The New Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph Is Dedicated to Lamborghini’s SC63 Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar

Roger Dubuis is known for developing complex and highly decorated in-house movements. Their flyback chronograph movements are often part of limited-edition collections, and display the intricate craftsmanship and the high standards typical of the brand. They often incorporate skeletonised dials, innovative materials, and striking aesthetics. After releasing its Excalibur Spider Revuelto Flyback Chronograph in 2023, Roger Dubuis has returned with the new Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph: Excalibur Spider FC (Ref. RDDBEX1102), an 88-piece limited-edition chronograph that encapsulates the beauty of a high-performance sports automobile, a skill only a handful of watchmakers have.

This year, Lamborghini competed in the recently concluded Le Mans Daytona Hybrid Series with its first hypercar, SC63. The aerodynamic elements of the carbon fibre body, as well as the floor and rear wing, are examined in the wind tunnel to ensure optimal performance. The distinctive Y-shaped LED headlights follow the car's strong lines and highlight its design. This hybrid hypercar is powered by a 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine, delivering 911 horsepower and mated to a 7-speed XTRAC transversal transmission. 

The watch comes with a 45 mm C-SMC carbon case and a black ceramic bezel with a white-lacquered 60-minute marking. There is a titanium crown with a red-lacquered ring at 3 o’clock; black DLC coating can be found on the lugs. The chronograph pushers at 2 o’clock (to start and stop the function) and 4 o’clock (to restart the function) are skeletonised.  The dial gets a black lower flange with transferred texts and minute tracks, and a black upper flange with screw-like hour markers, rhodium-plated and filled with Super-LumiNova.

The arrowed hour and minute hands are made of white gold with black PVD and red tips; there is a red-varnished central seconds hand as well. The inner periphery has the 500 km/hr tachymeter scale. The timepiece has a column wheel and a date window at 6 o’clock that governs the start, stop, and ‘return to 0’ functions of the chronograph, and also has the added advantage of the pushers being much smoother to operate.

At 3 o’clock, there’s a 120° rotating minute counter (RMC). It includes a patent-pending tripartite hand that carries 0, 1, and 2, accurately rotating past the 0-9 digits on the right. As soon as the wearer activates the chronograph, the RMC begins to carry out the task it is assigned to execute. At 9 o’clock, the timepiece gets a tilted balance wheel. This balance wheel has raised its level of inertia to the same standard as that of a tourbillon. Additionally, its 12° inclination compensates for the negative effects of gravity. Meanwhile, the diamond-coated silicon escapement wheel is paired with diamond-coated silicon pallet-stones, ensuring sublime anti-magnetic qualities.

he dial displays the integrated chronograph mechanism, a rarity in watchmaking, which includes characteristics such as the column wheel, the tilted balance wheel, and the dual barrels at 12 o’clock. The movement's intriguing 3D architecture is shown beneath a symmetrical bridge with three green bars and illuminated inserts resembling the SC63's signature Y-shaped headlights with Super-LumiNova. 

The new watch is powered by RD780, offering 72 hours of power reserve. The movement enables instantaneous restarting of the timer function while the chronograph is running. The calibre has an integrated chronograph with two patents: one linked to the second hand of the chronograph and the other to the display of the minute counter. Turning the watch over showcases the black DLC titanium open caseback with a sapphire crystal. 

There is a visible vertical clutch, which itself replicates the gear system of the Lamborghini sports car, equipped with a second braking system (SBS). The oscillating weight has been shaped with five arms, like the rims of a hypercar’s wheel; it also features the engraving of the individual watch number out of 88. What’s more, the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider FC is finished on a black rubber strap with green rubber inlay and a black DLC titanium cover with a titanium triple folding buckle interchangeable with Quick Release System. This timepiece comes in a Lamborghini-branded standard box.