Summary
Roger Dubuis continues its Arthurian saga with the Excalibur Knights of the Round Table: The Enchanter Merlin — the second chapter in “The Tale of Merlin” following 2024’s Omniscient Merlin. This edition shifts from basalt-inspired darkness to a radiant white-and-gold palette, paying tribute to Merlin’s invisible Crystal Palace built for the Lady of the Lake. The watch transforms its dial into a micro-sculptural realm, where shimmering columns rise like palace walls above a rippling lake of metal crystals.
Each dial begins with an 18k pink-gold base plate machined with hexagonal apertures that house 56 columns in varying materials and heights: nine in Murano-style glass, 19 in polished white enamel, 10 in matte white enamel, nine in polished pink gold and nine in rhodium-plated gold — all crowned with invisibly set hexagonal diamonds. These columns, ranging from 0.2 mm to 3.7 mm tall, create a multidimensional landscape, while a layer of sparkling ruthenium crystals at the dial’s base evokes sunlight dancing on a still lake, underscoring the palace’s ethereal illusion.
Encircling this crystalline tableau stand the twelve Knights of the Round Table, each a six-millimeter-tall figure cast in 18k pink gold. Beginning as hand-sculpted resin prototypes, the knights are 3D-scanned, molded and cast before master engravers spend two to three days bestowing every sword, helmet and armor plate with lifelike detail and a subtle black patina. Set against a Murano-glass flange bearing golden indices, these vigilant sentinels double as hour markers, embodying the watch’s themes of protection and chivalry.
Housed in a 45 mm 18k pink-gold Excalibur case, the Enchanter Merlin is driven by the in-house Monobalancier RD821 automatic movement, comprising 172 components and adorned with 14 types of hand finishes to earn the Poinçon de Genève. A sword-guard crown protector, sapphire window beneath the bezel and 360-degree pink-gold micro-rotor echo medieval architecture, while a quick-release white leather strap completes the ensemble.
Limited to just 28 pieces, the Excalibur Knights of the Round Table: The Enchanter Merlin is priced at 336,000 CHF (approx. $422,179 USD) and available only via Roger Dubuis boutiques.
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