STYLE Edit: Roger Dubuis evokes spirit of Zaha Hadid with Excalibur Huracán Performante
Visionary watchmaker affirms its position in pantheon of haute horology at landmark Macau event
Over two extraordinary days in Macau, visionary watchmaker Roger Dubuis reaffirmed its position as an assertive, avant-garde pioneer of haute horology. The impetus was the introduction to Asia of the Excalibur Huracán Performante in red and the signature Excalibur Huracán.
Day one saw a stellar crowd gathered in the Morpheus Hotel, designed by the late great architect Zaha Hadid. It was the perfect environment as Hadid’s futuristic vision and disruptive ethic reflect the spirit of the watchmaker and its new releases. Not to forget the element of sheer luxury which characterises the venue. Roger Dubuis took over an entire floor, not only to show off two superb new watches but also to allow guests to see master craftsmen from Roger Dubuis in action.
Presiding over the whole sensory experience was CEO Nicola Andreatta. Born into the industry and associated with some truly great brands in his career, Andreatta is no stranger to Asia. This was, however, his first visit as CEO of Roger Dubuis, a maison known for crossing frontiers in design and engineering while underpinned by meticulous craftsmanship. Andreatta was accompanied by Gregory Bruttin, director of movement development – the skeleton automatic RD630 calibre of the
Excalibur Huracán is acknowledged as a technical triumph by even the most jaded watch commentators.
It was a landmark event, even by Macau standards. VIP guests saw the watches showcased, admired them close up, and had an insider’s look at how these feats were achieved.
On day two the scene shifted to the Zhuhai International Circuit to celebrate the strong bonds between Roger Dubuis, Lamborghini and Pirelli, all names that evoke leading edge performance, of breaking new ground, of winning. The FFF Racing Team, which has close links with both Lamborghini Squadra Corse and Roger Dubuis, created a thrilling atmosphere, giving spectators a magnificent demonstration of speed and ability.
The partnership of Roger Dubuis and Lamborghini, in particular, is notable. In motorsports, high performance is allied to great styling, and Lamborghini is in the forefront of both.
This melds beautifully with the spirit and aesthetics of Roger Dubuis. The thrills and theatrics at the Zhuhai International Circuit underscored the partnership.