Friday, July 04, 2008

Competitors Corner: Roger Dubuis–A Closer Look

I consider myself to be a Rolex purist in the sense that Rolex is my favorite overall brand. There are only two other watch companies I have ever really been passionate about–Patek Philippe and Roger Dubius.

Patek Philippe is very similar to Rolex in many ways. Particularly in the sense they are very conservative with not straying very far with their design language. Roger Dubuis is the opposite. 

Roger Dubuis, is a real man, who was a Master Watchmaker at Patek Philippe, but he thought Patek was too conservative and not willing to experiment or stray, so Roger decided to start his own watch company in Switzerland.

I love the User Interface design on these Roger Dubuis watches. I find the Day, Date and Month window design all in a row to be an amazing innovation because it is extremely useful and great looking–a truly perfect balance of form and function, or as Albert Einstein would say, a perfect balance of Art and Science.

The watch model above is called the "Excalibur."

Rolex stopped making Complicated watches in the early 1970s, and I don't know why? Rolex made stunningly beautiful complicated watches but for some reason they stopped. I hope that Rolex brings back the complicated watches and gives Patek a run for their money. I don't say this because I wish to see Rolex compete with Patek, but because I believe a rising tide lifts all boats.

The movement in the Roger Dubuis is an absolute horological masterpiece. A watch with this kind of movement is known as a Perpetual Calendar because once you set it correctly, so long as you keep it wound, it will go indefinitely without manual intervention. 

On the bottom right hand corner of the movement pictured above you see a leap year indicator and on the bottom left side you see an Day-Night indicator. In the center you a see a Moonphase indicator.

The movement below has multiple automatic winding rotors.

The watch below has the same movement and user interface but is a square shape.





Rolex King Midas from The Idle Swede of Boca Raton...


Wrist Shot of the Month: Military Submariner (Milsub)...

Very rare Milsub on a NATO strap. This is the Real Deal...


Photo Credit: Bulibeer

Rolex Yacht-Master in Hong Kong Harbor...

If you enjoy Jake's Rolex Watch Blog Please Make a Donation...

Please make a donation to help keep Jake's Rolex Watch Blog commercial free...

Rolex Milgauss GV Macro Shots from Hannes...








Photo Credit: JBK

Ultra Rare Vintage 1970s Special Edition Rolex Day-Date...

This is 1 of only 8 of this special edition Rolex Day-Date ever made. The case design is appears to be a cross between a Oyster Quartz case and a Midas case.

It also has an Automatic movement and factory diamond dial and bezel. 


Photo Credit: WatchGuru

Very Rare Rolex GMT Master with All Blue Bezel...

This is a very rare "Lunette Bleue" GMT Master with the all blue bezel. I love this color combo and hope Rolex brings it back on the Supercase...I call this color combo the "Blueberry GMT."

Jake's Quote of the Day: Danny Thomas on Success...

All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don't discover why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others. "—Danny Thomas.

Rolex Veriflat Oyster...

A late 1950s Rolex Veriflat with Dauphine hands and the extra-tall Rolex Crown.

Vintage Ladies 1930 Rolex Oyster Advertisements: You've Come A Long Way Baby...


Rolex introduces for the first time the greatest Triumph in Watch-making.

Rolex 'Oyster'

The Wonder Watch that Defies the Elements.

MOISTURE PROOF-WATER PROOF-HEAT PROOF-VIBRATION PROOF-COLD PROOF-DUST PROOF

Being hermetically sealed the Rolex "Oyster" is proof against changes of climate, dust, water, damp, heat, moisture, cold, sand or grease; it can, in consequence, be worn in the sea or bath without injury, nor would arctic or tropical conditions affect the wonderful precision of its beautifully poise movement. The introduction of the Rolex "Oyster" model marks an unique development in forward stride of the chronometirc science, and perfect timekeeping under all conditions is at last a possibility.

Ice Master II

I think it is really cool how Rolex makes these heavily jeweled new GMT Supercase watches, but leaves the indices standard.

Macro Shot of the Day: Rolex Turn-O-Graph...

Photo Credit: Kokota