Tearing up the Tarmac with Roger Dubuis
This year sees the big unveil of a spectacular new luxury alliance between two partners who have long since grasped the fact that exclusive service leaves a lasting imprint on hearts and minds – as well as on racing tracks and connoisseurs’ wrists. Pirelli is a pioneer in technical and industrial innovations and is the sole supplier of premium tires to the world’s flagship motorsports competitions.
Within an eminently elitist world, this ubiquitous transversal role gives it unique access to the entire range of players, meaning all the prestigious teams and drivers engaged on the circuit. Its consistently avant garde, innovative approach has enabled it to develop a P Zero tire program designed to achieve excellence. All these qualities were bound to appeal to an equally world première-oriented manufacture that has long since been accustomed to blazing a trail in its designated field – and beyond.
Production is limited to 88 pieces.
Complementing this experiential-oriented attitude, Pirelli aims to leverage its technical knowledge in leading drivers to the ideal, differentiated solution for their “wheels” that will procure maximum driving pleasure. And in much the same way, the manufacture devotes its skill in architectural and technical mechanics to delivering a wearer experience extending far beyond the timepiece itself, to embrace an entire lifestyle. Another of the strong values shared by the two pioneering firms is their commitment to placing their resolutely state-of-the-art approach to their respective domains at the service of an exclusive lifestyle.
And what better way for Roger Dubuis to both literally and metaphorically ‘attach’ a model to an incredible experience than to fit timepieces with straps featuring rubber inlays from certified Pirelli winning motorsport tires having competed in real races – and adorned with legendary tread motifs reproducing the profile of a Pirelli Cinturato intermediate tire?
The powerful connection with a specific emblematic event location is further symbolized by the blue color of the two dedicated ‘Pirelli’ timepieces launched in January and also picked up in the strap stitching.
The Excalibur Spider concept, which extends the unique Roger Dubuis skeleton principle beyond the movement to encompass external elements such as the bezel and flange, provides the ideal showcase for this significant color coding scheme – even extending to the outer rims framing the luminescent tips of the openworked hands.
Pirelli is featured on the caseback.
This unprecedented concept delivers meaningful collector’s items that will be teamed with equally authentic money-can’t-buy experiences. When the nest engineers from two separate yet interlinked fields of expertise – in this case the automotive and watchmaking industries – share their vast knowledge, comprehensive know-how, sophisticated research and innovative drive, the only ‘limits’ are the exclusive series and race-tire numbers.
The robust 45mm skeleton case with its black DLC titanium elements and contrasting blue touches provides a perfect frame for caliber RD820SQ.
Since its introduction in 2015, the first Roger Dubuis automatic skeleton has come to typify all that is bold and beautiful about the in-house practice of openworking the parts of the caliber before assembling them.
All faces of its 167 components are meticulously hand-crafted in accordance with the stringent quality criteria and prestigious finishing governing the “Poinçon de Genève” certification.
The design and height of the famous Roger Dubuis micro-rotor effectively enhance the spectacular 3D effect favored by the manufacture, as does the raised position of the Astral Skeleton. Typifying the blend of formal aesthetics and useful functionality adopted by the maison, the instantly recognizable star shape features tips pointing to hour-markers, thereby enhancing both clarity and legibility.
As well as enjoying the key ‘Pirelli’ signature characteristics linking their high-octane timepiece with a landmark motorsports victory, lucky owners of this 88-piece limited edition will enjoy the privilege of being invited to high-end local Pirelli events