It was only a matter of time before the Roger Dubuis Excalibur watch connected itself a bit more with Arthurian legend. For 2013, the high-end Swiss watch brand and movement manufacture will produce a limited edition version of the Excalibur watch called the “Table Ronde.” Somehow I feel that given the super Britishness of the concept, they would have forgone the French name and simply called it “The Round Table.” As completely silly as this watch is, I still get a kick out of the concept. Like I said, I have been waiting for a more medieval version of the Excalibur for a while and this is not at all what I could have expected.

Let’s start with what you are probably still looking at, the 12 figurines on the dial. That’s right, Roger Dubuis placed 12 solid gold engraved Arthurian knights of The Round Table around the dial at each of the hour markers. The characters are in 18k pink gold and each is slightly different. In illegible “olde” English are written names of the knights on the periphery of the table. I believe there are more than 12 names. And yes, those figurines are probably a bit tall for a normal dial, so the Excalibur Table Ronde is liable to be a rather “high” timepiece.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfGpVcdqeS0]

The base watch is the 45mm wide version (EX45) of the Roger Dubuis Excalibur in 18k pink gold. Inside is an in-house made caliber RD822 automatic movement. There is likely an exhibition caseback. The dial of the watch is peculiar, but it does have historical symbolism. The “table” is a hand-painted enamel reproduction of an actual table that hangs in Winchester, England. The table was commissioned by King Henry VIII in the 16th century. Of course the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is much older than that – going back at least a few hundred years earlier. In fact, the table upon which this painting is based is said to be from the mid 13th century.

The table is rather interesting looking and pretty. Though it does also look like a royal dartboard. The middle is a red rose, which of course symbolizes British royalty. I do wonder why Roger Dubuis decided to remove that hip painting of King Arthur holding Excalibur? That would have made a lot of sense for the watch. If that image is reproduced on the rear of the watch in some fashion I would probably have a little bit of a medieval myth loving nerdgasm. Note how on the dial each of the gold knights places his sword on the table in a slightly different way in order for the golden diorama to look more life-like. I friggin’ love that Swiss attention to detail. Oh, and yes I know the hands are too short – but that is just sort of a necessity given the figurines. Roger Dubuis’ Excalibur Table Ronde watch will be limited to 88 pieces, and if you get one I am sure Roger Dubuis will personally attach the knightly “Sir” prefix to your name each time they call you. If you wear one it also gives + 2 to swords, + 5 to constitution, – 2 to stealth, and a 15% chance to cause “horological envy” in your opponent.