italian tire supplier Pirelli, and in the same year also joined forces with Squadra Corse, the racing division of sports car manufacturer Lamborghini, to release collaborative models. The limited edition Pirelli model uses the winning tires from each F1 race as the strap material, attracting motorsport fans. While using the same materials as sports cars and racing cars in watches has become commonplace in recent years, this series is perhaps the only one to actually use the same materials used in F1.
The Aventador S series, named after Lamborghini's flagship car, beautifully expresses the car's ferocity without using the "raging bull" emblem. The movement, which corresponds to the car's engine, is intricately designed to resemble the Aventador S's V12 engine, with a barrel bridge resembling a cylinder head cover and a cross-shaped tower bar sitting on top of it.
What these two series have in common is that they symbolize elements of cars and express the exhilaration of motorsports. The former strap has an uneven surface, vividly recreating the slick tires that look like they've been worn after a race. The latter uses the design of a 12-cylinder engine, which is now considered an endangered species, to evoke its exhilarating engine feel. The clear symbols have the persuasive power to excite motorsports fans, which is why the collaboration was a success.
The engine-shaped movement was newly developed for this series, utilizing the technology cultivated in the Quatuor. The C-SMC carbon used for the case is the same material used in Lamborghini vehicles. Manual winding (Cal. RD103SQ). 48 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 40 hours. C-SMC carbon (diameter 45mm). Water resistant to 5 bar. Limited to 88 pieces worldwide. 23.1 million yen.
Contact info: Roger Dubuis ☎03-4461-8040
