How many collectors of Roger Dubuis’s Knights of the Round Table are there in the world? There aren’t many, but I think the high-end clubs are pretty hardcore. Hardcore collectors are meticulous, so we have all 10 KRT pieces released since 2013, chronologically, inside a giant watch cabinet in a trophy room atop a large tower on the west side of the centuries-old castle. I guess they are stored in chronological order. Each piece overlooks the valley. It is always covered with thick fog. Is that a dragon I hear growling? Anyway, the 11th KRT release is just around the corner, and in order to experience this complex, exclusive, and collectible timepiece firsthand, I came face-to-face with Roger Dubuis’s Knights of the Round Table, the omniscient Merlin. I went on a trip to Geneva.
Curiously, when I entered Roger Dubuis’ headquarters in the center of town, I was not offered a mug of mead, but an espresso and a mango-flavored macaron. But things got mysterious when Roger Dubuis’s Knights of the Round Table, the omniscient Merlin, entered the picture. The 11th watch in the Round Table series takes inspiration from Merlin, the magician, who has an enduring connection to the fables and legacy of King Arthur. But you would be wrong to expect to see the famous wizard on the dial along with 12 knights. After all, it would have been odd to see the number 13 on the dial, and Merlin was never the kind of guy to hang out with knights. Check out the legend of King Arthur. At least the magician was socially awkward. Instead, the 11th KRT watch depicts a mythical location in Northern Ireland known as the Giant’s Causeway.
Roger Dubuis Knights of the Round Table, Merlin the All-Knowing: Magnificent Landscapes in Miniature
Giant’s Causeway, a World Heritage Site near Bushmills in Northern Ireland, is a place where fantasy meets reality. And that’s what the KRT Collection has been doing since the beginning, combining the functional with the great, creating a watch experience that emphasizes the latter.
According to some Arthurian legends, the Giant’s Causeway is where Merlin once stood. What he saw were towering columns of intertwined volcanic basalt. Perhaps he saw the hexagonal beauty of the place through the thick fog, especially in the stories of King Arthur, where the fog was thick and present everywhere. Legend has it that Merlin used his magic to lift the uniquely shaped stone and transport it to Salisbury Plain in England, creating Stonehenge. How did the miniaturized stone find its way into Roger Dubuis’s watch? Not through the magic of a descendant of Merlin, but through the handiwork of a mere human craftsman.
Dial with 56 towering blocks
The Giant’s Causeway in the latest KRT starts with a rose gold base plate. After precision machining to create the table of holes and hexagonal sections, a layer of black PVD is applied. Sections of the underlying pink gold are then exposed by laser processing and enhanced with a matte finish or sunray pattern for added depth. Then install 56 small but towering blocks ranging in height from 0.2 mm to 3.7 mm. To create the magic, the artisan wizard created 28 blocks of real basalt, 9 blocks of pure pink gold, 10 blocks of black Murano-style glass, and 9 blocks of clear glass, with gold base plates. I placed it on the matte part of. Tilting the block slightly creates a vanishing point in the center of the dial. The result is subtly surprising and slightly hypnotic. Indeed, this watch has an aura of mythical magic.
Knights, please gather together.
The 12 6mm high micro-carved knights surrounding the Giant’s Causeway also look sharp in rose gold. If you look closely, you’ll see that it stands on a black PVD-treated gold trail engraved with a hexagonal pattern that connects to the center of the dial. Then look closely at the knight and understand the many intricate details. It takes one to three days to hand-sculpt each knight, detailing even the tiniest weapon and helmet nuances, and requires immense patience and skill. Did you also notice that the knights have received a subtle touch of black patina to soften the brightness and reveal the creases, contrasts and details of the sculpture?
in the realm of magic
Knights of the Round Table, Merlin the All-Knowing features a 45mm pink gold case with Roger Dubuis’ signature triple-lug design, a notched bezel and a large crown with an openwork crown protector. Inside is the in-house self-winding monobalanche RD821 caliber. Comprised of 172 components, the RD821 is a compact movement, making it ideal for hiding under a knight’s feet. This caliber may not be the star of the show here, but it still features 14 manual finishes and bears the Poinçon de Genève engraving. Visible through the transparent caseback, the 360-degree rotating weight resembles a stained-glass window in a medieval castle.
Merlin, the omniscient knight of the round table
Is “Merlin the Omniscient, Knights of the Round Table” a piece to be worn or kept in a display case and admired while listening to Celtic music?It’s a watch priced on request, so it’s not meant to be used every day. That’s for sure. But of the 11 KRT watches made, this might be one of the most wearable. Sure, the 45mm case is big, but it’s comfortable. You will probably only choose this watch for special occasions. I can’t think of anything other than a very special Comic-Con edition at this point. The watch comes with a black calfskin strap with a pink gold folding clasp and a modern quick release system, allowing you to easily change the strap and completely change the look of your watch. This is genuine watchmaking magic at its best.
This isn’t the type of watch you’ll wear once and forget. Always attracts attention. Of course, that was the creator’s intention. The folks at Roger Dubuis didn’t create a stealth field watch. No, this is a luxurious expression of craftsmanship and artistry. Wear this watch and admire every detail while it’s on your wrist. I felt like a wizard when I wore the watch. It’s a pity that I didn’t have time anymore. However, I very much enjoyed this watch during the time we shared. Mainly because the whole concept was unique.
Hero products that were unlikely to exist
To be honest, when the original KRT was introduced in 2013, we had no idea it would become a staple of the Roger Dubuis brand. But in all its originality it has. This is because it shows that in a world where everything seems to be about watches with integrated bracelets, an original and highly creative approach to horology still has some meaning. That’s wonderful. A clock with a little knight on it has captured the hearts of many people.
The back cover of the first KRT reads: “Around this table, the bravest knights gather equally. They set out in search of adventure, righting wrongs, protecting the weak, and humbling the proud.” The creation of the 11th KRT puts at least some of what it preaches into practice. This watch sets out for the adventurous wrist. And 28 pieces of Roger Dubuis’s Knights of the Round Table, Merlin the Omniscient, to be discontinued in Magic Meylin, humbles the proud owner of a clichéd trophy watch acquired at great price on the gray market. It will have the power to
What do you think? Were you enchanted by this Merlin-themed piece by Roger Dubuis? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
This is a partnership post. Read about our transparency here.
