Some tributes are louder than others. Roger Dubuis has never been a brand to whisper, but for its 30th anniversary, it has done something unexpectedly intimate—it has turned the spotlight inward, honoring Roger Dubuis himself, who started it all with a timepiece that speaks to his very soul.
Meet the Roger Dubuis Hommage ‘La Placide’ perpetual calendar, a limited series of just 28 pieces that bridges three decades of horological heritage with a deeply personal story. The name itself is revealing: "La Placide"—placid in English—references Roger Dubuis' childhood scout nickname, which stayed with him throughout his legendary career—a gentle nod to the calm wisdom and quiet determination that defined his approach to watchmaking.
Things to Know About the Watch
This isn't a reissue. The 38 mm 18K pink gold case houses the remarkable Calibre 1472, a movement that exists at the fascinating intersection of preservation and innovation. Roger Dubuis restored original RD14 automatic base calibres—the manufacture's very first in-house movement from 2004—giving each a comprehensive check-up before pairing them with remanufactured RD72 perpetual calendar modules. The result, a 291-component movement featuring both authentic period pieces and newly crafted components, all meeting today's rigorous Poinçon de Genève standards.
But it's the dial where emotion truly comes to the surface. Five distinct layers create a visual symphony: a rhodium-coated flange with polished angles, mother-of-pearl calendar segments with hand-beveled edges, and a central plate finished in ‘Léman Bleu’—a color tribute to Lac Léman aka Lake Geneva in the U.S.—which young Roger Dubuis viewed daily on his train journey between Geneva and Vevey during his watchmaking studies. The biretrograde display, first introduced by Dubuis in 1995, commands attention with its gracefully sweeping hands that travel along semi-circular scales before instantly jumping back to zero. Below, a moonphase aperture reveals blue aventurine skies and curved 18K yellow gold moons.
The Movement
The technical achievement here is substantial. The RD14 calibres retain their original balance springs (whose in-house production earned Roger Dubuis its manufacture status) and the elegant swan neck regulator, while benefiting from complete gear train recalculations and repositioned wheel axes for enhanced performance. Add the RD72's perpetual calendar complication—featuring day, date, month, leap year, and moonphase displays—and you have Mr. Dubuis' favorite complication brought back to life with 15 distinct decoration techniques applied throughout.
The 18K pink gold rotor visible through the exhibition case back carries individual numbering for each of the 28 pieces, while the blue leather strap features an original Roger Dubuis emblem on the buckle—a final vintage touch.
Summary & Price
This release echoes the recently launched Excalibur Monobalancier Biretrograde Calendar from Watches and Wonders Geneva, offering collectors two distinct expressions of the biretrograde complication that is so integral to the manufacture's identity. As a bonus gesture, all existing Hommage owners are invited to any Roger Dubuis boutique worldwide to receive a complimentary strap for their original timepieces.
Sticker Price USD 137,500. For more info on Roger Dubuis click here.
