Roger Dubuis Excalibur Diabolus in Machina
The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Diabolus in Machina is one of the most complex skeleton watches ever unveiled by the Geneva manufacture: a single unique piece combining a flying tourbillon, a minute repeater, and a skeletonized architecture inspired by the forbidden tritone of medieval music. Unveiled in 2020, this 45 mm timepiece pushes haute horlogerie into genuinely uncharted territory.
What Is the Diabolus in Machina?
The name is a nod to the "Diabolus in Musica", the diminished fifth musical interval banned by the medieval church for its unsettling, sinister sound. Roger Dubuis took that inspiration further: the minute repeater chime of the Excalibur Diabolus in Machina is deliberately tuned to reproduce that exact tritone, making every time-strike as provocative as the watch itself.
The RD107 Caliber: 558 Parts, One Purpose
At the heart of the watch sits the in-house RD107 caliber, composed of 558 parts and 54 jewels. It beats at 21,600 vph (3 Hz) and delivers a 60-hour power reserve. The flying tourbillon sits at six o'clock, unobstructed by a traditional bridge, giving the skeletonized dial an almost weightless appearance. At 11 o'clock, a dedicated disc marked with "Hours", "Quarters" and "Minutes" rotates in sync with the repeater chimes as they count out the time, making the mechanics visible in real time.
The RD107 also incorporates a crown function indicator and a chime indicator, two details that underscore Roger Dubuis's commitment to transparency, literally and figuratively, in its watchmaking.
Case Material: CarTech Micro-Melt BioDur CCM
The 45 mm case is machined from CarTech Micro-Melt BioDur CCM, a non-magnetic cobalt-chromium-molybdenum wrought alloy that is both harder than titanium and significantly denser. The choice reflects Roger Dubuis's penchant for unconventional materials, delivering a watch that feels substantial in the hand while remaining resistant to magnetism and corrosion. Water resistance is rated to 30 metres. The piece is delivered on an interchangeable 3D calf leather strap with a titanium folding buckle.
A Unique Piece at $571,000
The Excalibur Diabolus in Machina is produced as a single unique piece, priced at $571,000 and destined for a collector who values extremes: extreme acoustics, extreme mechanics, and extreme design. As Revolution Watch noted at launch, no other current production watch combines a flying tourbillon and a minute repeater tuned to a forbidden musical interval in a single skeletonized case.
For collectors who want to explore similarly boundary-pushing independent watchmaking, browse the full TheArsenale watch collection, including the Anicorn x TheArsenale designer watch, the Rebellion Weap-One, and the PH-01 Endurance.
