More and more watch brands enjoy collaborations with artists who get to make their marks on their collections. As (mechanical) watches are obsolete in terms of their prime purpose, this makes a lot of sense, as they take on a different role and become more and more objects of art.

Roger Dubuis Replica is one such brand that regularly collaborates with creatives, with the watchmaker last year working with the famed tattoo artist Dr. Woo who gave his touch to one of their timepieces. And again this year the brand once more works to create unique mechanical art, now partnering with artist Hajime Sorayama in a novel redesign of the Excalibur Monobalancier.
Soroyama is best known for his realistic images of female robots, but he also worked on AIBO, Sony’s dog robot. Such a background makes it in particular interesting to see what he can do with an already futuristic watch like the Excalibur Monobalancier. In this, Soroyama doesn’t disappoint. He achieves synergy between his own style and that of Roger Dubuis Replica by carefully re-sculpting the Excalibur Monobalancier. As the material of choice, he opted for titanium, which has been polished. The same goes for the star-shaped bridge, which is one of the hallmarks of the Excalibur collection. It gives the watch an even more refined look and feel.
This Roger Dubuis Replica Excalibur Monobalancier also stands out because of its titanium bracelet, featuring the same polished finish as the case. Thanks to a quick-release system, it can be changed at any time for one of the straps of the brand. However, the bracelet adds so much character to the watch that I doubt how often owners will utilize this feature. Soroyama also put a special touch on the micro-rotor of the movement, fitting it with small blades so that it looks like a turbine engine. As it moves, this creates a hypnotic effect, further enhancing the cool factor of this watch.
As modern as it may seem, old-school craftsmanship is the basis of this Roger Dubuis, as also its Poincon de Geneve hallmark, also known as the Geneva Seal, testifies. In the tradition of the brand, the Excalibur Soroyama Monobalancier is limited