Excalibur 45 Double Flying Tourbillon

The Excalibur Double Flying Tourbillon puts two open-cage tourbillon mechanisms on a single movement, rotating in opposite directions, with no bridge between them and the dial. Roger Dubuis built the RD01SQ in-house for this specific brief, and the 45mm titanium case exists entirely to frame that spectacle. This is a watch for collectors who want the complication front and center, not tucked away.

What it is

Roger Dubuis launched the Excalibur line as the brand's flagship expression of Geneva Seal-certified finishing, and the Double Flying Tourbillon arrived as its highest complication statement. The RDDBEX0389 debuted around 2012, using the manually wound RD01SQ caliber developed entirely in-house to carry twin flying tourbillons without the structural bridge that a conventional tourbillon requires. The "flying" designation matters here: each cage is cantilevered, so nothing interrupts your view of the rotation.

The two regulators spin in opposing directions, which is more than theater since it also distributes positional error differently than a single tourbillon would. Production ran through approximately 2018, and Roger Dubuis has since pivoted its tourbillon language toward the Asterion and updated Excalibur generations, making RDDBEX0389 a defined chapter rather than a continuing one.

Buying notes

The 45mm titanium case measures generously in all dimensions, and buyers who have not worn the piece should confirm wrist fit before committing at this price point. Geneva Seal certification on the RD01SQ requires that any movement service be performed by a qualified watchmaker familiar with Roger Dubuis calibers, and independent service is difficult to find outside major markets. The flying tourbillon cages are structurally exposed and more vulnerable to shock than a bridged design, so condition of the cages and their jewels should be verified in any pre-owned example.

Roger Dubuis ceased production of this reference by 2018, and spare parts availability from the manufacture has tightened since the brand's lineup restructuring. Ask for full service history and, ideally, original box and papers, as provenance documentation carries real weight at resale for discontinued Roger Dubuis pieces.

Market read

Pre-owned examples of the RDDBEX0389 trade well below original retail, which was typically above $200,000 USD, making this one of the more accessible entry points into a double flying tourbillon from a Geneva Seal manufacture. Demand is narrower than for comparable complications from Patek or AP, which suppresses prices but also means the collector base is genuinely enthusiast-driven rather than speculative. Condition and documentation have an outsized effect on realized prices here.

Budget for a full service if provenance is unclear, since RD01SQ servicing carries a meaningful cost through authorized channels.

Service expectations

The RD01SQ is a manually wound in-house caliber subject to Geneva Seal standards, meaning all movement work must meet those finishing requirements and is best performed by Roger Dubuis or a watchmaker with documented experience on this caliber. Service intervals for tourbillon movements of this complexity typically run seven to ten years, and the open flying cage design warrants inspection of the cage bearings and jewels at each service. Factor the cost of authorized service into any acquisition decision.