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Roger Dubuis Turns 17th-Century Samurai Legend Into a Wrist-Worn Work of Art

Roger Dubuis has unveiled Excalibur The Kabuto Legacy, a bold, theatrical limited edition of just 28 pieces that transforms samurai history, miniature sculpture, and Geneva fine watchmaking into a single, unapologetically maximalist dial.

A Council of Twelve Commanders, Reimagined in Gold

Thematically echoing the Maison's celebrated Knights of the Round Table collection, the Kabuto Legacy replaces medieval knights with twelve legendary samurai commanders, each represented by their kabuto, the ceremonial helmet that once distinguished their lineage. Hand-engraved in pink gold and rendered as miniature sculptures, the helmets encircle the dial like a council gathered around a table, a nod to the idea of unity that defines both collections.

Edo Castle Takes Center Stage

At the heart of the dial sits an abstract, three-dimensional reinterpretation of Edo Castle, rebuilt in miniature with a deep-blue CVD-treated finish over its pink gold base. The castle, seat of the Tokugawa family for more than 260 years, symbolizes the political order that followed a defining moment in 17th-century Japan, when twelve influential warriors helped bring more than two centuries of unity and peace.

Craftsmanship Backed by Historical Precision

To ensure authenticity, Roger Dubuis worked with Frederik Cryns, professor of Japanese history and consultant on the Emmy-winning series Shōgun. Each of the twelve kabuto references a specific historical figure and their personal symbolism, from Honda Tadakatsu's deer-antler helmet representing divine protection to Sakai Tadatsugu's sword motif symbolizing righteousness, with every helmet requiring two to three days of dedicated hand-engraving.

A Case Built to Match the Ambition

Measuring 45mm by 16.87mm and crafted in 18k pink gold, the Excalibur Kabuto Legacy is undeniably bold, a case size necessary to give the Edo Castle structure and its intricate details room to breathe. Inside beats the Maison's RD821 caliber, certified with the Poinçon de Genève, the historic Geneva Seal that evaluates not just the movement but the finished watch's accuracy, power reserve, and water resistance.

More Sculpture Than Timepiece

With only 28 pieces ever to be made, the Excalibur Kabuto Legacy sits in a rarefied corner of haute horlogerie, one where the case functions less like a traditional watch and more like a miniature art gallery worn on the wrist. As Professor Cryns put it, samurai culture produced some of history's most extraordinary wearable art, and both disciplines share the same uncompromising pursuit of excellence.