In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Roger Dubuis presents the Hommage watch, Sukoon Al-Layl, marking the conclusion of the La Placide trilogy. This exceptional piece was showcased globally for the first time at Dubai Watch Week, with its design inspired by the tranquil ambiance of the desert night, reflecting the intricate astronomical functions mastered by the brand’s founder, Mr. Roger Dubuis. Its name derives from the Arabic words for tranquility and night, embodying the gentle and serene aspect of this craftsman’s personality.
The watch features a platinum case with a diameter of 38 mm and a thickness of 11 mm, complete with a bezel, base, and crown all made from platinum. It comes with a deep blue calfskin strap stitched with platinum threads, and the buckle is also crafted from platinum, proudly displaying the original brand logo. The watch dial consists of five layers, representing an extension of Roger Dubuis’ early creative style. The edges are made from polished mother-of-pearl, with polished metal points serving as measurement indicators, alongside a date display area crafted from mother-of-pearl, framed with intricate manual embellishments.
The main dial is adorned with undulating guiosh patterns inspired by the brand’s early designs, echoing the natural textures formed by the winds on sand dunes. The watch face is treated with a deep Astra blue coating, which shifts visually with the movement of light. The time is displayed by hour and minute hands crafted from 18-carat white gold, while the double jump feature utilizes copper-coated hands, helping to reduce inertia and enhance the stability of the jump. The face features four Arabic hour markers, aligning perfectly with the cultural backdrop of the Middle East.
The lower layer showcases the phases of the moon, resting on a base of lapis lazuli, and features two small crescent moons made of 18-karat gold. These are the only golden elements on the watch, symbolizing a tribute to the brand’s early work in perpetual calendars. The overall materials and craftsmanship build up in a tiered fashion, creating a visually striking three-dimensional effect that’s rich in rhythm and depth, while maintaining the brand’s language that seamlessly merges complex functionality with dramatic beauty.
When it comes to movement, the Hommage model embodies a serene elegance with its RD1472 automatic movement, which has received the prestigious Geneva Seal certification, reflecting the shared standards of each piece offered by the brand. This movement combines the RD14 base movement, developed in-house by Roger Dubuis in 2004, with the bi-directional perpetual calendar module RD72 that made its debut in 1999. During the re-engineering of the RD14, structural adjustments were made, including recalibrating the gear axis position, enhancing energy transfer efficiency, and fine-tuning the gear meshing angle. The bridge design remains reminiscent of pocket watch styles, featuring a swan neck regulator and traditional finger-shaped bridges. Additionally, the rotor boasts a fresh design crafted from 18-carat rose gold, embellished with 15 distinct decorative processes.
The RD72 model is the result of a collaboration between Roger Dubuis and Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, characterized by a dual reflection display of the days of the week and the date, moving away from the traditional layout of a perpetual calendar with four dials. The month and the leap year are showcased in a unified design, allowing both to appear in a single circular window using double hands, providing a compact and simple format. As the brand no longer had original model parts in stock, it became essential to remanufacture the main plate, channel bridge, and around half of the components, including the arms, springs, and gears, all accomplished within the brand’s factory.
Completing the Hommage Quiet Night isn’t just about a timepiece; it stands as a testament to the enduring traditions and innovations of watchmaking. This watch beautifully intertwines Roger Dubuis’ respect for classic horology from its early days with dramatic design tension and a profound commitment to its mechanics. It’s crafted to breathe the founder’s spirit into the realm of contemporary watchmaking by the end of 2025, with a reference price of 1,150,000 Hong Kong Dollars.
