Wheels in Motion
Roger Dubuis’ Excalibur Spider Pirelli Sottozero is the result of the perfect partnership between the brand and its motor sport allies, says Nicolette Wong
ROGER DUBUIS HAS established itself as the watch brand for the extravagant adrenaline seekers of the world. Its partnerships with renowned racing tyre maker Pirelli and motor sport giant Lamborghini Squadra Corse have only served to reinforce this image, especially with the latest result of their collaboration, the Excalibur Spider Pirelli Sottozero, which looks like it would be perfectly at home on a wintry racetrack. We say that because a wintry racetrack is precisely where Roger Dubuis launched the watch—in the Italian Alps, to be precise. The scene was Lamborghini’s Winter Accademia, an annual snowbound driving experience to teach automobile enthusiasts how to handle the Lamborghini fleet—including the recordbreaking Huracán Performante—in low-grip situations. Naturally, the vehicles were fitted with Pirelli’s Sottozero tyres— sottozero means “below zero” in Italian. This mise en scene was perfect for the launch of the Excalibur Spider Pirelli Sottozero, whose icy aesthetic itself evokes the image of a rugged piece of precision engineering carving through the snowy peaks. This is no coincidence, of course. All of the design elements on the Excalibur Spider Pirelli Sottozero scream motor sport, from the white ceramic bezel with ice-blue markings to the seconds counters that look like speedometers and the power reserve indicator that emulates the fuel gauge in a race car.
The new RD105SQ manual-winding movement, with the brand’s signature star-shaped astral skeleton bridge and double flying tourbillons, adds to this effect. It also doesn’t hurt that the movement is certified for top-quality finishing with the Poinçon de Genève. The main point of interest for many motor sport fans lies in the strap. As with other collaborations between Roger Dubuis and Pirelli, the Excalibur Spider Pirelli Sottozero features a strap that is inlaid with certified Pirelli tyres. According to Roger Dubuis, this is significant primarily because Pirelli is notorious for being secretive with its tyre formulas—plus you get to wear a part of an actual race car on your wrist at all times. The rubber of the tyre doesn’t touch your skin, as it is sandwiched between the layers of the strap, but the top of the strap does mimic the asymmetric tread pattern of the Sottozero tyre, and is set with titanium studs to simulate the nails that can be used in the tyre for better grip in icy conditions. The Excalibur Spider Pirelli Sottozero is an example of precision engineering that encompasses every part of the watch. It is limited to just eight pieces worldwide, so owners can be assured of its exclusivity.