Introducing the Roger Dubuis Monovortex™ Split-Seconds Chronograph
Roger Dubuis has always pushed the limits of technology and it’s relationship with Horology. Like Richard Mille, the brand has been responsible for some incredibly complicated and technical innovations in watchmaking. Unveiled this morning for Watches & Wonders, Roger Dubuis has created a Split Second Chronograph with patented technology including a 360 degree Tourbillon and Oscillating Weight in an attempt to harness gravity to work for the watch and it’s time-keeping ability instead of against it. It’s a unique watch with some cool technical innovations. So lets get into it.
THE BASICS:
Brand : Roger Dubuis
Model : Monovortex Split-Second Chronograph
Case Material : MCF Carbon Composite
Case Size : 47mm
Water Resistance : 100m
Movement : Roger Dubuis RD114 Calibre
Movement Specs: Split-Second, Monovortex technology, Rotating Minute Counter
Strap Options : B-Material Rubber and Leather Strap
The Juice:
Gravity has always been a challenge when it comes to high horology and hyper accuracy in wristwatches. A number of brands have attempted to harness gravity, and one of the most popular ways to attempt to do that is with a Tourbillon. And of course, there’s much debate in the industry about whether it’s effective or not, Roger Dubuis is definitely a front-runner in modifying and executing what it calls Hyper Horology developments in watchmaking. And this is a classic example of top-notch execution that marries high horology and performance.
You’ll notice that the watch has a unique aesthetic, as is often the case with a brand so well-versed in skeleton dials. The watch is designed to showcase the two main components that comprise the Monovortex technology inside the watch. The first is a 360 degree Tourbillon at 9 o’clock the brand calls it’s Conical Monovortex Tourbillon - This allows for the Tourbillon to work against gravity no matter the position of the watch on the wrist. It’s actually a smart way of implementing a Tourbillon to a sport watch that’s made to be used in extreme circumstances and not just worn under a sleeve.
The second is a counterweight the brand calls a Turborotor Cylindrical Oscillating Weight. Positioned at 12 o’clock, the vertical oscillating weight pulls down on the movement keeping the winding mechanism from any form of differential caused by gravity. I’m sure time will tell how effective this is, but on paper anyway, it’s pretty genius.
Finally, to tell the time, the watch utilizes a rotating counter for it’s minutes. It’s not unsimilar to the way Urwerk does it’s satellite hands, however on Roger Dubuis, it compliments the handset well. And when you add the split second chronograph on top of it, it can get very busy on the dial very quickly. The Monovortex Split Seconds Chronograph is definitely more legible than other complicated high horology we’ve seen in the past.
I think this watch will turn some heads this week. Roger Dubuis has a knack for creating the “super cars” of wrist watches, and it seems the brand has done it again. The Monovortex Split Seconds Chronograph opts for highly technical components to ensure the best timekeeping capabilities it can possibly provide, while also looking extremely aggressive and intense while doing it. The Monovortex is a testament to what brands can really do when they put their minds to innovation and we’re excited to see what else Roger Dubuis has up it’s sleeves in the future. The Roger Dubuis Monovortex Split Seconds Chronograph is 1 of 1 piece unique and therefore it’s on a commission basis only.