Overview of Roger Dubuis Manufacture Visit

On June 21st and 22nd, along with the marketing and press representatives from Roger Dubuis USA and the editors from two luxury magazines, I attended a very special press trip to the Roger Dubuis watchmaking factory in Geneva, Switzerland.

Roger Dubuis was founded in 1995, and is a true manufacture (meaning they produce some or all of their own movement calibers in-house.) Their watch designs are contemporary, however, their movements are actually more traditional, with classical complications, such as chronographs, torubillons and minute repeaters, made in-house, by hand. This is what makes Roger Dubuis a truly exceptional brand.

(Read More)

Subscribe to Newsletter

(Once your web browser has fully loaded the page, click on the image above for a "lightbox" photo gallery.)

Roger Dubuis is well known for their complicated timepieces, specifically their tourbillons. They also make minute repeaters, chronographs and divers. Personally, I have always liked their flagship Skeletonized Excalibur Tourbillon (which will be featured on Monday), but at $250,000, it is unaccessible to most consumers. Luckily, they do actually make some more affordable timepieces too. In fact, as of 2010, they have lowered their entry level price point for men's watches. The men's Easy Diver collection now starts at just under $13K. This still may sound high, even though they took about $5,000 off the previous model's price. But it is all relative, and for an exclusive, limited production, in-house made movement, this price is about right.

(Read More)

Subscribe to Newsletter

[ via Roger Dubuis ]

The new Roger Dubuis Easy Diver SED tourbillon features an open skeleton dial, that allows you to literally see right thru the Caliber RD 02 SQ3 movement. The hand-wound, in-house movement features a flying tourbillon, which rotates once per minute, visible at 7 o'clock. The 48 mm case is water-resistant to an impressive 300 meters and the power reserve lasts 60-hours. The watch is available in titanium for $124,600.

(Read More)

Subscribe to Newsletter

Richemont and Manufacture Roger Dubuis SA are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Matthias Schuler as Chief Executive Officer of Manufacture Roger Dubuis SA. In his previous position as Chief Operating Officer of IWC, Matthias Schuler has developed significant expertise in the Swiss watch industry.

Manufacture Roger Dubuis will continue to create, manufacture and distribute innovative watches under the Roger Dubuis name and will operate as an autonomous Maison within Richemont. Manufacture Roger Dubuis SA will benefit from broader integration of its distribution into the Richemont structure which will support the development of its international business and notoriety.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Richemont is pleased to announce that the Group has acquired a controlling interest in the well known Geneva watch company, Manufacture Roger Dubuis SA in a private transaction with Mr Carlos Dias, one of the founding shareholders.

Manufacture Roger Dubuis SA will continue to manufacture and distribute watches under the 'Roger Dubuis' name and will operate as an autonomous 'Maison' within Richemont. Roger Dubuis will benefit from broader integration of its distribution into the Richemont structure as a consequence of the transaction.

Commenting on the transaction, Mr Johann Rupert, Executive Chairman of Richemont, said:

"Roger Dubuis watches are highly innovative in terms of movements and design. As a young business, it is very different from the more established specialist watchmakers within the Group today; as such it complements our Maisons perfectly. We look forward to developing the Roger Dubuis business internationally."

The transaction will have no material impact on Richemont's consolidated net assets and is not expected to have any significant impact on the Group's overall profitability for the year ending 31 March 2009.

Subscribe to Newsletter

The Roger Dubuis Excalibur single-pusher (mono-pusher) chronograph with a flying tourbillon. This is a first in watchmaking. The watch has a 45mm white gold case with a hand-sewn alligator leather strap. It is very exclusive considering only 28 editions are being sold worldwide.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Kronosblog says that the Richemont Group just paid 600 million SF for ownership of Roger Dubuis. Not sure but I will check to see if they did. The Richemont Group currently owns some of the biggest names in high end watches including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC, Alfred Dunhill and Montblanc.

Subscribe to Newsletter