STRAIGHT OUT OF ORBIS

Roger Dubuis has never been one to play it safe, and the Orbis in Machina shows why

- Haziq Yusof

Roger Dubuis coined and trademarked the term ‘hyper horology’ to encapsulate its philosophy of crafting avantgarde, intricately complex and unapologetically larger-thanlife timepieces.

At Manufacture Roger Dubuis, well-honed watchmaking knowledge and craft are reimagined and transformed into boldly modern creations that would undoubtedly make their forebears proud. The brand even coined and trademarked the term ‘hyper horology’ to encapsulate its philosophy of crafting avant-garde, intricately complex and unapologetically larger-thanlife timepieces.

Don’t, however, be mistaken. While the maison has garnered a reputation for being an envelope-pushing maverick, it is no mere provocateur. Although novelty, complexity and theatricality are among its most apparent characteristics, a reverence for traditional watchmaking remains at the heart of Roger Dubuis.

CENTRAL COMPLEXITY

No timepiece illustrates this balance better than the Orbis in Machina Central Monotourbillon. Unveiled at Watches & Wonders 2024, the boutique-exclusive timepiece, which has just arrived in Singapore, is a bona fide headturner. This is thanks, in no small part, to an exquisite flying tourbillon placed at the centre of its dial. While the aesthetic rewards of such a placement are self-evident, the difficulty of the task means the complication remains a rare sight.