Roger Dubuis Excalibur Kabuto Legacy Honors Samurai Heritage

Roger Dubuis has launched the Excalibur Kabuto Legacy, a limited-edition timepiece comprising 28 pieces that draws inspiration from 17th-century Japanese samurai heritage. The design process involved collaboration with Frederik Cryns, a Professor of Japanese History and consultant for the "Shōgun" series, to ensure historical accuracy. The watch's dial features an abstract representation of Edo Castle, coated in a deep blue inspired by traditional samurai garment dyes. Surrounding this central motif are twelve meticulously hand-engraved Kabuto, or samurai helmets, crafted from 18k pink gold. Each helmet represents a significant bushō, or samurai commander, such as Tokugawa Ieyasu and Honda Tadakatsu. The intricate engraving of these helmets, including their delicate signature ornaments, can take up to three days of skilled craftsmanship per piece.

The Excalibur Kabuto Legacy is housed in a 45mm 18k pink gold case. It comes with an interchangeable blue calf-skin leather strap designed with stitched tiles that mimic the protective plates of traditional samurai armor. The timepiece is powered by the in-house RD821 automatic caliber, which offers a 48-hour power reserve. This movement is certified by the Poinçon de Genève, a mark of high-quality watchmaking. The compact nature of the RD821 caliber allows for ample space on the dial to showcase its elaborate aesthetic design. The finishing of the movement's components includes 14 distinct techniques. The homage to Japanese heritage extends to the open caseback, which displays the twelve Kamon, or family crests, of historical samurai commanders.